LENOIR YOUTH SOCCER PARTICIPANT SAFETY AND ABUSE PREVENTION POLICIES

Purpose

Consistent with U.S. Soccer Bylaw 212, Lenoir Youth Soccer Association is required to, among other obligations,

§  comply with applicable law and, in particular, the Ted Stevens Olympic and Amateur Sports Act (the “Sports Act”);

§  establish a risk management program to promote the safety and protect the welfare of participants; and

§  adopt policies prohibiting sexual abuse.

Effective February 14, 2018, Public Law 115‐126, the Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse and Safe Sport Authorization Act of 2017 (the “SafeSport Act”), amends the Sports Act, and requires applicable amateur sports organizations (as such term is defined in the SafeSport Act, 36 U.S.C. § 220530(b)) to:

§  Comply with the SafeSport Act’s reporting requirements and prohibit retaliation by the applicable amateur sports organization against any individual who makes a report (36 U.S.C. § 220530(a)(1));

§  Establish reasonable procedures to limit one‐on‐one interactions between an amateur athlete who is a minor and an adult (who is not the minor’s legal guardian) at a facility under the jurisdiction of the applicable amateur sports organization (36 U.S.C. § 220530(a)(2));

§  Offer and provide consistent training to adult members in regular contact with minor amateur athletes and, subject to parental consent, to members who are minors, regarding prevention and reporting of child abuse (36 U.S.C. § 220530(a)(3)); and

§  Prohibit retaliation, by the applicable amateur sports organization, against any individual who makes a report of suspected child abuse. (36 U.S.C. § 220530(a)(4)).

The purposes of these policies are to

§  require an Athlete and Participant Safety/Safe Soccer program as part of our risk management program, and

§  set out standards for such a program.

Prohibited Conduct Policy

These policies apply to all activities under Lenoir Youth Soccer Association’s jurisdiction and at least to (1) Lenoir Youth Soccer Association Member employees and board members; (2) the members of Lenoir Youth Soccer Association; (3) amateur athletes who are minors or referees who are minors (collectively, “Youth Participants”); and (4) any adult individuals Lenoir Youth Soccer Association authorizes, approves or appoints to have regular contact with Youth Participants (“Participating Adults”).

These policies also prohibits retaliation against individuals making good faith reports of misconduct.

NOTE: Youth Participants expressly includes referees who are minors. In addition, Participating Adults includes, but is not limited to, coaches and any referee program‐affiliated personnel, including without limitation assigners, having regular contact with Youth Participants.

Appropriate Background Screening

Lenoir Youth Soccer Association has implemented and enforces a policy that requires appropriate background screening of at least Participating Adults by the earlier of 1) prior to regular contact with a Youth Participant; or 2) within the first 45 days of the Participating Adult taking on the role giving them access to Youth Participants.

At a minimum, the policy will include screening against applicable sex offender registries in relevant states and a check against the North Carolina suspension database, U.S. Soccer’s disqualification list and the SafeSport disciplinary records available at: www.safesport.org .

Education & Training

Lenoir Youth Soccer Association has implemented and enforces a policy (1) requiring education and training designed to meet obligations under the SafeSport Act to (a) Lenoir Youth Soccer Association employees and board members and (b) Participating Adults, in each case as a condition to participation, and (2) subject to parental consent, offer and provide training to Youth Participants. The Policy should require the following:

Initial Training for Adults: Core Center for SafeSport Training or Equivalent

Pursuant to USOC and U.S. Center for SafeSport Policy, and as contemplated by the SafeSport Act, employees, board members and Participating Adults are required to complete consistent training concerning child abuse prevention. These policies require Participating Adults to complete the U.S. Center for SafeSport’s Core SafeSport Training (i.e., the Center’s online training or the Center’s approved in‐person training), and as applicable, follow‐up refresher course training upon the earlier of:

• Before regular contact with an amateur athlete who is a minor begins, and
• Within the first 45 days of taking on the role giving them access to Youth

Refresher Course(s) for Adults

In addition to the initial training, a refresher course is required on an annual basis effective the calendar year following the completion of the initial training. The U.S. Center for SafeSport’s official refresher course is available as of October 1, 2018.

Training for Youth Participants

Lenoir Youth Soccer Association will – subject to parental consent – offer and provide training annually to Youth Participants regarding the prevention of child abuse. Lenoir Youth Soccer Association will track:

• A description of the training(s)
• The date the training(s) was offered and given
• A description of how the training(s) was offered and given.

