You Are a
Mandated Reporter
In most states, coaches are explicitly named as mandatory reporters of child abuse. But Coach Winn's position goes further: regardless of what your state's law says, every adult who works with children in sports should operate as a mandated reporter. The law sets a floor — not a ceiling.
"I have always been a mandated reporter. Certain states have certain laws — but from my platform, I believe everyone should be a mandated reporter, and we should strive for that."
— Coach Fentriss Winn
What the Law Requires of You
Three overlapping legal frameworks govern your reporting obligations as a coach. Understanding all three is essential — and the standard they collectively set is clear.
State Mandatory Reporting Laws
- All 50 states have mandatory reporting laws for child abuse
- In most states, coaches are explicitly named as mandatory reporters
- Failure to report is a criminal offense — typically a misdemeanor or felony
- You do not need proof — reasonable suspicion is the legal threshold
- You report to Child Protective Services (CPS) or law enforcement
The Safe Sport Act (2017)
- Federal law covering all youth sports organizations in interstate/international competition
- Mandatory reporters must report within 24 hours to local law enforcement
- Applies to coaches, trainers, staff, and volunteers with regular athlete contact
- Failure to report can result in federal criminal charges
- Separate report to U.S. Center for SafeSport is also required
Coach Winn's Standard
- Every adult in youth sports should act as a mandated reporter
- The legal minimum is a floor, not a ceiling
- If you see something, you report it — regardless of your state's specific list
- Children deserve universal protection, not jurisdictional protection
- This is the standard we're building toward together
Critical: You do not need to be certain that abuse occurred. The legal standard is reasonable suspicion — if something feels wrong, you report it. Investigations are the job of law enforcement and child protective services, not coaches. Your job is to make the call.
What to Watch For
As a coach, you spend more time with athletes than almost any other adult in their lives. You are uniquely positioned to notice changes — in behavior, in relationships, in demeanor — that signal something is wrong.
Boundary Violations by Other Adults
- A coach or volunteer who insists on private, one-on-one time with specific athletes
- Adults who give gifts, money, or special privileges to individual athletes without program justification
- Excessive physical contact framed as 'part of training' — especially in private settings
- Adults who communicate with athletes through private channels outside team platforms
- Colleagues who speak disparagingly about parents or try to position themselves as the athlete's 'real' support
Athlete Behavioral Changes
- Sudden withdrawal from teammates, family, or previously enjoyed activities
- Unexplained anxiety, depression, or mood changes — especially around specific adults
- Regression to younger behaviors (bedwetting, thumb-sucking) in younger athletes
- Sexualized language or behavior that is age-inappropriate
- Reluctance to be alone with a specific adult — or conversely, unusual attachment to one adult
- Unexplained gifts, money, or new possessions
Environmental Red Flags
- Locker room or changing area access that is not monitored or policy-controlled
- Transportation arrangements that put athletes alone with a single adult
- Hotel room assignments that mix adults and athletes without proper supervision
- Training sessions scheduled at unusual times or locations outside normal program settings
- A program culture where questioning adult authority is discouraged
Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policies
The U.S. Center for SafeSport's MAAPP establishes minimum standards for all coaches with regular contact with minor athletes. These are not suggestions — they are required policies for organizations in the Olympic and Paralympic movement, and best practice for all youth sports.
Annual SafeSport Training
RequiredAll coaches with regular contact with minor athletes must complete the SafeSport Trained Core course annually. Refresher courses are required each subsequent year.
One-on-One Interaction Policy
RequiredOne-on-one interactions between an adult and a minor athlete must be observable and interruptible. If a private conversation is necessary, it must occur in a public place.
Electronic Communication Policy
RequiredAll electronic communication with minor athletes must be through team/program platforms that parents can access. Private messaging apps are prohibited for coach-athlete communication.
Locker Room & Changing Area Policy
RequiredAdults must announce themselves before entering changing areas. No one-on-one adult-minor interactions in locker rooms. Monitoring must be by same-gender adults where possible.
Travel & Lodging Policy
RequiredAdults and minor athletes may not share hotel rooms. Transportation must follow two-adult or observable protocols. All travel arrangements must be documented.
Massages & Athletic Training
RequiredAny physical treatment of minor athletes must be conducted with a parent/guardian present or with written consent, in observable settings, and documented.
The 6-Step Reporting Protocol
If an athlete discloses abuse to you, your response in the next few minutes matters enormously. This protocol has been developed to protect both the child and you.
Believe the Child
If an athlete discloses abuse, your first response must be belief and support — not investigation. Say: 'I believe you. You did the right thing by telling me. This is not your fault.'
Do Not Investigate
You are not a forensic investigator. Do not ask leading questions, press for details, or confront the alleged abuser. Your role is to receive the disclosure and report it — not to resolve it.
Report to Law Enforcement First
Under the Safe Sport Act, mandatory reporters must report to local law enforcement within 24 hours. This is your first call — before your athletic director, before your organization's leadership.
Report to Your Organization
After contacting law enforcement, report through your organization's internal reporting chain. If your organization is affiliated with a National Governing Body, also report to the U.S. Center for SafeSport.
Document Everything
Write down exactly what the child said, the date and time, who was present, and every action you took. Use the child's exact words. This documentation is critical for investigators.
Protect the Child's Privacy
Do not share the disclosure with other coaches, parents, or athletes. The child's privacy and safety depend on confidentiality. Unauthorized disclosure can compromise investigations and re-traumatize victims.
Who to Call
Law enforcement first: Call 911 or your local police non-emergency line. Then call Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline (1-800-422-4453) for guidance. Then notify your athletic director and follow your organization's internal protocol.
Building a Safe Environment
Prevention is not a single conversation — it's a set of consistent practices that make your program structurally safer for every athlete, every day.
Two-Deep Leadership
Never be alone with a single athlete. All one-on-one interactions should be observable by another adult or conducted in a public space.
Open Communication Channels
All communication with athletes goes through team platforms parents can see. No private DMs, Snapchats, or personal texts.
Transportation Protocols
Never transport a single athlete alone. If unavoidable, notify parents in advance, keep windows unobstructed, and document the trip.
Travel Standards
Adults and athletes do not share rooms. Room assignments are documented. Athletes are never left unsupervised in hotel common areas after hours.
Documented Consent
Any physical contact beyond what is standard in your sport (spotting, injury assessment) requires documented parental consent and must occur in observable settings.
Open-Door Culture
Make it explicitly safe for athletes to report concerns. Name a specific trusted adult they can go to. Normalize the conversation about safe sport.
Ready to Lead on Child Safety?
Download the complete Coach's Safe Sport Toolkit — including the MAAPP compliance checklist, reporting protocol card, warning signs reference guide, and team meeting agenda.