Florida Youth Soccer Association Supports Landmark Legislation to Help End Abuse and Sexual Violence in Sports
Auburndale, FL — December 9, 2024 — Florida Youth Soccer Association (FYSA) proudly announces its support for the Safer Sports for Athletes Act of 2024, a bipartisan effort to reform the U.S. Center for SafeSport and strengthen protections for athletes against abuse. This transformative legislation highlights FYSA’s commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of every young athlete in Florida.
Key provisions from the Safer Sports for Athletes Act include:
- Improving Investigations: Establishes a timeline for SafeSport to conclude cases, ensures a complainant’s right to privacy and support from a confidential victim advocate, and mandates a trauma-informed approach to proceedings.
- Strengthening Accountability: Replaces arbitration with a panel of trauma-trained experts and allows SafeSport to sanction abusers without requiring victim testimony in extraordinary cases.
- Fostering Prevention: Allocates no less than 20% of SafeSport’s funding for prevention strategies, including updated training and oversight practices, developed in collaboration with abuse prevention experts and survivors.
Joel Dragan, FYSA’s Executive Director, emphasized the importance of this legislation: “This act provides the resources and framework necessary to protect athletes and foster a culture of safety in sports. Florida Youth Soccer Association is proud to advocate for these vital reforms that will transform how we support and safeguard our players.”
The bill addresses systemic issues in SafeSport’s current processes, emphasizing that athletes deserve better than broken systems that perpetuate harm. It ensures organizations like FYSA have the resources to prevent abuse.
Congresswoman Deborah Ross, one of the bill’s sponsors, echoed this sentiment: “No athlete—whether they play sports for fun or for a living—should endure the level of abuse, harassment, and violence that has become all too common in sports today. This legislation will provide the framework and resources needed to protect athletes and prevent abuse.”
FYSA urges Congress to act swiftly to pass the Safer Sports for Athletes Act and ensure that all children in the United States can play sports in safe and supportive environments.
To learn more on this topic, use the buttons below to access the Safer Sports for Athletes Press Conference, State Association Sign-On Letter, and the Safer Sports for Athletes Act.
About Florida Youth Soccer Association
The Florida Youth Soccer Association (FYSA) is dedicated to growing and supporting youth soccer across Florida. With a focus on safety, education, and development, FYSA ensures a secure and inclusive environment for all players.