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Tracey Crouch has introduced a Bill to Parliament to stop sports coaches engaging in sexual activity with 16 and 17-year-olds in their care.
The Chatham and Aylesford MP, herself an FA qualified football coach, wants the proposed legislation to close a loophole in existing law which currently applies to the likes of teachers, police officers and social workers.
Watch: Tracey Crouch introduces her Bill to Parliament
Ms Crouch says her Ten Minute Rule Bill seeks to amend the Sexual Offences Act 2003 to make sports coach a position of trust with regards to the coach-player relationship.
The former sports minister cited evidence that between 2014 and 2018 there were 653 cases where adults who could be regarded as being in a position of trust had a sexual relationship with a 16 or 17-year-old.
Of the 495 cases in which the adult’s role was recorded, the majority were in sport.
Speaking in the House of Commons last week, Ms Crouch said: "I rise today to introduce this Bill out of sheer frustration at the lack of progress to extend the positions of trust legislation to sports coaches.
"I was in post as sports minister when the scandal of historic abuse in football broke. It was a no-brainer that while safeguards in sport are much better than they were, loopholes existed and this is by far the greatest of them all."
Ms Crouch told the Commons that as the daughter of a social worker who spent her working life dealing with child sexual abuse, she believed the definition of position of trust should further be expanded to include music teachers, private tutors, and faith and driving instructors.
She said: "Anyone in a position to influence another person’s journey through life, meaning that a power balance rests with them, should not be able to abuse that position via a sexual relationship.
"Someone's place in the team or time on the pitch, or the competitions in which they are entered, should not be vulnerable to another person’s physical or emotional demands."
Her Sexual Offences (Sports Coaches) Bill is due to return to the Commons for its next stage, second reading, on July 10.
