1. Understanding Child Abuse
In-Service Staff Training

2. What is abuse Types of abuse and other misconduct
The topic of child abuse is much broader than just sexual abuse and molestation, which seem to get most of the attention. It also refers to physical and emotional abuse. In addition, the better risk management programs also address bullying, hazing, and harassment.

3. Examples of Sexual Abuse
Below are examples of sexual abuse and sexual harassment, which include. more than just rape or sexual contact with a minor. It also includes verbal communication of sexual content and other sexual attention directed towards a minor.
Rape, physical assault, sexual battery
Unwanted physical sexual contact
Unwelcome sexually explicit or offensive verbal communication
Verbal sexual harassment
Sexual attention toward a minor whether touching or not touching
Any intentional exposure, voyeurism, or sharing of pornographic material with a minor
Any discussions, innuendo, comments, or jokes of a sexual nature with a minor
Peer-to-peer sexual misconduct between minors that is not addressed by staff
As regards sexual interaction with a minor, the consent of the minor, mistaking the age of the participant, or that the interaction did not occur during a sanctioned event are never excuses.

4. Examples of Physical Abuse
Below are examples of physical abuse, which are are broader than assault and battery. If any of these activities result in an injury, it’s easy to prove a case of negligence against the coach. Furthermore, it’s possible in some cases that criminal charges could be filed against the coach, which could result in jail time.
Punching, beating, biting, striking, choking, or slapping a participant
Intentionally hitting a participant with objects or sports equipment
Training practices become abusive such as isolating a participant in a confined space, forcing a participant to hold a painful stance or position, or withholding adequate nutrition or hydration
Conduct that violates safety rules
Encouraging or allowing athletes to become physically or verbally abusive
Providing alcohol to a participant who is under the legal drinking age
Providing non prescription drugs or illegal drugs to a participant.

5. Examples of Emotional Abuse
Below are examples of emotional abuse which involves a pattern of intentional, non-contact behavior that causes or has the potential to cause psychological or emotional harm to a participant. 
Verbal acts such as telling a participant that they are stupid, fat, disgusting, an embarrassment, etc.
Physical acts such as throwing objects or punching a wall in anger
Withholding support or attention such as ignoring or excluding an athlete from practice for a prolonged period of time.

6. Examples of Bullying
Below are examples of bullying, which involves a pattern of committing or allowing others to commit intentional and repeated acts that are intended to cause fear, isolate, or belittle others physically, emotionally, or sexually.
Physical acts such as hitting, pushing, beating, choking, spitting, slapping, throwing objects, etc. at another participant
Verbal acts such as threatening harm, intimidating, teasing, name calling, ridiculing, etc.
Cyberbullying acts through electronic communications or social media to humiliate, harass, spread false rumors, or to exclude a participant and ask others to do the same
Sexual related taunting, teasing, ridiculing based on gender traits, sexual orientation, or sexual attractiveness
Bullying if often committed by other participants, but staff members have the responsibility of intervening on behalf of the targeted participant(s) once such incidents are known or should be known by staff.

7. Hazing
Below are examples of hazing, which typically involves an initiation activity for new team members or social acceptance.
Physical assault and battery such as paddling, beating, branding, etc.
Deprivation of hydration, food, sleep, etc.
Forced consumption of illegal drugs or alcoholic beverages
Restraining through locking in a confined space, taping, or tying
Forced public actions that embarrass or are illegal or socially unacceptable
When staff members know or should know about hazing activity, they should take affirmative action to protect participants.

8. Tactics of Sexual Predators
Sexual predators fall into two main categories: grabbers and groomers
The vast majority of all cases in the youth sports context involve the slow strategy of sexual grooming. Sexual molestation is usually a three-step process. The first step is inappropriate boundary invasions followed by sexual grooming and sexual molestation. It’s very difficult to detect that sexual grooming has occurred until it’s too late and the child has been molested. Therefore, the experts say that the key in stopping the entire chain of events is to prevent inappropriate boundary invasions.
Sexual grooming can appear like innocent behavior. It always starts out with a series of increasing boundary invasions that indicate which children will make the best targets. By the time the boundary invasions become inappropriate, the child is often brainwashed into thinking that a special relationship exists with the predator that justifies the behavior.

9. Sexual Grooming Steps by Predators
Find a vulnerable child with low self-esteem or who is paid little attention by parents
Involve the child in peer-like activities
Desensitize the child to touch
Spend time alone with child and urge him/her to keep secrets
Make the child feel responsible for sexual misconduct
The typical five-step process used by predators is to first find a vulnerable child with low self-esteem or who is paid little attention by his or her parents. Examples of common targets are children who are often left alone, depressed, have disabilities, lack self-confidence, or who have speech impediments. The second step is to engage the child in peer-like activities, such as shopping, running errands, watching TV or playing video games at the home of the molester. The third step is to desensitize the child to touch. This starts out as appropriate touch that gradually changes to inappropriate. Examples are tickling, rough housing, and wrestling. The fourth step is to isolate the child by spending a lot of time alone with him/her and by making the child feel special by having secrets and granting special privileges. The fifth step is to make the child feel responsible for the inappropriate behavior. Examples would be telling the child that he/she will be arrested for his/her own illegal behaviors (such drinking alcohol or taking drugs ), or that he/she actually welcomed the sexual activities in the first place.

10. Example of Inappropriate Boundary Invasion
Below is a list of inappropriate boundary invasions into a child’s personal life that may lead to sexual grooming. These boundary invasions must be prevented by the sports organization by educating administrators and staff of their potential role in sexual grooming, setting policies and procedures to make them less likely to occur, and by being vigilant and requiring staff to report violations to administrators.
Showing undue interest in a child (special relationship)
Giving gifts for no legitimate sports-related reason
Peer-like behavior, such as hanging out
Granting special privileges
Discussing adult matters
Telling/keeping secrets
Being alone with, attending outings with, or transporting a child
Sexual jokes, showing pornography, asking sexual questions
Hugging, kissing, physical contact