Sayreville Football: Who Should Be Punished?

New Jersey’s Sayreville community is in an uproar. Seven members of the Sayreville War Memorial High School football team have been charged in a hazing incident in which four team members were allegedly sodomized. The Superintendent has responded by cancelling the entire season, but some parents and community members think this is unfair.

When a few team members misbehave, should the whole team be punished?

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Talking to Your Child’s Coach About Sexual Abuse

Parents have a lot to discuss with their children’s coaches at the start of a sports season, from practice gear and game schedules to who brings the weekly snack. But those aren’t the only conversations parents need to have. They should also talk to coaches about what steps their youth sports organizations are taking to protect child athletes from sexual abuse.

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The 2014 World Cup Shines A Light On Brazil’s Children

This year’s World Cup focused the world’s attention on Brazil — and the plight of its children. The country has an estimated 500,000 children being sexually exploited through prostitution. Some believe this number could become even higher with the recent influx of World Cup spectators.

To combat this issue, the Brazilian government and multiple non-profits have mounted efforts like the video above featuring Brazilian soccer players Neymar and Daniel Alves. These players are an example of how athletes can be role models for positive social change.

A New Kind Of Athlete

There is no shortage of negative media coverage when it comes to athletes, from the Aaron Hernandez murder trial to the recent case of three high school athletes allegedly sexually assaulting a peer at an after-prom party. But what about the athletes, especially the student-athletes, who are trying to set a positive example in their communities and for other athletes?

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Real Men Report

Children and teens are some of professional athletes’ most passionate observers and imitators. Businesses have taken advantage of this by using pro athletes to sell everything from shoes to lotion. An Australian newspaper even reported on a study connecting pro athletes’ influence to children’s food choices, especially boys.

But pro athletes’ impact on boys can extend beyond what they eat. Boys may also look to pro players to set the standards for what it means to be a man. Unfortunately, these standards may make boys more hesitant to report sexual abuse.

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The Pre-season Safety Talk

You’ve paid the fees and signed the forms. You’ve bought the right equipment, and you’ve found the perfect snacks. You’ve done everything you can to prepare your child for a successful sports season, but…have you had the pre-season safety talk about sexual abuse?

If not, the following tips can help you address the issue with children ages 5-17 in a non-threatening and age appropriate manner.

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Why Codes of Conduct Matter

By Sally S. Johnson, Executive Director of the National Council of Youth Sports

The National Council of Youth Sports (NCYS) encourages participation and the pursuit of excellence in all aspects of all athletic activities. In order to assist all organizations to better serve the interests of those who participate in athletic activities, the NCYS recommends every organization adopt a code of conduct.

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What We’ve Learned About Youth Safety

An interview with Julie Novak, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America

Although Big Brothers Big Sisters of America (BBBSA) is not a youth sports program, some of its safety practices may be applicable to all youth-serving programs. Julie Novak, Vice President of Child Safety for BBBSA, talks about how the organization works to protect the children enrolled in its one-on-one mentoring programs nationwide – over 200,000 annually.

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5 Tips to Help Prevent Abuse in Sports

By Susan Woessner, USA Swimming Director of Safe Sport

There are many reasons why a child should participate in sports. Sports teach important life lessons including goal-setting, teamwork, and self-confidence – not to mention the great exercise it provides athletes.

Unfortunately, competitive sports can also be a high-risk environment for misconduct, including physical and sexual abuse.

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