Recognise abuse | Safe Sport Institute

How to recognise abuse

Signs and Symptoms

Everyone reacts to their experiences in a different way. Having one or two of these signs does not always mean a person has been abused. Some people who have been abused may not show any of these signs at all. It is often more helpful to look for patterns, or unexplained changes, in a person's health, behaviour, and attitude — instead of focusing on just one sign. This guide lists common signs and symptoms of abuse and neglect.

Physical Signs

Changes in how someone looks
Ongoing pain or illness
Signs of stress, such as stomach ulcers, frequent stomachaches, or headaches
Injuries that cannot be explained, or that look unusual
Signs of not drinking enough water (dehydration)
Pregnancy or a sexually transmitted infection — especially in children under 14
Trouble walking or sitting

Psychological Signs

Losing interest in sport or competition
Feeling depressed
Feeling anxious
Pulling away from other people (withdrawal)
Lower self-esteem, or feeling bad about oneself
Thoughts of suicide, or trying to end one's own life
New or different fears
Symptoms related to PTSD (post-traumatic stress)
Sudden mood changes or emotional outbursts
Hurting oneself on purpose (self-harm)

Behavioural Signs

Skips school or practice, or makes excuses not to go
Grades or sport performance start to get worse
Stays away from other people, or avoids one specific person
Complains about how a coach or teammates treat them, or refuses to talk about it
Nightmares or wetting the bed
Knows about, or acts out, sexual behavior that is not normal for their age
Is absent from school or practice often, with no clear reason
Talks about not having enough food to eat at home
Is often dirty, or has a strong body smell that is not being taken care of
Says that no one is home to take care of them
Uses alcohol or drugs too much

Also pay attention to these behaviours in coaches and parents.

Signs a Coach/PE Teacher/Official might show

Gives gifts or special treatment to one athlete, but not to the whole team
Punishes bad behaviour or poor performance very harshly — for example, pulling hair or throwing equipment
Expects unrealistic results or success from the athlete
Shows little care about the athlete's well-being
Makes an athlete keep playing even when they may be injured
Asks a young athlete to arrive early or stay late when no one else is around
Sends messages (email, text, social media) directly to a young athlete, without copying a parent or another adult

Signs a parent/guardian might show

Blames the child for problems at school or at home
Tells the child they are bad, worthless, or a burden
Often leaves the child without the adult supervision that is right for their age
Often forgets, or refuses, to pick the child up from practice

Physical Signs

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Changes in how someone looks

Ongoing pain or illness

Signs of stress, such as stomach ulcers, frequent stomachaches, or headaches

Injuries that cannot be explained, or that look unusual

Signs of not drinking enough water (dehydration)

Pregnancy or a sexually transmitted infection — especially in children under 14

Trouble walking or sitting

Psychological Signs

Losing interest in sport or competition

Feeling depressed

Feeling anxious

Pulling away from other people (withdrawal)

Lower self-esteem, or feeling bad about oneself

Thoughts of suicide, or trying to end one's own life

New or different fears

Symptoms related to PTSD (post-traumatic stress)

Sudden mood changes or emotional outbursts

Hurting oneself on purpose (self-harm)

Behavioural Signs

Skips school or practice, or makes excuses not to go

Grades or sport performance start to get worse

Stays away from other people, or avoids one specific person

Complains about how a coach or teammates treat them, or refuses to talk about it

Nightmares or wetting the bed

Knows about, or acts out, sexual behavior that is not normal for their age

Is absent from school or practice often, with no clear reason

Talks about not having enough food to eat at home

Is often dirty, or has a strong body smell that is not being taken care of

Says that no one is home to take care of them

Uses alcohol or drugs too much

Also pay attention to these behaviours in coaches and parents.

Signs a Coach/PE Teacher/Official might show

Gives gifts or special treatment to one athlete, but not to the whole team

Punishes bad behaviour or poor performance very harshly — for example, pulling hair or throwing equipment

Expects unrealistic results or success from the athlete

Shows little care about the athlete's well-being

Makes an athlete keep playing even when they may be injured

Asks a young athlete to arrive early or stay late when no one else is around

Sends messages (email, text, social media) directly to a young athlete, without copying a parent or another adult

Signs a parent/guardian might show

Blames the child for problems at school or at home

Tells the child they are bad, worthless, or a burden

Often leaves the child without the adult supervision that is right for their age

Often forgets, or refuses, to pick the child up from practice

If you notice or suspect any type of abuse or misconduct, report it to the designated Safe Sport Official

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