16 is the age of consent but it is 18 if a person of trust, such as a teacher, hospital worker or carer is involved.

Up to now, sports coaches have not been covered by this provision.

The BBC reports that Crouch said she has "ministerial agreement" with the Ministry of Justice and Home Office to include coaches.

The announcement follows considerable publicity regarding sexual abuse of young players, particularly in football, and came a year to the day after former Crewe midfielder Andy Woodward spoke out for the first time about the abuse he faced during the 1980s.

Crouch praised his bravery and said that it encouraged the Government and sports' bodies to take the matter "incredibly seriously".

The 2003 Sexual Offences Act will have to be amended but it is not clear how long this will take.

The Offside Trust, which has been campaigning on the issue of child abuse in sport, has welcomed the announcement.