Coach policies for interactions with minors/players as outlined in Safesport

INDIVIDUAL TRAINING SESSIONS  

Some abusers will single out athletes for special one-on-one instruction. This kind of isolation provides opportunities for abuse to occur. This section establishes rules for individual training sessions to protect youth athletes from uncomfortable or unsafe situations.

• A. Mandatory Components
  • 1. Observable and Interruptible Adult Participants must ensure all In-Program individual training sessions with a Minor Athlete be observable and interruptible unless an exception exists.  
  • 2. Consent The Adult Participant providing the individual training session must receive advance, written consent from the Minor Athlete’s parent/guardian at least annually, which can be withdrawn at any time; and
  • 3. Parent Observation Parents/guardians must be allowed to observe the individual training session.
    • 1. Monitoring   If a permitted meeting or training session takes place between an Adult Participant(s) and a Minor Athlete(s) at a facility partially or fully under the Organization’s jurisdiction, another Adult Participant will 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 meeting or training session, and dropping in on the meeting or training session.  

Technology has made it easier for teams to communicate and share information. Unfortunately, it also makes it easier for abusers to contact children without supervision or share inappropriate images and video. This section sets standards for appropriate electronic communications between youth and adults.

• A. Mandatory Components
  • 1. Open and Transparent
    • a. All one-on-one electronic communications between an Adult Participant and a Minor Athlete must be Open and Transparent, unless an exception exists.  
    • b. “Open and Transparent” means that the Adult Participant copies or includes the Minor Athlete’s parent/guardian, another adult family member of the Minor Athlete, or another Adult Participant on every communication. • If a Minor Athlete communicates with the Adult Participant first, the Adult Participant must follow this policy if the Adult Participant responds.
    • c. Only platforms that allow for Open and Transparent communication may be used to communicate with Minor Athletes.  
  • 2. Team Communication When an Adult Participant communicates electronically to the entire team or any number of Minor Athletes on the team, the Adult Participant must copy or include the Minor Athletes’ parents/guardians, another adult family member of the Minor Athletes, or another Adult Participant.  
  • 3. Content All electronic communication originating from an Adult Participant(s) to a Minor Athlete(s) must be professional in nature unless an exception exists.  
  • 4. Requests to Discontinue Parents/guardians may request in writing that the Organization or an Adult Participant not contact their Minor Athlete through any form of electronic communication. The Organization and the Adult Participant must abide by any request to discontinue, absent emergency circumstances. **Electronic communications include, but are not limited to: email, phone calls, videoconferencing, video coaching, texting, social media, or through any other electronic medium.
  • U.S. Center for SafeSport: Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policies 20 B.  Recommended Components
    • 1. Hours   Electronic communications should generally be sent only between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. local time for the location of the Minor Athlete.
    • 2. Social Media Connections   Adult Participants, except those with a Dual Relationship or who meet the Close-in-Age Exception, are not permitted to have private social media connections with Minor Athletes and should discontinue existing social media connections with Minor Athletes.  

Athletes are often carpooling or traveling without the supervision of their parent/guardian to practices and competitions. This can place them in vulnerable positions where they are susceptible to abuse. This section establishes policies for adults transporting children to or from sport activities.

• A. Mandatory Components  
  • 1. Observable and Interruptible Adult participants must ensure that all In-Program Contact during Transportation is Observable and Interruptible unless an exception exists or:
    • a.  The Adult Participant has advanced, written consent to transport the Minor Athlete one-on-one, obtained at least annually from the Minor Athlete’s parent/guardian. Minor Athlete(s) or their parent/guardian can withdraw consent at any time.  
    • b. The Adult Participant is accompanied by another Adult Participant or at least two minors who are at least 8 years of age.  
  • Shared or Carpool Travel Arrangement   The Organization encourages parents/guardians to pick up their Minor Athlete first and drop off their Minor Athlete last in any shared or carpool travel arrangement.  

POLICIES FOR KEEPING YOUNG ATHLETES SAFE

• A. Out-of-Program Contact Adult Participants, who do not meet the Close-in-Age Exception nor have a Dual Relationship with a Minor Athlete, should not have out-of-program contact with Minor Athlete(s) without legal/parent guardian consent, even if the out-of-program contact is not one-on-one.  
• B. Gifting
  • 1. Adult Participants, who do not meet the Close-in-Age Exception nor have a Dual Relationship with a Minor Athlete, should not give personal gifts to Minor Athlete(s).
  • 2. Gifts that are equally distributed to all athletes and serve a motivational or educational purpose are permitted.  
• C. Photography/Video
  • 1. Photographs or videos of athletes may only be taken in public view and must observe generally accepted standards of decency.
  • 2. Adult Participants should not publicly share or post photos or videos of Minor Athlete(s) if the Adult Participant has not obtained the parent/guardian and Minor Athlete’s consent.