You Have Rights.
You Have a Voice.
Sports teach you to trust your coach, push through discomfort, and respect authority. Those are good lessons — but they should never mean tolerating behavior that violates your safety. You have rights in every sports environment, and this page is here to help you know them.
"If something feels wrong, it probably is wrong. Trust your gut. Tell someone. You will be believed. You will not be in trouble. And you will not be alone."
— Coach Fentriss Winn
Your Rights as an Athlete
These are not suggestions. These are rights every athlete has in every sports program — regardless of your age, your level, or how much you need your coach's approval.
You have the right to a safe training environment, free from sexual misconduct of any kind.
You have the right to say no to any physical contact that makes you uncomfortable — even from your coach.
You have the right to have a parent, guardian, or trusted adult present during any private meeting with a coach.
You have the right to communicate with your coach through channels your parents can see.
You have the right to report a concern without fear of being cut from the team or losing your position.
You have the right to be believed when you report something that happened to you.
You have the right to access the U.S. Center for SafeSport's reporting system directly, without going through your organization.
Safe Coaching vs. Inappropriate Behavior
Good coaching involves physical contact, close relationships, and authority. Abuse exploits all three. Here's how to tell the difference.
Spotting, demonstrating technique, high-fives, team huddles — in observable settings with purpose
Touching private areas, massages without parental consent, physical contact that continues after you say stop or pull away
Team group chats, emails that include parents, communication through official program platforms
Private DMs, Snapchats, or texts asking you to keep the conversation secret; messages that ask about your personal life in ways that feel strange
Meetings in public, visible spaces; a parent or another adult present; door open
Being asked to stay after everyone leaves; car rides alone; hotel rooms; 'special' training sessions no one else knows about
Team awards, public recognition, scholarship recommendations through official channels
Private gifts, money, or favors — especially when asked to keep them secret; being told you're 'special' in ways that feel different from normal coaching
Surprise parties, team announcements that haven't been made public yet
Any adult asking you to keep a secret about something that happened between you and them, especially involving your body
Red Flags to Watch For
Grooming is a process designed to make abuse feel normal and to prevent you from reporting it. Understanding how it works is one of the most powerful things you can do to protect yourself.
They make you feel uniquely special
Grooming often starts with an adult making you feel like they understand you better than anyone else — your parents, your teammates, your other coaches. This is a strategy, not a feeling.
They push boundaries gradually
Inappropriate behavior rarely starts with the worst thing. It starts with small boundary violations that slowly escalate. If something feels slightly off, trust that feeling.
They isolate you from others
They may say negative things about your parents, discourage you from spending time with teammates, or create situations where you're alone with them.
They ask for secrecy
Any adult who asks you to keep your interactions with them secret from your parents is asking you to do something that protects them — not you.
They make you feel responsible
If something inappropriate happens and the adult says things like 'you wanted this' or 'you'll ruin everything if you tell' — that is manipulation. You are never responsible for an adult's behavior.
Remember: If abuse happens, it is never your fault. Abusers are skilled at making their victims feel responsible, complicit, or like no one will believe them. None of that is true. What happened to you was done to you — and you deserve support, not shame.
You Have Options for Reporting
You don't have to go through your coach, your athletic director, or even your parents if that feels unsafe. There are multiple paths to getting help — choose the one that feels right for you.
A Parent or Guardian
First choice whenever possibleTell them directly. You can say: 'Something happened with [name] and I need to tell you about it.'
Another Trusted Adult
If you can't go to a parentA teacher, school counselor, relative, or another coach you trust. You don't have to go to your parents first if that feels unsafe.
RAINN Hotline
If you're not ready to tell someone you knowCall 1-800-656-4673 or visit rainn.org/get-help. You can talk to someone anonymously before deciding what to do.
U.S. Center for SafeSport
If the abuser is in your sports organizationReport directly at uscenterforsafesport.org or call 1-833-587-7233. You can report without going through your coach or athletic director.
Law Enforcement
If you are in immediate dangerCall 911 or your local police. You can also call the Childhelp hotline (1-800-422-4453) for guidance on how to report.
The Safe Sport Athlete's Commitment
I commit to knowing my rights as an athlete. I commit to trusting my instincts when something feels wrong. I commit to speaking up — for myself and for my teammates — when I see behavior that crosses the line. I commit to being the kind of teammate who creates a culture where everyone feels safe enough to tell the truth.