Reporting

Lenoir Youth Soccer Association mandates reporting to appropriate law enforcement authorities. Reporting may be made anonymously, and no direct fees or other cost is involved in making a report. Lenoir Youth Soccer Association prohibits retaliation against individuals making good faith reports of misconduct.

Limiting One-on-One Interactions

Lenoir Youth Soccer Association limits one‐on‐one interactions between individual Youth Participants and any Adult Participant who is not their legal guardian (“Prevention Policies”).  

One‐on‐One Interactions, including

• meetings and individual training sessions
• Massages and rubdowns
• Locker rooms, rest rooms, and changing areas
• Social media and electronic communications
• Local travel
• Team travel

Minor athletes who become adult athletes

A minor athlete that reaches the age of majority may not be subject to Prevention Policies in their capacity as an athlete, and when interacting with Youth Participants who are 16 or older. Prevention Policies must be in effect when this now age of majority athlete interacts with minor athletes 15 or younger. For example, an 18‐year old teammate is not necessarily subject to disciplinary action for emailing a 16‐year old teammate unless that email would, for example, violate the Prohibited Conduct Policy.

Should a minor athlete reach the age of majority and then obtain a position that presents a potential power imbalance, such as becoming a coach, the individual is subject to athlete prevention policies.

Enforcement

By Lenoir Youth Soccer Association

Lenoir Youth Soccer Association will enforce its Athlete & Participant Safety Policy consistent with the SafeSport Act. Specifically, violations of the are be subject to an appropriate grievance process that is materially free of bias and conflicts of interest, to address allegations of misconduct following the report or complaint of misconduct. This grievance process will include the opportunity for review by a disinterested individual or body and a right to appeal a final decision rendered by an Lenoir Youth Soccer Association’s process pursuant to U.S. Soccer Bylaw 704.

By U.S. Soccer

Pursuant to Bylaw 212, U.S. Soccer reserves the right to, either directly or through a contracted third party service provider, survey, audit, require certifications of compliance with, and otherwise review compliance by its Organization Members with this policy. Failure of any Organization Member to issue and implement the policies required by this Policy 212‐3 will constitute a violation of Bylaw 212 Section 1.

APPENDIX A –PROHIBITED CONDUCT POLICY

This appendix is Lenoir Youth Soccer Association’s prohibited conduct policy that applies to all “Covered Personnel” as well as conduct by any subcontractor, supplier, customer or third party and their employees in their dealings with Lenoir Youth Soccer Association.

Environment

Lenoir Youth Soccer Association is committed to maintaining an environment that is free from all forms of discrimination, including harassment, on the basis of any legally protected status. Accordingly, Lenoir Youth Soccer Association does not permit any form of unlawful harassment, discrimination or intimidation against its employees by anyone, including managers, supervisors, coworkers, executives, directors, officers, other employees, vendors, clients, customers or third parties. Protected status includes race, color, age, religion, marital status, sex, ancestry, national origin, citizenship, veteran’s status, pregnancy, disability, sexual orientation, protected activity, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. The policy also prohibits harassment on the basis of the protected status of an individual’s relatives, friends or associates.

Lenoir Youth Soccer Association is also committed to maintaining an environment that is free from all forms of sexual abuse, sexual misconduct, emotional misconduct, physical misconduct, bullying and hazing.

Any violation of this Policy by Covered Personnel may subject the Covered Personnel to disciplinary action. Appropriate action also will be taken against any subcontractor, supplier, or customer found in violation of this Policy.

Harassment

Harassment consists of unwelcome conduct, whether verbal, physical or visual, that is based upon a person’s protected status. Lenoir Youth Soccer Association will not tolerate harassing conduct that affects tangible job benefits, that unreasonably interferes with an individual’s work performance, or safety, or that creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive working environment.

Among the types of conduct prohibited by this policy are epithets, slurs, negative stereotyping or intimidating acts based on an individual's protected status and the circulation or posting of written or graphic materials that show hostility toward an individual because of his or her protected status.

Prohibited conduct can also include jokes, kidding, or teasing about another person’s protected status. While harassing conduct is unlawful only if it affects tangible job benefits and/or interferes unreasonably with work performance and creates an abusive or hostile work environment, this Policy forbids harassing conduct even when it does not rise to the level of a violation of law.

