Abuse by a coach or therapist can be sexual, verbal, emotional, and/or physical injuries. Repeated exposure to abuse is harmful to mental development, especially among kids and adolescents. These are some red flags to look out for, particularly in young athlete and coach relationships:
Something feels off or wrong
Closed-door meetings
One on one communication online or through the phone
Controlling behavior (e.g., eat this, not that)
Angry and/or violent outbursts
Grooming behaviors directed at both children and parents
Unable to talk to or be heard by a coach about mental or physical health
Not being able to talk to people or support staff around a coach because they’re extremely loyal to them
Your child, athlete, or teammate seems off, stressed, or as if something’s wrong; they might try to tell you something that’s hard for them to say or you to hear