Prevention Policies: 1-on-1

PREVENTION POLICIES: LIMITING 1-ON-1 INTERACTIONS BETWEEN ADULTS AND MINORS

This page contains US Club Soccer’s Prevention Policies as they appear in Policy 13.06. It is part of US Club Soccer’s Participant Safety/Risk Management Policies.

**

Soccer is a team sport. Although appropriate physical contact and one-on-one interaction between Minor Athletes and Adult Participants may be conducive to improving physical skills, US Club Soccer believes prudent limitations on one-on-one interactions can reduce the potential for abuse and misconduct without negatively impacting player development or unnecessarily limiting one-on-one time with trusted adults that is healthy and valuable for a child.

These policies set forth in this Appendix B (“Prevention Policies”) apply to all Participants (as that term is defined in Policy 13.01). This Policy has been adopted from and is consistent with U.S. Soccer policies and the SafeSport MAAPP.

A. ONE-ON-ONE INTERACTIONS/MEETINGS:

The majority of child sexual abuse is perpetrated in isolated, one-on-one situations. By reducing such interactions between children and adults, the risk of child sexual abuse is reduced. However, one-on-one time with trusted adults is also healthy and valuable for a child. Policies concerning one-on-one interactions protect children while allowing for these beneficial relationships.

  1. Observable and interruptible.
    • (A) One-on-one In-Program Contact between an Adult Participant and a Minor Athlete must be observable and interruptible.
    • (B) Isolated, one-on-one interactions between Minor Athletes and Adult Participants are prohibited, except under emergency circumstances, unless:
      • A Dual Relationship Exists; or
      • The Close-in-Age Exception applies; or
      • A Minor Athlete needs an Adult Participant Personal Care Assistant (“PCA”), and:
        • The Minor Athlete’s parent/guardian has provided written consent to the applicable Member Organization (or to US Club Soccer, for activities directly operated by US Club Soccer) for the Adult Participant PCA to work with the Minor Athlete; and
        • The Adult Participant PCA has complied with US Club Soccer’s SafeSport education and training policy; and
        • The Adult Participant PCA has complied with US Club Soccer’s background screening policy.
    •  
  1. Meetings and Training Sessions. Adult Participants must follow the one-on-one interaction policy in all meetings and training sessions where Minor Athletes are present.
  1. Meetings with mental health care professionals. If a mental health care professional meets with a Minor Athlete at a sanctioned event or facility which is partially or fully under the jurisdiction of US Club Soccer, the meeting must be observable and interruptible except if: (1) the door remains unlocked; (2) another adult is present at the facility; (3) the other adult is advised that a closed-door meeting is occurring, although the minor’s identity need not be disclosed; (4) the organization is notified that the provider will be meeting with a Minor Athlete; and (5) written legal guardian consent consistent with applicable laws and ethical standards is obtained by the mental health care professional, with a copy provided to the applicable Member Organization directly operating the activity, or US Club Soccer if US Club Soccer is directly operating the activity.
  1. Individual training sessions. One-on-one, In-Program, individual training sessions must be observable and interruptible except if:
    • A Dual Relationship Exists; or
    • The Close-in-Age Exception applies; or
    • A Minor Athlete needs an Adult Participant Personal Care Assistant (“PCA”), and:
      • The Minor Athlete’s parent/guardian has provided written consent to the applicable Member Organization (or to US Club Soccer, for activities directly operated by US Club Soccer) for the Adult Participant PCA to work with the Minor Athlete; and
      • The Adult Participant PCA has complied with US Club Soccer’s SafeSport education and training policy; and
      • The Adult Participant PCA has complied with US Club Soccer’s background screening policy.

The Adult Participant providing the individual training must obtain the written permission of the minor’s legal guardian at least annually, which may be withdrawn at any time. Parents, guardians, and other caretakers must be allowed to observe the training session.

