A Youth Sports Giant Promised Reforms to Protect Kids From Sexual Abuse. Most Never Happened.

**Amateur Athletic Union Fails to Implement Promised Reforms to Protect Youth Athletes from Abuse**

The Amateur Athletic Union (AAU), one of the largest youth sports organizations in the United States, has failed to implement most of the safety reforms it promised over a decade ago following a sexual abuse scandal, an investigation by ProPublica and The Washington Post has found. Despite public assurances, the organization has not adequately protected the hundreds of thousands of children under its purview, leaving many at risk of abuse.

With 760,000 athletes and coaches nationwide, the AAU hosts major competitions annually, including the world’s largest youth volleyball championship in Orlando, Florida, and the Junior Olympics in Iowa. The organization markets itself as a safe space for young athletes, claiming to vet coaches, enforce strict safety rules, and respond effectively to abuse allegations. However, the investigation reveals that these promises are largely unfulfilled.

In 2011, the AAU pledged sweeping reforms after its then-CEO was involved in a sex abuse scandal involving young basketball players. Leaders at the time vowed to create a "new culture" prioritizing athlete safety. Yet, most of these reforms were never implemented. The AAU does not provide child abuse prevention training, despite claiming otherwise on its website. While it offers a training course for coaches, it does not verify whether coaches complete it, even though the course is labeled as "mandatory."

The investigation also found that the AAU has become a refuge for coaches with histories of abuse. ProPublica and The Post identified eight coaches who continued working with children under the AAU in the past five years after being banned or suspended by other youth sports organizations. The AAU had pledged in 2012 to ban such coaches. Sports officials from six national governing bodies told ProPublica and The Post that the AAU has a reputation for lax oversight, making it easier for abusive coaches to evade accountability.

Allegations of sexual misconduct within the AAU are handled by its Board of Review, a group of four elected members and a chair whose identities are not publicly disclosed. One former board member, who served for nearly 25 years, stated that decisions on banning coaches were often made based on "feelings" rather than written guidelines. The abuse reporting hotline promised as part of the reforms does not exist; instead, callers are directed to the AAU’s general office line, with no dedicated option for reporting abuse.

The AAU’s growth in recent years has come at the expense of safety measures, the investigation found. The organization has prioritized expanding its reach through inexpensive team registrations, increasing revenue while maintaining minimal oversight. The full extent of the consequences for young athletes is difficult to determine due to the AAU’s lack of transparency. Unlike other youth sports organizations, the AAU does not publicly disclose lists of coaches found to have abused children.

In a statement, the AAU said it is "committed to protecting its athletes through comprehensive protection policies overseen by our Compliance Department." The organization cited background screenings, verified identity checks, and concussion protocols as key safety measures. However, it declined to answer specific questions about its training programs, abuse investigations, or enforcement of safety rules over the course of more than a year.

After ProPublica and The Post inquired about the AAU’s claim that coach training was mandatory, the organization quietly changed its website to state that the training was merely "encouraged." The investigation also uncovered internal records showing that the AAU’s handling of abuse allegations has been inconsistent and often secretive. In one case, the Board of Review exonerated a top executive accused of sexual abuse without interviewing witnesses or considering prior allegations, according to court records.

The AAU has also used arbitration agreements to keep abuse claims out of public view. Registration forms require all claims against the AAU to be resolved through confidential arbitration rather than open court trials. This practice, which is rare among other major youth sports organizations, has been used to dismiss lawsuits from victims, including a 2024 case involving a teenage volleyball player who alleged abuse by her AAU coach. The case was settled out of court last year.

In a high-profile case where an AAU coach was convicted of abusing hundreds of young basketball players, the AAU itself avoided scrutiny due to its arbitration agreements. The organization declined to comment on these practices or specific cases, citing ongoing legal matters.

The investigation highlights systemic failures within the AAU, raising serious concerns about the safety of young athletes under its supervision. Parents and guardians are urged to research coaches independently and remain vigilant about potential risks in youth sports.