Get convicted sex offenders and abusive coaches out of kids' sports

Although it is not the spirit of the law, the Ted Stevens Olympic and Amateur Sports Act has a clause in it that is used to protect the rights of convicted sex offenders and abusive coaches rather than the safety of child athletes. The Act requires that a national governing body "demonstrates that its membership is open to any individual who is an amateur athlete, coach, trainer, manager, administrator, or official active in the sport for which recognition is sought..." National governing bodies, such as USA Gymnastics, believe that this clause prevents them from excluding convicted sex offenders and abusive coaches on their permanently ineligible list ("banned coaches") from sending child athletes to their sanctioned events.

Coaching ethics should be made explicit: Coaches do not exploit athletes or other participants over whom they have supervisory, evaluative or other authority; coaches do not engage in sexual/romantic relationships with athletes or other participants over whom the coach has evaluative, direct or indirect authority, because such relationships are likely to impair judgment or be exploitative.

In addition, a mandatory reporting clause should be added, which would require all adults working with children under the umbrella of a national governing body to report concerns of child abuse and neglect.