Reporting Sexual Abuse by Coaches or Trainers: Step-by-Step Guide

Why Reporting Abuse Can Feel So Overwhelming

When a coach or trainer crosses the line, it doesn’t just hurt physically or emotionally, it shakes your sense of safety. These are people we trust to mentor, protect, and guide. When they take advantage of that trust, it can leave survivors feeling powerless and unsure of where to turn. Speaking up feels daunting. But you’re not alone.

At Horn Wright, LLP, our sexual abuse lawyers have stood beside survivors across New York who faced abuse in athletic spaces, on the field, in the gym, or during one-on-one sessions. If you’re wondering what to do next, or how to even start, this guide was made for you.

Step 1: Focus on Safety First

Before anything else, make sure you or the survivor is in a safe place, physically and emotionally. If there’s an immediate threat, call 911. If you feel unsafe being around the coach or trainer again, take steps to avoid contact. This might mean skipping practice, asking someone to accompany you, or staying with a trusted adult.

For kids, safety might mean telling a parent or teacher. For adults, it might mean setting clear boundaries. You have the right to step back and take a breath.

Step 2: Write Down Everything You Remember

Memory can fade or shift, especially after trauma. As soon as you feel able, write down exactly what happened. Include names, dates, locations, and what was said or done. Even if something feels small or hard to explain, it can help later.

Also, save anything that might support your memory:

• Messages or emails from the coach or trainer
• Social media interactions
• Photos, voicemails, or notes

You don’t have to share these with anyone yet. Just keep them in a safe place so you have them if and when you decide to come forward.

Step 3: Tell Someone You Trust

Carrying this alone can feel unbearable. When you’re ready, tell someone who will believe you. It might be a parent, a friend, a counselor, or someone at your school. You don’t have to share everything all at once. Start small if that feels easier.

If you're not sure what to say, something as simple as “I need help with something that happened with my coach” is enough to start the conversation. If the first person doesn’t respond the way you hoped, don’t give up. Find someone else. You deserve to be heard.

Step 4: Report to the Authorities

If the abuse happened when you were under 18, or if a minor is involved, you can report it to New York’s Statewide Central Register of Child Abuse and Maltreatment. This agency investigates reports of abuse and connects families with resources for support.

If you’re an adult survivor, you can file a police report with your local department. Don’t worry about having all the answers. Just tell your story. Officers or investigators will walk you through the rest.

You can bring someone with you for support if that helps.

Step 5: Inform the Organization or Facility

If the abuse happened during team practices, lessons, or at a gym or training center, it’s important to notify the organization that employed or hosted the coach. This may include:

• Schools
• Athletic clubs
• Fitness studios
• Youth sports leagues

Request to speak with a director or supervisor, and ideally put your concerns in writing. Keep a copy of your message or email. This helps create a paper trail that shows you took action.

If the organization doesn’t take you seriously, or seems to ignore your report, talk to an attorney right away.

Step 6: Report to a Licensing or Oversight Body

Some coaches and trainers are licensed or certified by state or national organizations. That means they’re subject to ethical and professional rules. If they violate those rules, they can lose their license or credentials.

In New York, the Office of Professions (under the State Education Department) oversees licensed professionals, including athletic trainers and physical therapists. If the person who harmed you is certified, you can file a complaint with this office to begin a formal investigation.

This step can also help prevent that person from moving to a new team or facility and harming others.

Step 7: Explore Your Legal Options

Not every survivor decides to file a lawsuit, but if you want accountability, compensation, or change, civil legal action may be an option.

A trauma-informed lawyer can:

• Review your experience in private, safe conversations
• Handle all communication with the accused and their organization
• Protect your identity through legal motions
• Help you access support resources

This process can be as public or as private as you want. Some survivors choose quiet settlements. Others want a full trial. Whatever you choose, a skilled attorney will be there to help you understand every step.

Step 8: Get Support for Your Healing

Reporting abuse isn’t just a legal process, it’s an emotional one. You may feel drained, angry, numb, or all of the above. These feelings are real, and they’re valid.

Support might look like:

• One-on-one therapy with someone trained in trauma
• Joining a support group for survivors
• Talking to someone who’s been through it before

The New York State Office of Victim Services offers help with counseling costs, lost wages, and other needs related to your recovery. An attorney can help you apply for those resources.

You deserve support, not just for your case, but for your healing.

Moving Forward, One Step at a Time

When someone who’s supposed to help you grow ends up hurting you, it can shake everything you thought you knew. But it doesn’t have to define you.

You’re not alone. You’re not to blame. And you still have power, especially when you take the first step toward reclaiming your story.

At Horn Wright, LLP, our sexual abuse attorneys help survivors move forward with dignity, strength, and choice. Whether you’re ready to report, or still figuring it out, we’ll meet you where you are and help you find your next step.