Case and statutory law regarding the liability of youth sport organizations for the pedophilic actions of youth sport coaches and officials based on the theories of respondeat superior, negligent hiring, and negligent retention

More than 10 million children below the age of 16 play organized sports (Peterson, 2004). The majority of these children are coached by volunteer, unscreened adult males (Peterson, 2004). The lack of screening on the part of youth sport organizations coupled with the access that they provide to large numbers of children create a ready-made resource pool for pedophiles (Nack & Yaeger, 1999). By coaching youth sports, pedophiles are given an opportunity to win over parents and gain the trust of children. Parents and athletes alike put faith in their coaches and this faith can easily be exploited by coaches who are sexual abusers (Deak, 1999).; In my study, case law for all 50 United States and the District of Columbia was analyzed with the purpose of determining the applicability of the tort theories of respondeat superior, negligent hiring, and negligent retention in terms of holding youth sport organizations liable for the pedophilic actions of their coaches and officials. My study also analyzed voluntary immunity statutes for all 50 United States to determine whether said statutes provide defenses to the aforementioned tort theories for youth sport organizations. By analyzing the law for all 50 states and the District of Columbia, I was able to determine comparisons and differences that can be drawn between the states in how they apply the law for these tort theories and voluntary immunity statutes. Finally, my study analyzed the corresponding standard of care that is imposed on youth sport organizations for all 50 states and the District of Columbia so that youth sport organizations will know what is needed of them to avoid liability and guard against abuse.