This article appears in the April edition of US Lacrosse Magazine, available exclusively to US Lacrosse members. Join or renew today! Thank you for your support.

FOR YOUR BENEFIT AND THEIR PROTECTION

Preventing potential abuse within the lacrosse environment is a responsibility that US Lacrosse considers as important as any other safety measure associated with the sport. Mandatory background checks for coaches and online abuse prevention training are two key elements of our rebranded Abuse Prevention Program, aimed at creating a safer youth lacrosse experience.

Visit uslacrosse.org/abuseprevention for more information.

HOW TO KEEP YOUTH ATHLETES SAFE

• Complete online abuse prevention training.

• Review athlete safety policies and educational resources.

• Talk about appropriate behavior with athletes.

• Report concerns.

THE ENGINE THAT COULD

SportsEngine is the parent company of background screening provider NCSI and is now serving as US Lacrosse’s partner to provide online training through Abuse Prevention Systems (APS). The free online course consists of a series of nine videos followed by an assessment test and can be accessed by members at learning.uslacrosse.org.

GROOMING

Molesters “groom” a child before engaging in sexual touching or behavior. They work to gain the trust of both the child and the parent or guardian. The risk of sexual abuse can be reduced when staff and volunteers recognize the grooming process, provide adequate supervision, follow appropriate verbal and physical boundaries and report risky behavior.

HARD FACTS

• 1 in 8 athletes will be sexually abused in their sport

• 1 in 10 children are sexually abused before age 18

• Nearly 90 percent of child sexual abuse involves a perpetrator that the child knows and trust

BY THE NUMBERS

42K

Background screenings completed through NCSI since USL began mandatory testing for coach members in 2018.

15K

Coaches that have completed the online training since 2019.

90

The average number of minutes needed to complete the new online abuse prevention training course. 

$20-$75

Normal price range for background screening service, depending on an individual’s state of residence. 

$0

What members pay. “We’re absorbing these costs to assist leagues and programs in providing the best and safest environment for their players,” said Mike Cather, US Lacrosse VP and CRO.

LEADERS BY EXAMPLE

“Think of it as continuing education. Continuing to learn is what we are constantly asking of our players, and it is something that they should expect from us as their coaches.” — Anne Moelk, a US Lacrosse member coach in Indianapolis