      •  
  1. Recommendations.
    • (A) Monitoring. When one-on-one interactions between Adult Participants and Minor Athletes occur at a facility partially or fully under the jurisdiction of US Club Soccer, another Adult Participant should monitor each meeting or training session. Monitoring includes reviewing the parent/guardian consent form, knowing that the meeting or training session is occurring, knowing the approximate planned duration of the interaction, and dropping in on the meeting or training session.
    • (B) Parent Training. Parents/guardians receive the U.S. Center for SafeSport’s education and training on child abuse prevention before providing consent for their Minor Athletes to have a meeting or training session with an Adult Participant subject to these policies.

B. ATHLETIC TRAINING MODALITIES, MASSAGES AND RUBDOWNS:

  1. Licensed, certified professional.
    • Any athletic training modality, massage or rubdown performed by an Adult on a Minor Athlete at a facility under the jurisdiction of US Club Soccer or a training or competition venue is prohibited unless such adult is a licensed massage therapist.
    • Any athletic training modality, massage or rubdown performed at a facility under the jurisdiction of US Club Soccer or a training or competition venue by a licensed professional must be observable and interruptible. Any massage of a Minor Athlete must be done with at least one other adult present and must never be done with only the Minor Athlete and licensed massage therapist in the room.
  •  
    • Even if a coach is a licensed massage therapist, the coach shall not perform a rubdown or massage of an athlete under any circumstances.
  1. Written consent. Written consent by a legal guardian be obtained at least annually before providing any athletic training modality, massage or rubdown on a Minor Athlete. Parents must be permitted to be in the room as an observer.
  1. Recommendations.
    • (A) Parent training. Parents/guardians should receive the U.S. Center for SafeSport education and training on child abuse prevention before providing consent for their Minor Athlete to receive an athletic training modality, massage or rubdown.
    • (B) The provider should narrate the steps in the athletic training modality, massage or rubdown before taking them, seeking assent of the Minor Athlete throughout the process.

C.  LOCKER ROOMS AND CHANGING AREAS:

  1. Use of recording devices. Use of any device’s (including a cell phone’s) recording capabilities, including voice recording, still cameras, and video cameras in locker rooms, rest rooms, changing areas, or similar spaces at a facility under the jurisdiction of US Club Soccer is prohibited. Exceptions may be made for media and championship celebrations, provided that: parent/legal guardian consent has been obtained; such exceptions are approved by the applicable Member Organization or US Club Soccer; everyone is fully clothed; and two or more Adult Participants are present.

  2. Isolated one-on-one interactions.
    • (A) All one-on-one, In-Program Contact between an Adult Participant and a Minor Athlete in a locker room, rest room, or changing area must be observable and interruptible, except if:
      • A Dual Relationship Exists; or
      • The Close-in-Age Exception applies; or
      • A Minor Athlete needs an Adult Participant Personal Care Assistant (“PCA”), and:
        • The Minor Athlete’s parent/guardian has provided written consent to the applicable Member Organization (or to US Club Soccer, for activities directly operated by US Club Soccer) for the Adult Participant PCA to work with the Minor Athlete; and
        • The Adult Participant PCA has complied with US Club Soccer’s SafeSport education and training policy; and
        • The Adult Participant PCA has complied with US Club Soccer’s background screening policy.
    • (B) If US Club Soccer or a Member Organization is using a facility that has access to a single set of such facilities, times for use by Adult Participants, if any, shall be designated.
  1. Undress. Under no circumstances shall an Adult Participant shower with Minor Athletes or otherwise be undressed (disrobed or partially of fully unclothes where private body parts are exposed) in front of Minor Athletes unless: a Dual Relationship Exists; the Close-in-Age Exception Applies; or a Minor Athlete requires a PCA and the PCA requirements set forth in this Section C have been fulfilled.
  1. Monitoring. The use of locker rooms, rest rooms, and changing areas at facilities under the jurisdiction of US Club Soccer shall be regularly and randomly monitored by the applicable Member Organization (or by US Club Soccer if US Club Soccer is directly operating the activity) to ensure compliance with these policies. The applicable Member Organization shall provide a semi-private place for Minor Athletes to change clothes or undress at sanctioned events that include locker rooms and/or changing areas for athlete use.
  1. Non-exclusive facility. If US Club Soccer or its members use a facility not under its jurisdiction (for, e.g., training or competition or similar events) and the facility is used by multiple constituents, Adult Participants are nonetheless required to adhere to the rules set forth here.
  1. Recommendations.
    • (A) Adults make every effort to recognize when an athlete goes to the locker room or changing area during practice and competition and, if they do not return in a timely fashion, check on the athlete’s whereabouts.

