How big a problem is child abuse in sport?
There is no evidence to show that child abuse is a widespread or growing problem in sport. The NSPCC knows that abuse can occur in any setting where people have access to children. However, there are a growing number of cases where sports coaches have seriously abused children in their care. A growing number of adults and young people are beginning to talk openly about their experiences of abuse that occurred whilst they were involved in sport. The NSPCC Child Protection Helpline, Swimline and the FA Child Protection Helpline receive calls about child abuse that have taken place in a sporting environment. We are also aware of a number of reported cases of bullying by coaches and other adults. We also have reported cases of over-rigorous training and lack of attention to the developmental needs of children and young people. The sheer number of children and adults involved in sport means that statistically there are bound to be some adults who want to use sport to gain access to children
