I’ve been looking into the cracks in the program that have allowed mentors who have been suspended for misconduct to continue working with young players for more than a year today.
I’ve documented the Amateur Athletic Union, a significant non-profit institution that has evolved into a haven for instructors who have been accused of abuse. Despite having been banned by SafeSport, a nonprofit organization established to protect children from abuse in athletics, I found eight instructors who are still employed by children under the AAU. The AAU stated in a statement that it is” committed to protecting its runners through extensive protection laws overseen by our Compliance Department” but does not comment on specific circumstances.
I also shared the story of a Texas tennis instructor named Ryan Richardson, who continued to coach despite being banned by SafeSport and currently being investigated by the Department of Homeland Security. Richardson did not respond to numerous emails asking for comments on the Homeland Security exploration or the reporting from ProPublica and The Washington Post. Richardson stated to the local news website MyRGV that he would never “do anything” to put the safety of these powerful young women in danger. When he was foremost suspended in 2024, he claimed that complaints about him were intended to “retaliate and disparage someone’s character.”
I’m also reporting, and I want to hear from you.
I am aware that these are delicate subjects that can be challenging to explore. I am even aware of how significant these tales are. Please fill out our quick survey if you know of a mentor on the SafeSport record who is still working with kids or if you have any knowledge of how children sports companies have handled abuse allegations.
I have a particular interest in:
- Finding cases of instructors who are still employing children after SafeSport has outlawed them.
- better realizing how parents are tricked and deceived by harsh coaches.
- Learning about sports training misconduct, safety, and abuse, which SafeSport has far less of an impact on than many other well-known youth sports.
We respect your privacy and may get in touch with you if we decide to submit any of your stories.
Support Us Investigate Abusive Coaches in Youth Sports ad appeared first on ProPublica.
