Ahead of the 2026 Winter Games, the Center asks coaches to share their experiences

The U.S. Center for SafeSport (the Center) today announced the launch of the organization’s first-ever survey specifically geared toward coaches, assistant coaches, and instructors. The National Coaches Survey: Building Safer Sport Together seeks input on abuse and misconduct in sport as well as satisfaction, burnout, norms, and behaviors.

“If you've ever had a truly great coach in your life then you know: they don't just change the game, they change you,” said Paralympian April Holmes, interim Chief Executive Office at the Center. “Coaches are an indispensable part of a safe sport ecosystem. The better we understand the joys and challenges that coaches experience, the better we can support them.”

The anonymous survey will be open from October 20 through November 12, and the results will be released in the lead up to the 2026 Winter Olympics and Paralympics. The findings will contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of safety and well-being from grassroots to elite levels of sport, as the Center works to support U.S. athletes and engage leaders interested in athlete safety from around the world.

• Who should take the survey? Anyone 18 or older who has served in the role of coach, assistant coach, instructor or similar in the United States in the last 5 years is encouraged to take the survey. Coaches can be from any sport, and can have coached any age at any level.
• What types of questions will the survey ask? Survey topics include abuse and misconduct in sport as well as coach satisfaction, burnout, norms, and behaviors. There will be optional spaces for survey takers to provide written answers and more detailed feedback.
• When is the survey open? When will you share the findings? The survey will be open from October 20 through November 12. The survey is anonymous, and data will be aggregated. A survey report with results and findings will be released in early 2026.
• Where do I go to take the survey? You can access the survey at: www.surveymonkey.com/r/nationalcoachsurvey
• How long is the survey? The survey is estimated to take 20 minutes to complete.
• Why should I take the survey? The survey is an opportunity for every coach and instructor to ensure their voice is heard and their sport is represented. By taking the survey, coaches will contribute to a better understanding of their specific experiences and inform important conversations around safety and well-being in sports. The more we know, the better the Center can support coaches and enhance safe sport environments.

The survey for coaches is one of the actions the Center committed to implement following a series of community engagement events over the summer. Read the memo summarizing the feedback the Center received from key stakeholders as well as the full list of next steps.

Need for Abuse Prevention in Sport

The U.S. Center for SafeSport is the nation’s only independent organization dedicated to ending sexual, physical, and emotional abuse in U.S. Olympic and Paralympic sport. The Center emerged in response to high profile cases of sexual abuse of minor athletes within Olympic and Paralympic sport in the mid-2010s. With the mission of making athlete well-being the centerpiece of the nation’s sport culture, the Center has since been setting safety policies, and receiving, investigating, and resolving complaints of abuse and misconduct. The Center also serves as an educational resource for sports organizations at all levels, from recreational sports organizations to professional leagues.

With the goal of ensuring athletes within the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Movement are safe, supported, and strengthened, the Center:

• Establishes safety policies, including the SafeSport Code and the Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policies (MAAPP).
• Investigates and resolves allegations of abuse and misconduct and levies sanctions, including temporary and permanent bans from Olympic and Paralympic Sport.
• Delivers comprehensive abuse prevention education within and outside of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Movement.
• Implements a comprehensive audit and compliance function over all National Governing Bodies (NGBs) within the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Movement to ensure adherence to safety, abuse prevention, and accountability standards.

About the U.S. Center for SafeSport

The Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse and Safe Sport Authorization Act of 2017 codified the U.S. Center for SafeSport (the Center), as the nation’s safe sport organization. It furthered the Center’s independence while underscoring its authority to hold individuals accountable. It also charged the Center with developing policies, procedures, and training to prevent abuse and misconduct in sport.

In October of 2020, the Empowering Olympic, Paralympic, and Amateur Athletes Act of 2020 became law, even further strengthening the Center’s independence and oversight functions while mandating minimum funding requirements for the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee.

The Center opened its doors in March of 2017.

Reporting and Resources

Report here to the U.S. Center for SafeSport if you have experienced abuse or misconduct—or if you have reasonable suspicion of abuse or misconduct—inflicted by someone in the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Movement. You can also leave a message by calling the Center at: 833-587-7233.

RAINN's 24/7 online hotline is available for crisis intervention, referrals, or emotional support at any time. You can also call RAINN at: 800-656-HOPE (4673).

The Suicide Prevention Lifeline provides 24/7 free and confidential support at 988lifeline.org or by calling 988.

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“Coaches are an indispensable part of a safe sport ecosystem. The better we understand the joys and challenges that coaches experience, the better we can support them.” - Paralympian April Holmes, Interim SafeSport CEO