Tagcoach screening

Should Coaches Text Players? A Model Electronic Contact Policy for Youth Sports

By Gemma-Leigh Garner
In Risk Management, Safety and Injury Prevention
15 Min read
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Should coaches text players? Yes, under one condition: a second adult is on every message. A coach has no program reason to hold a private, one-on-one conversation with a player on any app. Three criminal cases made public in August 2026 show why boards are asking. All three coaches are charged, and none has been convicted. In Iowa, police arrested a 56-year-old Cedar Rapids bowling coach on...

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How to Check the SafeSport Banned List, and How Often to Re-Check

By Gemma-Leigh Garner
In Risk Management, Safety and Injury Prevention
13 Min read
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The SafeSport banned list is a free public database. Many youth sports programs that search the database check a coach’s name once, at signup. One check is the gap. In February 2026, the U.S. Center for SafeSport ruled a Texas club volleyball coach permanently ineligible. ProPublica and The Washington Post reported that he was training his club’s players again the next day. The...

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