{"id":10582,"date":"2021-08-23T05:04:12","date_gmt":"2021-08-23T05:04:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/diamondlaw.ca\/?page_id=10582"},"modified":"2023-07-06T16:59:42","modified_gmt":"2023-07-06T16:59:42","slug":"sexual-assault-coaches","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/diamondlaw.ca\/sexual-assault-coaches\/","title":{"rendered":"Sexual Assault by Coaches"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

Sports are a great way to keep a healthy lifestyle, meet new friends, keep the youth off the streets <\/span>and<\/span><\/i> their gadgets.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Many of us think that sports are a safe place for the youth, little do we know that the people who engage in sports may be at risk of coach sexual assault.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

According to a <\/span>recent investigation<\/span><\/a>, a coach sexual assault can happen in any sport. Hundreds of coaches from 34 different sports have been convicted in the last 20 years.<\/span><\/p>\n

We may not be completely aware, but sexual assault in sports is a prevalent issue in Canada.<\/span><\/p>\n

Since most people who join sports are the<\/span> youth<\/span><\/a>, they are easily influenced by their coach and can lead to abuse of power and coach sexual abuse.<\/span><\/p>\n

f you or someone you know is at risk of coach sexual abuse, immediately reach out to a <\/span>sexual assault lawyer<\/span><\/a>. Let\u2019s stop the perpetrators and restore safety in sports.<\/span><\/p>\n

Understanding Sexual Abuse in Sports<\/b><\/h2>\n

\"Understanding<\/span><\/p>\n

Girls and boys alike could be victims of sexual assault. Sadly, coach sexual abuse and other forms of coach sexual assault usually happen in gymnasiums, open fields, locker rooms, training sessions, and even in the homes of some coaches.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

These young boys and girls look up to their coaches as role models. They tend to follow or allow whatever the coach’s advances are, not knowing they\u2019re already abused.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What they don\u2019t know is the amount of trust they put in their coaches unknowingly makes them prey.<\/span><\/p>\n

Brackenridge (2001)<\/span><\/a> says that the relationship of trust is almost inevitable between a young athlete and a coach. Over time, as the level of trust increases, boundaries are also unknowingly crossed.<\/span><\/p>\n

In many cases, the trust is misused by coaches and persuades the young athletes into doing sexual activities with them. The abuser will find a way to lure the prey into the act and keep it a secret between them both.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Perpetrators<\/b><\/h2>\n

According to an <\/span>analysis<\/span><\/a>, people who have been found to sexually abuse young people had specific characteristics. <\/span>Brackenridge et al. (2008)<\/span><\/a> mentioned that the offenders\u2019 ages ranged between 16-63 years old and that 98% of the abusers were teachers and coaches.<\/span><\/p>\n

29% were married, and 31% had children and were primarily mainly male.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Victims\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n

Minors and young adults (2%-8%) mainly comprise the victims of coach sexual assault. Most of these cases happened when a sport was played or when they were in the process of training and while doing different kinds of activities related to the sport.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It was said that <\/span>elite athletes<\/span><\/a> were likely to be victims of coach sexual abuse but had no clear indication that it was specific to a particular sport.<\/span><\/p>\n

More notably, however, <\/span>data shows<\/span><\/a> that girls are more likely to be victims of coach sexual assault than boys.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

While a few young boys have been<\/span> sexually abused<\/span><\/a>, the number of girls who were sexually assaulted is more significant in number. One of the probable reasons is that boys don\u2019t report these incidents as much as girls do.<\/span><\/p>\n

Risk Factors in Coach Sexual Abuse<\/b><\/h2>\n

\"Risk<\/span><\/p>\n

Everyone, most especially young athletes, are vulnerable to sexual abuse in Canada.<\/span><\/p>\n

Studies suggest that specific characteristics, traits, or behavior may be identified but do not automatically equate to being sexually abused.<\/span><\/p>\n

However, upon <\/span>researching<\/span><\/a> the young athletes who have experienced coach sexual abuse, these are the five most consistent environments.<\/span><\/p>\n