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August 25, 2023
As the new school year starts, EndAbusiveCoaching.Org (EAC) – a non-profit committed to tackling physical and emotional abuse in school sports – is sounding the alarm on the critical issue of abusive coaching that is affecting young athletes. The organization is taking an unprecedented approach to the issue by adding a written science-based curriculum to all sports teams in leagues or schools. The effort will help coaches and players find proven methods that will assist them as opposed to traditional methods which allow coaches to become all-powerful authorities.
Abusive coaching in sports can take on many forms. Whether it is physical, emotional, verbal or sexual, it causes emotional scarring to many young athletes and can often lead to mental health issues such as PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), anxiety, stress and more.
Sexual abuse is rampant in youth sports, with more than 1 in 4 current or former student-athletes reporting being sexually assaulted or harassed by someone in a position of power on campus, such as their coaches and trainers. Nearly half feared that their perpetrator would retaliate against them. Emotional abuse has been widely prevalent in youth and collegiate athletics with up to 75% of young athletes having experienced emotionally abusive coaching practices such as toxic and ‘tough love’ culture.
The Massachusetts-based non-profit explains that the problems include abusive coaching, which does serious harm to students’ emotional well-being, motivation and love of sport, as well as a negative sports culture where hate and bias exhibited by fans paired with parents’ unrealistic expectations can negatively impact student-athletes. Additionally, teams are entirely coach-dependent and Directors cannot evaluate coaches effectively as there are no established curricula.
“The current model of a public-school sports teams produces an inferior, out-of-date education for students. High school sports use a 19th-century model while ignoring the 21st-century sciences of sport psychology and social-emotional learning (SEL),” states EAC on its website.
The coalition of advocates, champions of fair play and safeguarding athlete welfare are uniting to stand for research-based coaching and against all anti-science practices, such as yelling at children to motivate them through fear. “The halls of sport should echo with laughter, excitement, and respect, not reverberate with the anguish of intimidation and humiliation found on some teams. EndAbusiveCoaching.Org stands for bringing sports into the 21st century where sciences show the way to achieve in sport and other areas of life,” said Mitch Lyons, an advocate for SEL and Founder of EAC.
EAC wants to lead the charge to end abusive coaching in all its forms and install a modern alternative through elevating awareness and championing legislation. By collaborating closely with coaches, athletes and the public, the non-profit is highlighting an alternative to traditional coaching by advocating for safe and supportive sporting cultures. It has garnered support for state legislation called “An Act to Remodel Public School Sports through SEL.” The Act requires the Massachusetts Department of Education to publish guidelines to implement a research-based curriculum just for sports teams for interested school districts. This is considered pivotal in beginning a new era in youth and school sports that addresses abuse, hate, bias and negative cultures.
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