    • (B) Parents are discouraged from entering locker rooms and changing areas unless it is truly necessary. In those instances, it should only be a same-sex parent. If this is necessary, parents should let a coach or administrator know about this in advance.

D.  ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS:

  1. Content. All electronic communication originating from Adult Participants to Minor Athletes must be open and transparent, and professional in nature.
  2. Open and transparent.
    • (A) All electronic communications between an Adult Participant and a Minor Athlete must be open and transparent except if:
      • A Dual Relationship Exists; or
      • The Close-in-Age Exception applies; or
      • A Minor Athlete needs an Adult Participant Personal Care Assistant (“PCA”), and:
        • The Minor Athlete’s parent/guardian has provided written consent to the applicable Member Organization (or to US Club Soccer, for activities directly operated by US Club Soccer) for the Adult Participant PCA to work with the Minor Athlete; and
        • The Adult Participant PCA has complied with US Club Soccer’s SafeSport education and training policy; and
        • The Adult Participant PCA has complied with US Club Soccer’s background screening policy.
  1. Open and transparent means:
    • (A)  If an Adult Participant needs to communicate directly with a Minor Athlete via electronic communications, another Adult Participant or the minor’s legal guardian shall be copied.
    • (B)  If a Minor Athlete communicates to the Adult Participant privately first, the Adult Participant should respond to the Minor Athlete with a copy to another Adult Participant or the minor’s legal guardian.
    • (C)  An Adult Participant communicating electronically to the entire team shall copy another Adult Participant.
    • (D)  Minor Athletes may “friend” the applicable organization’s official page.
    • (E)  Only platforms that allow for open and transparent communication may be used to communicate with Minor Athletes.
  1. Prohibited electronic communications.
    • (A) Adult Participants are not permitted to communicate privately via electronic communications with Minor Athletes, except under the exceptions contained in Section D(2)(a).
    • (B)  Adult Participants are not permitted to “private message,” “instant message,” “direct message”, or send photos via Snapchat or Instagram to a Minor Athlete privately, except under the exceptions contained in Section D(2)(a).
  1. Requests to discontinue. Legal guardians may request in writing that their child not be contacted through any form of electronic communication by US Club Soccer, a Member Organization, or Adult Participants. US Club Soccer and/or the applicable Member Organization shall abide by any such request that their child not be contacted via electronic communication, absent emergency circumstances.
  2. Recommendations.
    • (A)  Hours. It is recommended that real-time electronic communications only be sent between the hours of 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., unless there is a specific safety- or soccer-related need to communicate.
    • (B)  Monitoring.
      • It is recommended that social media pages shall be monitored by two or more Direct Adult Participants associated with the applicable Member Organization, and posts that violate US Club Soccer’s policies and practices for appropriate behavior are removed.
      • The legal guardian or a minor athlete and the applicable organization’s administrator shall be informed of any prohibited posts.
  • Social media connections. Adult Participants should not maintain private social media connections with Minor Athletes, and Adult Participants should discontinue existing social media connections with Minor Athletes, except under the exceptions outlined in Section D(2)(a). It is anticipated that this recommendation will become a requirement in the near future.

E.  TRANSPORTATION:

”Transportation” consists of travel to training, practice and competition that occurs locally and does not include coordinated overnight stay(s).

