When we think of sexual abuse, we often think of decades old allegations. But this week, an independent report investigating abuse allegations within The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) and The United States Soccer Federation (USSF) found very recent systemic verbal and emotional abuse and sexual misconduct by coaches. 

The report finds the leagues failed to address multiple reports of sexual misconduct among coaches resulting in a failure to protect the players. Abuse allegations often led to coaches being moved from team to team while failing to disclose the basis for the transfer. The report also documents that the abuse was often hidden using non-disclosure agreements. 

The independent investigation interviewed 200 players, coaches, owners, and personnel revealing an “open secret” of abuse. Three coaches are specifically named in the investigation. Several  teams refused to comply with the investigation, either by withholding documents or interfering with witnesses. The investigation found multiple players had filed reports that were repeatedly ignored by team leaders and the governing organizations. 

“Teams, the league, and the federation not only repeatedly failed to respond appropriately when confronted with player reports and evidence of abuse, they also failed to institute basic measures to prevent and address it, even as some leaders privately acknowledged the need for workplace protections,” reads the report.

A fear of retaliation kept much of the abuse silenced. The organizations failed to implement basic workplace protections, such as conduct codes, anti-fraternization policies, or harassment policies. The report finds the organizations ran on a shoestring budget lacking basic employee protections like human resources. 

The issues uncovered in the report go beyond professional players to youth soccer. The root of problems and culture is found to begin in youth soccer. SafeSport, a non profit established to address sexual abuse in youth sports was found to have failed in its mission to protect young athletes. 

“Some of the misconduct dates to predecessor leagues and some to youth soccer,” the report’s executive summary reads. “The roots of abuse in women’s soccer run deep and will not be eliminated through reform in the NWSL alone.”

The report recommends fundamental changes that fall into categories including transparency, accountability, clear policies and procedures, player safety and respect, discipline, partnership with SafeSport and youth soccer. Detailed recommendations include:

• USSF should adopt uniform and clear policies and codes of conduct that apply to all Organization Members and are found on the USSF’s website. 
• USSF should require NWSL to conduct annual training for players and coaches on applicable policies surrounding verbal and emotional abuse, sexual misconduct, harassment and retaliation. Training should also include detailed descriptions of players rights, protections and options for reporting inappropriate conduct.
• Greater transparency in coaching hires and dismissals from the federations, league and teams including the removal of non-disclosure agreements
• NWSL and USSF to hire a Player Safety Officer for each team including establishing an office of participant safety to oversee policies and abuse reports including SafeSport. SafeSport should not be relied on exclusively to keep players safe.
• USSF should require the NWSL to implement annual surveys to solicit and then act on player feedback and identify surveys that raise issues of abuse or retaliation. 
• Mandate a minimum standard for background checks of all USSF members including youth coaches and administrators
• USSF should collaborate with its youth member organizations to determine if additional measures are necessary to protect youth players.

A hotline and email address have been created for those associated with NWSL or USSF to report abuse or misconduct. 

The NWSL and USSF investigation demonstrates that systematic abuse and cover-ups continue to this day. This investigation shows that abuse survivors are still struggling to be heard and believed and that the problem of systemic abuse continues in organizations throughout the United States. At Penn Law we provide a voice for victims and will continue to work until each survivor is heard. 

###