COACHES
Here's the trouble with detecting sexually abusive coaches and trainers. Their jobs often require them to physically touch kids. That means it's sometimes tougher to spot and stop grooming and abuse.
If your Lutheran pastor or math tutor or Methodist choir director or Scout leader or middle school principal has his or her hands on a youngster, alarm bells should go off. None of those jobs require physical contact between an adult and a child.
There are some common sense guidelines parents can follow to reduce the risk of sexual misconduct by a coach, trainer, or team doctor:
- Never leave your child alone with a coach, trainer, or team physician.
- Conduct your own background search.
- Do not give up your authority as a child's parent. You make all final decisions.
- Do not allow the coach, trainer or physician to ridicule or shame your child.
- If a coach, trainer, or physician is physically inappropriate, report it immediately to the proper authorities.
- No coach, trainer or team physician should send your child a text, e-mail or direct electronic message unless it is part of a group chat.
If you or a loved one was sexually abused, raped or sexually molested by a youth coach, team leader, team administrator or sports team member, contact our law firm at 1-888-283-9922 or send an email to sexual abuse lawyer Adam Horowitz at adam@adamhorowitzlaw.com