In the wake of abuse by coaches throughout the NWSL coming to light in 2021, U.S. Soccer commissioned an investigation which culminated in the Yates Report, which resulted in U.S. Soccer creating the Safe Soccer Clearance Program. The program has three phases. Currently the program is optional.

• Phase 1 of the program includes SafeSport training, Introduction to Safe and Healthy Playing Environments training, reading and acceptance of U.S. Soccer’s Code of Conduct, and confirmation of the accuracy of contact information.

• Phase 2 of the program includes, completion of phase 1, Positive Soccer Environments, and DEIB (diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging).

• Phase 3 of the program includes completion of phase 2 and a background screening.

The first two sentences of the NWSL Coaches Code of Conduct state:

“Coaches shall hold themselves to the highest standard of coaching within the soccer ecosystem and promote a positive and safe environment for all participants.”

“Coaches shall comply with the NWSL coach licensing standards (as defined in Operations Manual Section 8.19) and seek continuous personal and professional development.”

The code of conduct makes no mention of specifics. It seems the NWSL Operations Manual would have the specifics, but it is not made public.  

In 2015 U.S Soccer announced a revamp of it's licensing system, creating the Pro License which is now the highest possible. You can find information about the USSF coaching license pathway here. 

The U.S. Soccer Directory “serves as a verification of record for users that have current coaching, referee and compliance related certifications on file with U.S. Soccer. Active licensing and/or compliance certifications represent satisfactory completion of course related criteria.”

With the NWSL currently in the midst of pre-season, let’s have a look at the Angel City coaches in the USSF directory.

Sam Laity – Interim Head Coach

NWSL History: Laity has been named interim head coach to start the 2025 season for Angel City while the club completes a search for a permanent head coach. His last job in the NWSL was as the head coach for the Houston Dash in 2023, where he didn’t last the full season. Laity was an assistant coach for the Seattle Reign starting with the inaugural NWSL season in 2013 through 2022. Laity was also the interim head coach of the Reign in 2021 after Farid Benstiti’s resignation - which stemmed from Benstiti’s mistreatment of players - until Laura Harvey’s return to the Reign later that season.

• Highest License: A – Senior, issued 10/19/2023
• No Safe Soccer Clearance
• No background screening
• No SafeSport
• No Introduction to Safe and Healthy Playing Environments

Elerni Earnshaw – Assistant Coach

NWSL History: A former Welsh international, Earnshaw coached Gotham’s reserve team in 2021 to an undefeated season. She joined Angel City in 2022 as a performance analyst, in 2023 she was made an assistant coach, and in 2024 she was promoted to first assistant coach. In December 2024, Angel City announced that they were parting ways with Becki Tweed and named Earnshaw interim head coach. She was replaced with Laity as interim head coach. The looming question is why was she replaced, but the club has not spoken out in regards to this.

• Highest License: UEFA A license. She also has an MS in Exercise Physiology and is in the midst of a PhD in Performance Psychology.

Earnshaw does not seem to be in the USSF database, which means:

• No Safe Soccer Clearance
• No background screening
• No SafeSport
• No Introduction to Safe and Healthy Playing Environments

Mykell Bates – Technical Assistant Coach

NWSL History: Angel City does not have bios for their technical staff. The club also does not list their front office staff at all. It appears Bates started with Angel City in 2024. He has a personal connection to the women’s game through his wife, Margueritte Aozasa, who won a national championship in 2022 as the head coach of UCLA. She was also formerly an assistant coach at Stanford and played collegiately at Santa Clara. 

• Highest License: A – Youth, issued 8/24/2023
• No Safe Soccer Clearance
• No background screening
• SafeSport, issued 5/6/2024 and valid through 5/6/2025
• No Introduction to Safe and Healthy Playing Envirnoments

Ludovic "Ludo" Antunes - Interim Goalkeeper Coach

NWSL History: Again, Angel City does not have bios for their technical staff, but it appears this is Antunes first time working in the NWSL.

• Highest License: Not licensed through USSF, but has an UEFA B license.
• No Safe Soccer Clearance
• No background screening
• SafeSport, issued 7/12/2024 and valid through 7/12/2025
• No Introduction to Safe and Healthy Playing Environments

None of Angel City’s coaches are listed in the USSF directory as having completed the Safe Soccer Clearance Program. The program is voluntary and the club and/or the NWSL may have conducted background checks without putting it into the USSF system.

However, the league is still dealing with the effects of rampant abuse, is currently being sued, and just recently had a player – former Utah Royal, Carly Nelson – speak out about the abuse she endured last season. The Safe Soccer Clearance Program is hardly a cure all, but shouldn’t the league want – if not outright mandate - that their coaches complete this program that was created because of the misconduct that occurred in the league?