Tampa, Florida – United Soccer League Senior Director of Safeguarding Lenny Toles was announced on Friday as one of the members of the United States Soccer Federation’s new Participant Safety Task Force.
The task force, chaired by former professional player Mana Shim, was created after the release of Sally Q. Yates’s independent research, and will focus from the youth level, to the professional leagues and senior national teams.
“It’s an honor to be part of such an important project for the federation and American football,” Taurus said. “At the USL, we are always working to protect members of our community, including players, coaches and front office staff, and we look forward to bringing our perspectives to the US Soccer Task Force. Together, Soccer in the United States.” can be made safer for everyone.”
Taurus joined USL in April and has led the development of organization-wide policies and procedures related to the protection and safety compliance of all individuals within the USL ecosystem. A native of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Taurus has worked in both the United States and England before joining the USL in England.
Towles holds a master’s degree in social work from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and a bachelor’s degree in social work from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.
The Task Force will employ an athlete-focused approach supported by subject matter experts to identify critical issues and potential solutions to the systemic problems described in Yates’ report, and any additional issues raised through the impending NWSL/NWSLPA investigation. Concerns or suggestions raised directly by Task Force members.
The group will begin by focusing on topics such as governance, standards and policies, education and reporting and response. From this starting point, the Task Force went beyond Yates’ recommendations to come up with additional actions that leaders at all levels of football can take to promote a safe and respectful environment across the football ecosystem, work to identify.
