Federal law defines child abuse and neglect as, at minimum, any recent act or failure to act on the part of a parent or caretaker which results in death, serious physical or emotional harm, sexual abuse or exploitation to a child, or an act or failure to act which presents an imminent risk of serious harm.
In the context of youth sports, child abuse can take many, and perhaps, to some, surprising forms:
Emotional abuse
Is a verbal attack on a child's self esteem by a person in a position of power, authority, or trust such as a parent or coach, and occurs even if the attack is intended as a form of discipline or is not intended by the adult to cause harm
Can take many forms, including any of the following:
