Why Competitive Youth Sports are Ripe for Sexual Abuse

If you've been keeping up on the news in the last few years, you're aware of the bombshell lawsuit against U.S. Gymnastics because of the sexual abuse of Larry Nassar. Nassar was the team doctor for U.S. Gymnastics women's team and reportedly used his position to abuse hundreds of girls.

As is the case with many of these systems, the victims were let down over and over again by many different adults. In fact; four elite U.S. gymnasts had to testify about how the FBI bothced the investigation. That means that the adults that were around the gymnasts (and therefore Nassar) every day failed, that U.S. Gymnastics failed, and the FBI failed, all allowing a serial sexual predator prey on these girls, abusing far more than 200 athletes in all.

Unfortunately, it's not gymnastics. This happens in other youth sports, but especially hyper competitive leagues. Why? Because these athletes are taught to play through pain, to never complain, and are under microscopes. Add in an athlete that has a rough home life, and a pedophile has an easy time becoming the trusted person in that young athlete's life. If they're afraid of their coach - and they can't go to their parents or are too ashamed to - who do they tell?

The solution is that youth sports leagues have got to be held more accountable. The rate of sexual abuse of children is old news. The rate of sexual abuse of children in youth sports in OLD NEWS. Someone, somewhere, needs to step up and stop the madness. It is NOT unpreventable.