Coaches and child sexual abuse prevention training: Impact on knowledge, confidence, and behavior

Over the last twenty years, increasing numbers of athletic associations in the United States have begun requiring child sexual abuse (CSA) prevention training for staff members. This is a potentially powerful step because sexual abuse continues to be a significant problem in youth athletics. Additionally, coaches develop close relationships with children, putting them in a unique position to recognize and report the warning signs of child sexual abuse. Now that training has been in place for some time, it is important to assess its impact. This study draws on pretest, posttest, and six month follow-up questionnaires as well as observational data collected from over 500 adults (93 of whom were coaches) at a national adult prevention program. It examines coaches' knowledge about CSA, their confidence in identifying it, and their engagement in protective behaviors. The article also addresses the question of whether coaches have unique training needs that are not well met by programs targeted to teachers or parents. Results suggest that training improves coaches' knowledge and boosts their confidence level. Findings about behavior change are mixed, but male coaches are found to respond to CSA suspicions less often than do female coaches. Coach knowledge, confidence, and behavior are not significantly different from either teachers or parents but they have unique concerns about CSA and CSA training. The article concludes with policy suggestions for developing and improving coach-training programs. •Coaches lack information about CSA and are not confident to recognize warning signs.•Male coaches are less likely than female coaches to engage in preventative behaviors.•Coaches gain knowledge and confidence in the studied CSA prevention program.•Evidence of behavioral change due to the program is mixed.•Coaches have unique concerns about CSA that should be addressed in training.