When sexual abuse occurs in sports, survivors and families are often told to report the misconduct to the U.S. Center for SafeSport. For many, that report represents the first official acknowledgment that something went wrong. But as the process unfolds, a critical question often follows:
What is the difference between a SafeSport investigation and a civil lawsuit?
Understanding the distinction between SafeSport sanctions vs. a civil lawsuit is essential for survivors who want to know what justice can actually look like. While both processes can play an important role, they serve fundamentally different purposes, lead to very different outcomes, and offer very different forms of accountability.
If you are a survivor of sport-related abuse, you should know how SafeSport investigations work, what civil lawsuits accomplish, and why many survivors pursue both paths in parallel, not as alternatives, but as complementary routes toward accountability, compensation, and change.
Key Takeaways About the Difference Between SafeSport Sanctions and Civil Lawsuits
- SafeSport investigations and civil lawsuits serve different but complementary purposes
- SafeSport can impose administrative sanctions, such as suspensions or lifetime bans
- Civil lawsuits focus on survivor compensation and legal accountability
- A lawsuit can also hold institutions monetarily liable, not just individual abusers
- Survivors may pursue a civil lawsuit regardless of whether SafeSport confirms a violation
- A sports coach sexual abuse lawyer can help survivors navigate both paths strategically
First… What is the Purpose of SafeSport?
The U.S. Center for SafeSport was created to protect athletes by addressing sexual misconduct, abuse, and other forms of exploitation in Olympic and amateur sports. Its mandate is rooted in prevention and regulation, not legal accountability or damages.
What SafeSport Is Designed to Do
SafeSport’s primary goals include:
- Receiving reports of abuse or misconduct
- Investigating alleged abuse policy violations
- Restricting or removing offenders from sporting activities
- Creating safer environments for athletes
To accomplish this, SafeSport has the authority to issue administrative sanctions against individuals within its jurisdiction.
What SafeSport Is Not Designed to Do
SafeSport is not a court, and it does not function like one. It cannot:
- Award financial compensation to survivors
- Require organizations to pay damages
- Represent survivors as legal advocates
- Determine civil or criminal liability
This distinction is crucial for understanding the limitations of SafeSport and why many survivors seek justice beyond it.
What Are SafeSport Sanctions?
SafeSport sanctions are administrative consequences imposed on individuals who are found to have violated SafeSport’s policies. These sanctions are designed to regulate who may participate in organized sports—not to compensate survivors or determine legal liability.
Common Types of SafeSport Sanctions
When SafeSport substantiates misconduct, it may impose sanctions such as:
- Temporary suspension
A coach may be barred from coaching, training, or attending competitions while an investigation is ongoing or for a defined period afterward. For example, a youth soccer coach accused of inappropriate contact may be suspended for one or more seasons. - Permanent ineligibility (lifetime ban)
In more serious cases, SafeSport may permanently bar an individual from participating in any covered sports. This means the person cannot coach, officiate, or work with athletes in any SafeSport-governed program. - Restricted participation
Some sanctions limit how and where an individual may interact with athletes. For example, a coach may be prohibited from one-on-one training, overnight travel, or unsupervised contact. - Conditional reinstatement
In limited cases, SafeSport may require education, training, or compliance measures before allowing a person to return to sport-related activities.
What These Sanctions Do—and Do Not—Accomplish
SafeSport sanctions are preventative, not restorative. They are meant to reduce future risk, not address past harm.
They do not:
- Provide financial compensation for abuse survivors
- Acknowledge long-term trauma
- Hold organizations financially accountable
- Cover therapy, medical care, or lost opportunities
For many survivors, sanctions feel incomplete because they focus on removing the abuser, not supporting the person who was harmed. While protecting others from potential harm is a strong incentive for speaking out, most survivors also need compensation to help cover the costs of their personal recovery.
The Limitations of SafeSport Sanctions
While SafeSport plays an important role in athlete protection, its sanctions have inherent limitations, especially for survivors seeking personal justice.
No Financial Accountability
SafeSport cannot order:
- Payment for therapy or counseling
- Compensation for medical expenses
- Damages for pain and suffering
- Reimbursement for lost opportunities
For survivors who have spent years managing the consequences of abuse, these gaps can feel profound.
Narrow Scope of Responsibility
SafeSport focuses primarily on individual misconduct. It does not meaningfully address:
- Institutional negligence
- Organizational cover-ups
- Systemic failures
As a result, teams, schools, and governing bodies often escape accountability through the SafeSport process alone.
In Comparison… What Is a Civil Abuse Lawsuit?
A civil lawsuit is a legal action filed in court that allows survivors to seek accountability and compensation for harm caused by sexual abuse. Unlike SafeSport investigations, civil lawsuits are grounded in state and federal law, not internal administrative policy.
What a Civil Lawsuit Can Address
A civil lawsuit may allow survivors to pursue claims such as:
- Sexual assault or abuse claims against the coach
A survivor may sue a former coach for sexual assault that occurred during private training sessions or travel competitions. - Negligence claims against organizations
A youth sports league may be sued for failing to conduct background checks, ignoring prior complaints, or allowing perpetrators unsupervised access to athletes. - Institutional liability claims
Schools, universities, clubs, or governing bodies may be held accountable for systemic failures—such as covering up allegations or allowing a coach to transfer between programs despite red flags.
