Preventing Abuse in Youth Sports

9/21/2021

Horrific stories of coaches abusing athletes continue to populate the youth sports landscape.

In recent weeks a former youth hockey coach in Massachusetts pled guilty to child rape; a volleyball coach in Virginia was charged with sexually assaulting a player; a baseball coach was charged with sexually assaulting a player in New York; and the alarming list goes on.

At the upcoming 20^th annual Youth Sports Congress – taking place in San Antonio, Texas on Oct. 27-30 – Andy Driska of Michigan State University will present an all-important session: Preventing Abuse in Youth Sports.

REGISTER FOR THE YOUTH SPORTS CONGRESS HERE

Driska’s session will highlight the important steps that administrators, coaches, and parents can take to spot abuse, grooming behaviors, and other forms of maltreatment that harm children.

Some important learning outcomes attendees will take away from the session:

1. Define emotional, physical, and sexual abuse
2. Increase awareness of potential warning signs of abuse
3. Develop the skills to intervene and connect children and parents to appropriate resources, as necessary

Driska is an associate professor in the Department of Kinesiology at Michigan State, and the coordinator of the Sport Coaching, Leadership and Administration Graduate Programs. He teaches courses in sport psychology, skill acquisition, sport sociology, sport ethics, and coaching science. He has consulted for USA Swimming and several intercollegiate athletic teams, and is a former age-group, high school, and collegiate swimming coach.

During Driska’s session exciting news will be revealed about the upcoming online abuse prevention training program that has been developed in partnership between the Institute for the Study of Youth Sports and the National Alliance for Youth Sports, and how youth sports program leaders can implement this training with their staff and parents.

The Youth Sports Congress is a comprehensive educational experience designed specifically for youth sports administrators. The training allows attendees to participate in the Youth Sports Congress, the Athletic Business Show, and to maintain or earn their Certified Youth Sports Administrator credential, all at one location.

CHECK OUT THE FULL YOUTH SPORTS CONGRESS SCHEDULE

Questions? Reach out to us at yscongress@nays.org

Congress Abuse Prevention Andy Driska Michigan State

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