What do I have to report, and who do I report it to?
Rule- USA
- U.S. Center for SafeSport
- 2026 SafeSport Code
- 2025 MAAPP
- Olympic and Paralympic Movement
- Youth sports
- Under 18 athletes
- 2026 rules
- Coaches
- Volunteers
Under the 2026 SafeSport Code, every adult participant has a personal duty to report. Tell the right people if you learn of, or reasonably suspect, any of the following:
| What | Report to | When |
|---|---|---|
| Child abuse, including child sexual abuse | Law enforcement AND the U.S. Center for SafeSport, plus anyone your state law requires | Immediately (the Center's reporting guide says no later than 24 hours) |
| Sexual misconduct, whether the victim is an adult or a minor | The Center | Immediately, no later than 24 hours |
| Criminal charges or dispositions involving sexual misconduct or misconduct involving minors; retaliation; aiding and abetting; abuse of process | The Center | No deadline is set in the Code |
| Emotional or physical misconduct; MAAPP violations | Your NGB or local club/affiliate, or the Center instead | No deadline is set in the Code |
Key points:
- Reporting child abuse only to the Center isn't enough. You must report to law enforcement too.
- Telling a supervisor doesn't satisfy your duty, and you must report even if you think someone already has.
- Not knowing your obligations is no defense.
- Abuse that happened when the victim was a minor counts as child abuse even if they are now an adult.
- The duty is ongoing: report new information, such as names of witnesses, as you learn it.
Your state's child abuse reporting law also applies, whether or not your league is in the Olympic and Paralympic Movement.
Updated 21 Oct 2026