What Survivors May Seek Through a Civil Lawsuit
Civil lawsuits allow survivors to pursue financial compensation, known as legal damages, for:
- Therapy and mental health treatment
- Medical expenses
- Emotional distress and pain and suffering
- Loss of scholarships or athletic opportunities
- Long-term psychological harm
While the payment of money cannot undo abuse, compensation can provide access to care, stability, and long-term support that administrative processes cannot offer.
Holding Institutions Liable: A Key Difference
Perhaps the most significant distinction between SafeSport sanctions and civil lawsuits is the issue of institutional liability.
What Is Institutional Liability?
Institutional liability refers to the legal responsibility of organizations that failed to protect athletes. Entities that may be held liable for sports-related abuse include:
- Youth sports leagues
- Clubs or academies
- School districts
- Colleges and universities
- National governing bodies
A civil lawsuit can examine whether these entities:
- Ignored prior complaints
- Failed to supervise coaches
- Allowed unsupervised access to athletes
- Prioritized their reputations over athlete safety
SafeSport rarely addresses these systemic failures in a meaningful way.
Why Institutional Accountability Matters
Holding institutions accountable for athlete abuse can:
- Expose patterns of abuse
- Force policy and culture changes
- Prevent future harm
- Shift responsibility away from survivors
This broader impact is one reason many survivors work with a sports coach sexual abuse lawyer to explore civil claims.
Different Standards, Different Outcomes
One of the most misunderstood aspects of the SafeSport vs. civil lawsuit comparison is that the two systems operate under entirely different standards. Let’s break it down to better understand your options.
SafeSport Standards
SafeSport decisions are based on:
- Internal policies
- Administrative rules
- Confidential investigations
The process is not public, does not involve a judge or jury, and is limited to whether SafeSport’s own rules were violated.
Civil Court Standards
Civil courts apply:
- Established legal standards
- Formal rules of evidence
- Discovery processes (including the exchange of documents, emails, and sworn testimony)
Civil cases examine not only what happened, but who should be legally responsible and whether the harm was foreseeable or preventable.
Why Outcomes Can Differ
Because the standards are different:
- A coach may face no SafeSport sanction but still be found civilly liable
- A SafeSport ban does not guarantee survivor compensation
- Civil courts can address institutional negligence that SafeSport cannot
This is why a SafeSport outcome does not determine whether a civil lawsuit is valid or successful.
Can Survivors Pursue Both Paths at the Same Time?
Yes. SafeSport investigations and civil lawsuits can proceed in parallel. In fact, many survivors:
- Report abuse to SafeSport to protect others, and also
- File civil lawsuits to seek personal justice
These paths are not mutually exclusive—and one does not depend on the outcome of the other.
The Role of a Sports Coach Sexual Abuse Lawyer
Navigating these parallel paths can be complicated. A sports coach sexual abuse lawyer helps survivors understand how SafeSport findings, civil claims, and institutional responsibility intersect.
How a Dedicated Legal Team Can Help Survivors
An experienced lawyer can:
- Explain the differences between administrative and legal processes
- Preserve evidence across proceedings
- Identify all potential defendants
- Protect survivor privacy
- Focus on the survivor’s goals and comfort level
Legal representation ensures survivors are informed—not pressured—at every step.
Which Path Is “Better”?
There is no single correct answer. For some survivors, SafeSport sanctions feel sufficient. For others, compensation and institutional accountability are essential.
What matters is understanding that SafeSport sanctions and civil lawsuits serve different purposes, and that survivors are allowed to pursue the path, or combination of paths, that aligns with their needs.
Justice Looks Different for Every Survivor
Justice is not a single outcome, and it is not defined by any one process. For survivors of sexual abuse in sports, justice is deeply personal.
For some survivors, justice means:
- Knowing the coach can no longer harm others
- Having their experience acknowledged
- Feeling believed and supported
For others, justice includes:
- Access to long-term therapy
- Financial resources to rebuild stability
- Accountability from institutions that failed them
And for many, justice evolves over time. What feels right immediately after reporting may change months or years later.
Understanding the difference between SafeSport sanctions and civil lawsuits allows survivors to define justice on their own terms, without being limited to a single system or outcome.
Final Thoughts: Two Paths, One Goal
SafeSport investigations and civil lawsuits are not competing systems. They are parallel paths that address different aspects of harm.
SafeSport focuses on protecting athletes.
Civil lawsuits focus on restoring survivors.
Both can play a role. Neither defines the limits of your options.
If you are a survivor—or a parent seeking answers—knowledge is power. Understanding how these systems differ is the first step toward deciding what justice means for you.
Trust Dolman Law Group to Guide You Through the Best Path Toward Abuse Recovery
Navigating the aftermath of sexual abuse in sports can feel exhausting. Survivors are often left with unanswered questions about their rights, timelines, and options.
Dolman Law Group represents survivors nationwide in complex sexual abuse and institutional negligence cases. Our team understands how SafeSport investigations intersect with civil lawsuits and how to pursue accountability without re-traumatizing survivors.
When you contact Dolman Law Group, you can expect:
- A confidential, trauma-informed consultation
- Clear explanations of legal options beyond SafeSport
- Experience holding institutions financially accountable
- Respect for your pace, privacy, and choices
Speaking with a lawyer does not mean you must file a lawsuit. It means you gain information—so you can decide what path, if any, feels right for you. We offer free consultations to answer your questions and explain your rights. If we work together, you pay nothing unless we recover compensation on your behalf.
If you reported abuse to SafeSport and are wondering what comes next, learning your legal options may be an important step forward. Contact our compassionate legal team today.
