Title : Training without harm: Recognizing, addressing, and preventing emotional & mental abuse in youth sports
Abstract:
High level youth sports demand discipline, precision, and consistency. While many coaches seek to foster excellence, systemic issues of emotional and mental abuse can remain hidden. Drawing from my personal experience as a former Junior Olympic National Level gymnast and my professional work as an international coach and choreographer for the Swiss Gymnastics Federation, and Conultant for USA Gymnastics and Gymnastics Canada, where I have worked closely with Olympians and World Championship contenders, I bring a unique perspective on the subtle and overt ways abuse manifests. I highlight a critical, often overlooked insight: children frequently do not share what is happening, not only out of fear or embarrassment, but because they may not even recognize the behavior as wrong. Understanding this is key to prevention and intervention.
Methods / Approach:
- Narrative-based testimony: sharing my lived experience as an athlete subjected to emotional and mental abuse, and my journey toward advocacy.
- Professional coaching insights: drawing on decades of experience training elite gymnasts and developing athletes from beginner to the international level.
- Evidence-based guidance: synthesizing sport psychology research with practical strategies for athlete protection and coach education.
I will explore common “red flags” of abusive environments: fear-based motivation, constant
criticism, neglect of mental health, and contrast them with positive, athlete-centered coaching
practices. The presentation introduces a practical “Coach Education & Athlete-Wellness Audit,”
enabling gyms and clubs to evaluate their culture, recognize hidden risks, and implement
protective measures.
Key Insights / Expected Outcomes:
- Identification of behaviors and patterns constituting emotional and mental abuse, including those normalized within elite sport cultures.
- Recognition of why children often do not disclose abuse: embarrassment, fear, or the belief that what they are experiencing is “normal.”
- Discussion of long-term consequences of abuse: impaired mental health, trust issues, attrition from sport, and diminished performance potential.
- Presentation of a replicable audit tool and best-practice recommendations to cultivate safer, development-focused coaching environments.
Conclusions & Implications:
Physical injuries are visible, but emotional and mental abuse leaves long-lasting, often invisible scars. This presentation advocates for a paradigm shift from “push-and-perform at all costs” to “develop-and-protect at every cost.” By combining personal testimony, professional expertise, and evidence-based recommendations, attendees will leave with actionable strategies to recognize, address, and prevent emotional abuse — ensuring youth athletes thrive physically, mentally, and emotionally.
