KANSAS CITY, Mo. (Oct. 3, 2021) - The paramount concern of coaches must be the holistic development, welfare, enjoyment and safety of their players. Physical, emotional, sexual and racial abuse cannot be tolerated from any coach towards any player at any level.
Every member of our association, whether coaching youth, high school, college or professional players, commits to upholding theUnited Soccer Coaches Code of Ethics. Coaches that abuse their power over players to harass, intimidate or degrade have no place in our game or the soccer coaches association of this country. Zero tolerance must be the bar we strive for. Coaches proven to have crossed that line will have their United Soccer Coaches membership revoked, any awards negated and their welcome to the community of coaches withdrawn.
As the NWSL searches its soul for how it moves forward into the future, we all need to accept accountability and check our own organizations. This was a systemic failure. With the power coaches have over the experience of their players also comes enormous responsibility. We are each responsible for upholding the standards that create safe and healthy environments on and off the field, that trust can never be broken or misused.
We are united around the love of the game and more importantly the humanity of our game. We must constantly work to create safe, supportive, and positive cultures on our teams and across our sport - that is the only acceptable way to be a coach and our responsibility to our players.
Dr. Missy Price President
Lynn Berling-Manuel Chief Executive Officer
United Soccer Coaches
Founded in 1941 and headquartered in Kansas City, Mo., United Soccer Coaches is the trusted and unifying voice, advocate and partner for coaches at all levels of the game. The largest community for soccer coaches in the world, we unite coaches of all levels around the love of the game and we elevate the game through advocacy, education and service. To learn more visit UnitedSoccerCoaches.org.
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