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SafeSport Will Now Alert Schools, Clubs if Coaches Sanctioned for Abuse Continue to Work With Kids
The U.S. Center for SafeSport is introducing measures to alert schools and other organisations when coaches on its abuse and misconduct sanctions list are still working with children. The move follows reporting by ProPublica and The Washington Post that found sanctioned coaches could continue coaching outside the sports bodies SafeSport oversees, leaving families and local organisations unaware of the bans.
SafeSport says it will encourage people to identify and report banned coaches, and send form letters to organisations when it learns a coach is still working with children. Its authority does not cover many schools, colleges or independent leagues, which are not required to follow its sanctions. The reporting highlighted volleyball coach Ryan Richardson, banned by USA Volleyball in 2024 after SafeSport found sexual misconduct with a minor, who continued coaching through a club led by former assistant Gavin Rudder; SafeSport later added Rudder to its database with restrictions on unsupervised coaching.
In short
- SafeSport will notify organisations about sanctioned coaches still working with children.
- Many schools and independent leagues are outside its authority.
- The change follows reporting that exposed gaps in enforcement.
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The case for
Alerting schools and clubs when sanctioned coaches continue working with children could help close a serious information gap and give local organisations a chance to protect young people. Even where SafeSport lacks authority to enforce its bans, sharing verified information and encouraging reports may reduce the risk that families unknowingly place children with a coach found to have committed abuse or misconduct.
The case against
The alerts may raise concerns about accuracy, fairness and due process if organisations receive information about sanctions without clear context or a reliable way to check or challenge it. Since many schools, colleges and independent leagues are outside SafeSport’s authority, relying on letters and public reports may also create uneven safeguards while placing additional responsibilities on organisations that cannot enforce the sanctions themselves.