Imagine yourself in the shoes of a young person who is often isolated from their social circle, whose life revolves around a goal for which they are willing to make many sacrifices to succeed. One person in particular, their coach, holds the key to this success, giving them a lot of power. It is in this position of vulnerability that young elite athletes find themselves in relation to their coach, creating a context conducive to sexual violence.
Sexual violence among underage athletes is a serious problem. According to a study conducted in Quebec, more than a quarter of athletes (both girls and boys between 14 and 17 years old) have reported at least one experience of sexual violence in the context of their sports activities1 . Peers are responsible in nearly six out of ten cases, while coaches are responsible in four out of ten cases1 .
Who are these athletes?
According to current data, all athletes are at risk of experiencing sexual violence in sports, but the risk appears to be higher for competitive athletes and young individuals of sexual diversity2 . As for the perpetrators, they are often men, although women can also commit sexual violence. It should also be noted that boys can be victims, and sexual violence between individuals of the same gender is more common than one might think3 .
Grooming, at the root of the assaults
Grooming is defined as a deceptive process used by perpetrators to lure their underage victim and thereby facilitate future sexual contact with them without getting caught4 . Let's take the example of a coach who appears friendly to an athlete they are training, offers gifts, dedicates special training sessions, etc.3 . This coach gains the trust of the athlete and their family. The boundaries between the perpetrator and the victim become blurred, as do the boundaries between the perpetrator and the victim's family, who increasingly trust them3 . They allow themselves to get closer to the victim and engage in sexually inappropriate behaviors without it being immediately perceived as an assault by the victim3 . The victim may even believe it is a romantic relationship, but it's important to remember that this coach is in a position of authority3 . Therefore, a sexual relationship between a coach and an underage athlete is legally considered an act of sexual violence in Quebec.
The coach/athlete dynamic: A particular context
The context of sports has a tremendous impact on the vulnerability of athletes. Young individuals who practice their sport at competitive levels experience more sexual victimization than those who participate recreationally5 . Indeed, it’s in this context of competition that sports become more central to the young person’s life. They can be perceived more as an athlete who must win than as a young person in development. Travel is more frequent, training is more intense, the young person is left more to themselves, and the professional team overseeing the athlete's sport discipline takes on a more significant role6 .
Normalized practices in the context of sports training also exert a significant influence on athletes' experiences. Certain harmful and unethical practices by coaches (ignoring, belittling, getting angry, etc.) are often trivialized and justified in the name of performance. They are also less likely to be reported if the athlete is performing well, since achieving the athlete's performance goals somehow "legitimizes" the maltreatment. In the case of sexual violence, when athlete-victims are young, they often lack the words and the necessary education to define their experiences and recognize the abuse they have been subject to. When they do realize it, the fear of not being believed frequently prevents them from reporting it. This is facilitated by organizations that tend to protect the perpetrators by fostering a culture of silence6 . Consider, for example, the recent case of Hockey Canada, where we learned that a reserve fund financed by minor hockey registration fees was secretly used to settle claims of sexual abuse.
Addressing the taboos within the community and holding sports organizations accountable for the sexual violence experienced by young athletes is a societal duty2 . By being proactive, informed, and supportive, we can create a safer and healthier sporting environment for young athletes.
Helpful resources and courses of action to combat sexual violence in sports
For all:
- If you suspect abuse, know that all Quebecois have a legal obligation to report cases of physical abuse and sexual assault involving minors to the Director of Youth Protection.
- You can report in writing or by phone 24/7.
- Receiving a disclosure can be difficult. However, making a disclosure is also difficult. If a young person discloses that they have been a victim of abuse within their sports discipline, make sure to be supportive towards them.
- There are several resources available for victims, their loved ones, or witnesses, such as:
- Helpline Sexual Violence Helpline (24/7: 1 888 933-9007)
- The Coalition of Sexual Assault Help Centers (1-877-717-5252);
- The Crime Victims Assistance Centres (1 866 532-2822);
- Helplines for young people such as Tel-Jeunes (1 800-263-2266);
- The Compensation for victims of crime, if the person feels the need to receive services such as psychosocial follow-up (1 800-561-4822);
- The Safety and Integrity in Sport Research Chair, headed by Université Laval professor Sylvie Parent, has a knowledge mobilization section on its website. Here, you can find various resources to help you learn more about the issue.
