SAFESPORT (CHILD/SEXUAL ABUSE PREVENTION)
This page aggregates information and resources from other pages regarding the Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse and Safe Sport Authorization Act of 2017 (the “SafeSport Act”), which was signed into law on February 14, 2018 and became effective immediately.
It applies to, among others, all US Club Soccer members. Please read and share this information with your members, parents and all other relevant parties.
This summary is not intended to supplant the need for every member to review the statute and we urge our members to contact us should you have any questions. In addition, you may also wish to consult your own counsel regarding how this new law will impact your organization. This web page is not intended to provide legal advice to our members.
MANDATORY REPORTING PROVISIONS
Pursuant to the SafeSport Act, all mandatory reporters are required to report suspected child abuse, including sexual abuse, within 24 hours to the local law enforcement agency or local child protective services agency that has jurisdiction to investigate reports of child abuse or to protect child abuse victims, or to the FBI. This requirement applies to, among others, all Participants as described in US Club Soccer Policy 13.01.
Beyond the obligations described in Section 13.03(a), Adult Participants also have an affirmative duty to report suspected abuse or other misconduct to US Club Soccer, and as many be applicable, the U.S. Center for SafeSport.
These obligations are in addition to any state or local law requirements that an individual may have in a particular jurisdiction.
POLICY 13.09 / SAFESPORT CORE AND REFRESHER TRAINING
This is the primary training that has been required of all Adult Participants registering with US Club Soccer since the 2018-19 registration year. The online training covers the following subjects: sexual abuse, hazing, bullying, emotional misconduct, physical misconduct, harassment (non-sexual) as well as reporting obligations.
Pursuant to Policy 13.09, SafeSport Core or Refresher Training is required of all Adult Participants, as follows:
- Direct Adult Participants (DAPs) must complete or document compliance via the US Club Soccer player or staff registration process.
- Accordingly, US Club Soccer is making the training a registration requirement for all youth players who will be 18+ years old during the applicable registration year. That means the training must be completed for registration to be complete and a passcard to be issued, and some 16- and 17-year-olds will be required to complete training with parental consent.
- For the 2021-22 registration year, impacted players are those who will be 18+ years old on or before July 31, 2022.
- GotSport and TGS are updating their technology to accommodate this. A separate communication and instructional article will follow shortly when that work is completed. In the meantime, and for impacted players who are already registered for 2021-22, passcards will not be rescinded, but compliance is still required and will be enforced via audit.
- Accordingly, US Club Soccer is making the training a registration requirement for all youth players who will be 18+ years old during the applicable registration year. That means the training must be completed for registration to be complete and a passcard to be issued, and some 16- and 17-year-olds will be required to complete training with parental consent.
- For Third-party Adult Participants (TPAPs) or other individuals who are not Direct Adult Participants, US Club Soccer staff registration may be used to complete or document compliance, but it is not required. Those individuals are nevertheless required to abide by Policy 13.09(a), and compliance is the responsibility of the applicable Member Organization.
ACCESS TO SAFESPORT ONLINE TRAINING PLATFORM (DEC 8, 2021)
As it relates to the SafeSport training resources provided below, please note that the U.S. Center for SafeSport is transferring all online courses to a new online platform (Absorb).
- Please email SafeSport@usclubsoccer.org to receive an auto-reply with updates and instructions for platform access, course completion, and certificate downloads.
- The URL for the new platform is: SafeSportTrained.org
- The first time you try to log into the new platform, you will be required to either claim your existing account or create a new account.
- The 16-digit U.S. Soccer access code previously used to access SafeSport Training no longer works. A new Enrollment Key is available.
- Two other resources that may be helpful: Online Course Catalog (.pdf) | Accessing courses
For technical support with the online training, please submit a ticket to the U.S. Center for SafeSport Technical Support Help Desk. Do not contact technical support regarding the U.S. Soccer access code, as they are unable to help. The access code may be obtained via the instructions above.
TRAINING AND RESOURCES FOR PARENTS
US Club Soccer strongly encourages all parents of Minor Athletes to take the U.S. Center for SafeSport’s Parent’s Guide to Misconduct in Sport Training on an annual basis.
Designed for parents of athletes of all ages, the free online course explains the issues of misconduct in sport and helps parents ensure their children have a positive and safe sport experience. Beyond the online training, a variety of parent toolkits are also available.
TRAINING FOR MINOR ATHLETES
US Club Soccer strongly encourages all Minor Athletes, subject to parental consent, to complete the U.S. Center for SafeSport’s minor athlete training on an annual basis.
These free online trainings are designed as an introduction for minor athletes and their parents or other caregivers to understand the importance of positive, welcoming environments in sports, where misconduct like bullying or abuse is less likely to happen, and to know where to report abuse, should it occur.
OTHER RESOURCES
- SafeSport.org is not only a medium to make a child abuse report, but it also has numerous fact sheets, articles, downloadable graphics, and resources.
- Child Welfare Information Gateway provides a variety of tools, training resources and programs to raise awareness and reduce risk. It also contains a searchable database of state statutes, and US Club Soccer members are encouraged to become familiar with their respective state statutes.
- For parents, here are specific questions to ask your child’s coach, your child’s club and your child’s sports camp.
- “Safer, Smarter Kids” – of Lauren’s Kids – creates abuse prevention education for elementary-aged children. Here is a parent toolkit that encourages conversations between parents and children by leading families through sample scenarios
- ChildHelp.org operates a 24-hour national child abuse hotline, as well as programs for prevention, intervention and treatment.
