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Michigan (Sept 6, 2023) -The Army of Survivors stands with and supports Jenni Hermoso and Spain’s Women's National Football Team. The ongoing mistreatment by Luis Rubiales, Jorge Vilda, and the…
MICHIGAN (August 4, 2023) - With the trial of former SJSU Athletic trainer, Scott Shaw, ending in a mistrial, The Army of Survivors (TAOS) publicly acknowledges the courageousness of the…
The Army of Survivors, the only national organization specializing in the advocacy for and support of athlete survivors of sexual violence in sports, released its 2022 Impact Report. The report…
The Army of Survivors, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to end sexual violence against athletes, announced today that it will hold an Awareness and Education Hill Day on Thursday,…
On Monday, Oct. 4, the findings of an investigative report into the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) revealed a culture of sexual, verbal, and emotional abuse by coaches and those…
Update (Thursday, Sept. 22, 2022): On Sept. 21, 2022, the Michigan Supreme Court turned down an appeal and announced it will not reinstate the conviction of former Michigan State University…
The Army of Survivors expresses its deep disappointment regarding the U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) decision to not bring criminal charges against the FBI agents who failed in their investigation…
The Army of Survivors, the only national organization specializing in advocacy for and support of athlete survivors of sexual violence in sports, released its 2022-24 Strategic Plan. The plan details…
The Army of Survivors has issued the following statement on the recent reports of abuse coming out of the dance community. The floodgates have opened in the wake of the…
UPDATE: On January 19, the University of Michigan reached a $490 million settlement with more than 1,000 survivors of abuse by Robert Anderson. We hope this is a step forward…
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Disclaimer: While many of our volunteers are Sister Survivors of Michigan State University, USAG, and USOC, this organization and entity is limited in the ability to accommodate all narratives of each Sister Survivor. Our statements and actions may not always represent the views of all of the Sister Survivors.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Disclaimer: While many of our volunteers are Sister Survivors of Michigan State University, USAG, and USOC, this organization and entity is limited in the ability to accommodate all narratives of each Sister Survivor. Our statements and actions may not always represent the views of all of the Sister Survivors.
Using a long-term method of creating a personal relationship with the athlete to reinforce power and control, and alienate the athlete from their support systems. Grooming often occurs on a continuum beginning with boundary crossing and then escalating to additional acts of sexual abuse.
Coaches, guardians, and people of influence often instill fear in athletes using threats such as reducing playing time or being removed from the team, to secure compliance and/or silence. Promised rewards of additional resources and time may be used to manipulate athletes into compliance and/or silence.
Gaining trust is often achieved by “unburdening” or doing “favors” for the parents/guardians such as providing transportation to a family that is struggling with scheduling or providing equipment to a child whose family cannot afford it. These actions often occur in a way that seem helpful and generous, but coaches, guardians, and people of influence may exploit a child and/or family’s vulnerability to gain their trust and place them in the position of a parental figure.
Coaches, guardians, and people of influence maintain control over interactions and use isolation tactics to make athletes feel alone by restricting access to other athletes, coaches, trainers, facilities, and their family.
Using pressure or manipulation to force sexual contact. For example, using shame, threats, ultimatums, or withholding access to their sport or playing time as punishment for not engaging in sexual contact.
Coaches, guardians, and people of influence* making light of abuse disclosed by athletes or whistleblowers and shifting the blame onto them. For example, gaslighting them into believing it did not happen or that the abuse was really an acceptable act within athletic training.