Blaming an undesirable result on a couple of players. Telling boys they are “running like girls.” These are just a sample of the abuse youth soccer players have experienced from their coaches.

Youth sports organizations must hold coaches accountable for upholding values that help youth develop mastery in their sport while fostering confidence and self-esteem.

I am a mother of two boys who have been playing elite soccer in the Bay Area for a combined 11 years. Both boys play a year up and consistently make positive contributions to their teams. Yet they have experienced demoralizing actions from coaches, which I am sure have chipped away at their self-esteem. Team dynamics where coaches pit players against each other can be unhealthy, including situations that create two tiers within the team (e.g. starters have a higher status than non-starters) while offering little in the way of helpful feedback.

To be sure, coaches must provide feedback to players in order for them to develop, which may require uncomfortable conversations. However, feedback must be provided in a way that builds rather than crushes the player. According to the Aspen Institute, nearly six in 10 U.S. children play sports, providing many opportunities for coaches to influence children. U.S. Youth Soccer, the country’s largest youth sports organization, has its own principles of conduct designed to guide coaches’ behavior, including the fact that players must receive positive feedback and to keep winning and losing in “proper perspective.”

But who ensures that coaches abide by these standards?

In most other professions, employees undergo annual performance evaluations, including receiving feedback from stakeholders. Yet never in my experience have parents had an opportunity to provide feedback on the coach. Generally, as long as the coach keeps winning, the club is happy, and any inappropriate behavior remains unchecked.

There is no accountability on the part of the club for player development and no way to measure effectiveness of the training that usually occurs several days a week. Instead, parents hear about where their children are not meeting expectations with no plan to help them meet these expectations — which should be critical if the focus is on player development. Because of this power imbalance, and perhaps a promise of a future as a college athlete or professional player, players and their families continue to endure humiliating situations.

A 2017 study described an institutional culture of acceptance, particularly among elite youth sports, that enables this kind of behavior; however, studies in this area are limited. Adverse childhood experiences, including emotional abuse, have been shown to negatively impact future health, including depression and health-risk behaviors, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

Five ways administrators of youth sports clubs can better protect children:

• Create a process for players and parents to provide feedback on their coaching experiences.

• Ensure coaches provide continuous feedback to players throughout the season with specific milestones for improvement, if indicated.

• Create a zero-tolerance policy for abusive coaches.

• Enact a zero-retaliation policy against parents and players who bring to light abusive behavior.

• Ensure that all coaches receive continuous training in child psychology so that they can maximize the potential of the children in their charge.

Children continue to face emotional and psychological abuse in the largely unregulated world of competitive sport, which can have long-term debilitating effects on their mental, emotional and physical health. Directors of youth sports clubs must intervene to protect children by holding coaches accountable to the highest standards of acceptable behavior.

Marcelle Dougan is an assistant professor of Public Health and Recreation at San Jose State University and a Public Voices Fellow with The OpEd Project.