The Dark Underbelly of Youth Sports: How the AAU’s Failures Put Kids at Risk

The Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) is a national organization that hosts competitions for children in dozens of sports, including basketball, volleyball, and track and field. However, an investigation by ProPublica and The Washington Post reveals that the AAU has failed to protect its young participants from sexual abuse.

Despite promising reforms after a 2011 sex abuse scandal involving its CEO and young basketball players, the AAU did not implement many of those reforms. In fact, it still does not offer child abuse prevention training for coaches, despite claiming otherwise to the public. The organization also allows suspected abusers to continue working with children under its umbrella.

One disturbing aspect of this story is the way the AAU handles allegations of abuse. Serious claims are investigated by a Board of Review, which has no clear guidelines for banning coaches. According to a former member who sat on the board for nearly 25 years, decisions were often made based on “feelings” rather than evidence.

The lack of transparency and accountability in the AAU’s handling of allegations is staggering. The organization operates with an unusual level of secrecy, making it impossible to quantify the scope of consequences for young athletes nationwide. In contrast, other youth sports organizations post public lists of coaches who have abused children.

When questioned about its policies and procedures, the AAU declined to answer questions from ProPublica and The Post over a period of more than a year. Its statement claiming that it prioritizes athlete protection through “comprehensive protection policies” rings hollow in light of this investigation.

The organization’s silence is deafening. It suggests that the AAU has prioritized building its revenue through cheap and easy team registrations, rather than protecting its young participants from harm. This pattern has been observed in other youth sports organizations, where profits are placed above people.

For parents who trust their children to the AAU, this means putting them at risk of abuse and neglect. The AAU’s failures have far-reaching consequences, not just for individual families but also for society as a whole. It is clear that we should be outraged by these revelations and demand better from organizations that claim to protect our children.

The AAU’s handling of child sex abuse claims is particularly egregious. After allegations were made against a former president, the review board exonerated another top executive accused of abuse without even interviewing witnesses or considering past allegations. This lack of accountability is staggering, especially when contrasted with the organization’s claims about prioritizing athlete protection.

The AAU’s problems are not new. In 2011, it promised to build a “new culture” that prioritized protecting young athletes after its CEO was implicated in a sex abuse scandal involving young basketball players. However, these promises were not followed through on.

This story raises important questions about the accountability of organizations that claim to protect children. Why do we continue to trust our kids to these groups when they have consistently failed us? What will it take for them to change their ways and prioritize the safety and well-being of their young participants?

Ultimately, this investigation highlights a broader issue: the lack of transparency and accountability in youth sports organizations. Until we demand better from these organizations, we will continue to see children put at risk. The AAU’s failures are a stark reminder that we must hold ourselves and those who claim to protect our kids to the highest standards.

As we move forward, it is imperative that parents, policymakers, and stakeholders demand greater transparency and accountability from youth sports organizations. We need a system that prioritizes the safety and well-being of young athletes over profits and reputations. Anything less would be unacceptable in this day and age.