- Sport’aide, is a helpline specific to sports which can also help athletes (1-833-211-2433).
For athletes, several courses of action, in addition to the resources mentioned above, are available.
- It is important to discuss concerns with a trusted adult who is not part of the sport: a teacher, a parent, or a professional who can receive a disclosure. This burden is not only for athletes to bear. Violence in sports, whether sexual or not, can be stopped.
- The only person responsible for the violence is the perpetrator; we encourage athletes not to blame themselves for the acts they and/or a close athlete may have suffered.
- Try to meet people outside the culture of elite sports and engage in other types of activities to experience different things and be less rooted in the sports culture2 .
- Cultivate achievements that are not related to sports to feel less pressure to perform and not fear having no future without sports2 .
For parents:
- Engage in a dialogue with the coach and the young athlete, question practices, and prioritize the well-being of the young person beyond their performance.
- Even though coaches have a significant influence on various aspects of the athlete's life, such as their diet or the number of hours of practice, this should remain as confined as possible to the realm of sports to minimize the control these individuals have over the athlete.
- Promote a safe space where the athlete feels comfortable discussing their concerns or experiences. It is important that they feel confident and that their parental figures are there to support them unconditionally.
- Remain particularly attentive to any changes in behavior, attitude, or mood in the athlete.
For coaches:
- Become aware that your influence on the athletes is immense: it is important to choose your words and actions carefully2 .
- Share power with the athletes3 : consider their priorities, explain your reasoning, etc.
- Be humble. It is important to explicitly tell your athletes that you are not perfect.
- As witnesses to an act of violence by a colleague, do not turn a blind eye to the situation. The most important thing is to ensure the physical and emotional integrity of the athletes. You can offer resources and support. Document the incident as much as possible and, above all, report it to the authorities as well as to the parents.
*It is important to note that the studies cited did not include transgender and non-binary athletes in their samples, and to date, it is challenging to estimate the prevalence of sexual violence experienced by this population.
This blog article was originally written as part of the course on Sexual and Interpersonal Victimization taught by our member Roxanne Guyon at the Department of Sexology at UQAM in the fall of 2022.
- 1 a b Parent, S., Vaillancourt-Morel, M-P., & Corneau, M. (2018). Capsule infographique #5 : La violence sexuelle en contexte sportif. Centre de recherche interdisciplinaire sur les problèmes conjugaux et les agressions sexuelles (CRIPCAS), Université de Montréal, Montréal, Qc.
- 2 a b c d e Bjørnseth, I, & Szabo, A. (2018). Sexual violence against children in sports and exercise: A systematic literature review. Journal of Child Sexual Abuse, 27(4), 365‑385. https://doi.org/10.1080/10538712.2018.1477222
- 3 a b c d e f Gaedicke, S., Schäfer, A., Hoffmann, B., Ohlert, J., Allroggen, M., Hartmann-Tews, I., & Rulofs, B. (2021). Sexual violence and the coach-athlete relationship-a scoping review from sport sociological and sport psychological perspectives. Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, 3, 643707. https://doi.org/10.3389/fspor.2021.643707
- 4Winters, G. M., Kaylor, L. E., & Jeglic, E. L. (2021). Toward a universal definition of child sexual grooming. Deviant Behavior, 43(8), 926-938. https://doi.org/10.1080/01639625.2021.1941427
- 5Hartill, M., Rulofs, B., Lang, M., Vertommen, T., Allroggen, M., Cirera, E., Diketmüller, R., Kampen, J., Kohl, A., Martin, M., Nanu, I., Neeten, M., Sage, D., et Stativa, E. (2021). CASES: General Report: The prevalence and characteristics of interpersonal violence against children (IVAC) inside and outside sport in six European countries, 1-104. Edge Hill University. https://doi.org/10.25416/edgehill.17086616.v1
- 6 a b Wilinsky, C. L., & McCabe, A. (2021). A review of emotional and sexual abuse of elite child athletes by their coaches. Sports Coaching Review, 10(1), 84‑109. https://doi.org/10.1080/21640629.2020.1775378