  1. Transportation.
    • (A)  US Club Soccer generally does not arrange for transportation for its Members.
    • (B)  An Adult Participant cannot transport a Minor Athlete one-on-one during In-Program travel, except if:
      • A Dual Relationship Exists; or
      • The Close-in-Age Exception applies; or
      • The Adult Participant has advance, written consent to transport the Minor Athlete one-on-one obtained at least annually from the Minor Athlete’s parent/guardian; or
      • A Minor Athlete needs an Adult Participant Personal Care Assistant (“PCA”), and:
        • The Minor Athlete’s parent/guardian has provided written consent to the applicable Member Organization (or to US Club Soccer, for activities directly operated by US Club Soccer) for the Adult Participant PCA to work with the Minor Athlete; and
        • The Adult Participant PCA has complied with US Club Soccer’s SafeSport education and training policy; and
        • The Adult Participant PCA has complied with US Club Soccer’s background screening policy.
  • (C)  Minor Athlete(s) or their parent/guardian can withdraw consent at any time.
  • (D)  Adult Participants may transport Minor Athletes if accompanied by at least one other Adult Participant or at least two minors.
  • (E)  Written consent from a Minor Athlete’s parent/guardian is required for all transportation arranged by a Member Organization (or by US Club Soccer if US Club Soccer is directly operating the activity).
  1. Recommendations.
    • (A)  Shared or Carpool Travel Arrangement. US Club Soccer encourages parents/legal guardians to pick up their Minor Athlete first and drop off their Minor Athlete last in any shared or carpool travel arrangement.
    • (B)  Parent training. It is recommended that parents/legal guardians receive education concerning child abuse prevention before providing consent for their Minor Athlete to travel alone with an Adult Participant.

F.  LODGING:

“Lodging” is team travel to a competition or other team activity that US Club Soccer or a Member Organization plans and supervises, and that requires an overnight stay or use of a hotel.

  1. Hotel Rooms and Other Sleeping Arrangements. All In-Program Contact at a hotel or lodging site between an Adult Participant and a Minor Athlete must be observable and interruptible, and an Adult Participant cannot share a hotel room or otherwise sleep in the same room with a Minor Athlete(s), except if:
      • A Dual Relationship Exists; or
      • The Close-in-Age Exception applies; or
      • The Adult Participant has advance, written consent to transport the Minor Athlete one-on-one obtained at least annually from the Minor Athlete’s parent/guardian; or
      • A Minor Athlete needs an Adult Participant Personal Care Assistant (“PCA”), and:
        • The Minor Athlete’s parent/guardian has provided written consent to the applicable Member Organization (or to US Club Soccer, for activities directly operated by US Club Soccer) for the Adult Participant PCA to work with the Minor Athlete; and
        • The Adult Participant PCA has complied with US Club Soccer’s SafeSport education and training policy; and
        • The Adult Participant PCA has complied with US Club Soccer’s background screening policy.
    •  
  1. Written consent from a Minor Athlete’s parent/guardian must be obtained for all In-Program lodging at least annually.

  2. Monitoring or Room Checks During In-Program Travel. If the Member Organization or US Club Soccer performs room checks during In-Program lodging, the one-on-one interaction policy must be followed and at least two adults must be present for the room checks.

  3. Additional Requirements for Lodging Authorized or Funded by a Member Organization or US Club Soccer.
    • (A)  Any Adult Participant traveling with the organization must agree to and sign the organization’s Lodging policy at least annually.
    • (B)  Adult Participants that travel overnight with Minor Athletes are assumed to have authority of Minor Athletes and thus must comply with US Club Soccer’s SafeSport education and training policy.
  1. Meetings.
    • (A)  Meetings shall be conducted consistent with US Club Soccer’s policy for one-on-one interactions – i.e., any such meeting shall be observable and interruptible.
    • (B)  Meetings shall not be conducted in a hotel room.
    • (C)  It is recommended that team travel policies are signed and agreed to by all minor athletes, parents, and adults traveling with the organization.
  1. Recommendations. 
    • (A)  It is recommended that parents/legal guardians receive education concerning child abuse prevention before providing consent for their minor to travel alone with an Adult Participant.

G.  MINOR ATHLETES WHO BECOME ADULT ATHLETES:

All athletes turning 18 who still meet the threshold for Regular Contact must comply with the Prevention Policies herein, absent the Close-in-Age Exception, which applies to the enforcement of Prevention Policies only.