The U.S. Tennis Association (USTA) recently underwent an outside review of its safeguarding system with the aim of enhancing player safety and protection from abuse, especially sexual misconduct. This review, conducted by Mary Beth Hogan and David O’Neil of Debevoise & Plimpton, resulted in a 62-page report that outlined 19 specific recommendations for the USTA to consider adopting. Despite the USTA’s compliance with U.S. Center for SafeSport requirements, Hogan and O’Neil identified several areas where improvements could be made to strengthen player safety even further.
The release of this report comes shortly after a high-profile case where a tennis player was awarded $9 million in damages due to the USTA’s failure to protect her from sexual abuse by a coach at one of its training centers. This incident underscores the importance of implementing robust safeguarding measures to prevent such abuse in the future. The report did not delve into the specifics of individual cases but rather focused on evaluating the USTA’s response to abuse allegations and its overall safeguarding policies.
Hogan and O’Neil conducted a thorough independent review of the USTA’s current policies and procedures relating to preventing, reporting, and responding to abuse, including sexual misconduct. This review involved interviews with USTA employees, access to organizational documents, and an assessment of safeguarding practices at other national governing bodies and sports organizations in the U.S. They also compared the USTA’s guidelines with those of the U.S. Center for SafeSport to identify areas for improvement.
Among the 19 recommendations presented in the report, several key areas stand out as crucial for enhancing player safety within the USTA’s Safe Play program. These include the need for increased awareness among coaches, parents, and players about the signs of abusive behavior and the importance of reporting any concerns promptly. The report also highlights the necessity of additional staffing and resources to support the implementation of these recommendations effectively.
The USTA has an opportunity to strengthen its safeguarding system and better protect players from abuse by carefully considering and implementing the recommendations outlined in the Hogan and O’Neil report. By prioritizing player safety and taking proactive steps to address potential risks, the USTA can create a safer environment for all participants in the sport of tennis.