Sexual Harassment

Sexual harassment deserves special mention. Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal, written, or physical conduct of a sexual nature constitute sexual harassment when:

• submission to such conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of the individual’s employment;
• submission to or rejection of such conduct by an individual is used as the basis for an employment decision affecting that individual; or
• such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual’s work performance and creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive working environment.

Sexual harassment may involve individuals of the same or different gender. It may also occur between individuals of any employment status.

Examples of conduct which may constitute sexual harassment and are prohibited by this Policy include, but are not limited to:

• unnecessary touching, patting, hugging, pinching, or brushing against a person’s body;
• staring, ogling, leering, or whistling at a person;
• continued or repeated verbal abuse of a sexual nature;
• sexually explicit statements, sexual flirtations, advances, propositions, subtle pressure for sexual activity, comments, questions, jokes, or anecdotes;
• graphic or degrading comments about a person’s clothing, body or sexual activity;
• sexually suggestive objects, cartoons, posters, calendars, or pictures in the workplace;
• suggestive or obscene letters, notes or invitations;
• harassing use of electronic mail, electronic or instant messaging, or telephone communication systems; or
• other physical or verbal conduct of a sexual nature.

Lenoir Youth Soccer Association prohibits managers and supervisors from threatening or insinuating, either explicitly or implicitly, that an employee’s submission to or rejection of sexual advances will in any way influence any personnel decision regarding that employee’s wages, assigned duties, advancement, evaluation, shifts, career development, or any other condition of employment.

Racial, Religious, or National Origin Harassment

Racial, religious, or national origin harassment deserves special mention as well, and is expressly prohibited by Lenoir Youth Soccer Association. Racial, religious, or national origin harassment includes any verbal, written, or physical act in which race, religion, or national origin is used or implied in a manner which would make a reasonable person uncomfortable in the work environment or which would interfere with the person’s ability to perform the job. Examples of race, religious or national origin harassment may include, but are not limited to:

• jokes, which include reference to race, religion, or national origin;
• the display or use of objects or pictures which adversely reflect on a person’s race, religion, or national origin; or
• use of pejorative or demeaning language regarding a person’s race, religion, or national origin.

Child Sexual Abuse

Any sexual activity with a child is prohibited. This includes sexual contact with a child that is accomplished by deception, manipulation, force or threat of force, regardless of the age of the participants, and all sexual interactions between an adult and a child, regardless of whether there is deception, or the child understands the sexual nature of the activity.

Sexual Misconduct

Any sexual interaction between an athlete and an individual with evaluative, direct or indirect authority is prohibited. Such relationships involve an imbalance of power and are likely to impair judgment or be exploitative. This section does not apply to a pre‐existing relationship between two spouses or life partners.

Emotional Misconduct

Emotional misconduct in all forms is prohibited. Emotional misconduct is a pattern of deliberate, non‐contact behavior that has the potential to cause emotional or psychological harm to another person. Non‐contact behaviors include verbal acts, physical acts, or acts that deny attention or support; or any act or conduct described as emotional abuse or misconduct under federal or state law (e.g. child abuse, child neglect). Emotional misconduct does not include professionally‐accepted coaching methods of skill enhancement, physical conditioning, team building, appropriate discipline or improving athletic performance.

Physical Misconduct

Physical misconduct in all forms is prohibited. Physical misconduct is defined as contact or non‐ contact conduct that results in, or reasonably threatens to, cause physical harm to another person; or any act or conduct described as physical abuse or misconduct under federal or state law (e.g. child abuse, child neglect, assault). Physical misconduct does not include professionally‐accepted coaching methods of skill enhancement, physical conditioning, team building, appropriate discipline or improving athletic performance. For example, hitting and punching are well‐regulated forms of contact in combat sports, but have no place in soccer.

Bullying

Intentional, persistent and repeated pattern of committing or willfully tolerating physical and non‐physical behaviors that are intended, or have the reasonable potential, to cause fear, humiliation or physical harm in an attempt to socially exclude, diminish or isolate the targeted athlete(s), as a condition of membership are prohibited. Bullying does not include group or team behaviors that (a) are meant to establish normative team behaviors, or (b) promote team cohesion.

Hazing

Coercing, requiring, forcing or willfully tolerating any humiliating, unwelcome or dangerous activity that serves as a condition for (a) joining a group or (b) being socially accepted by a group’s members are prohibited. Hazing does not include group or team activities that (a) are meant to establish normative team behaviors or (b) promote team cohesion.

Procedures for Complaints, Investigations and Corrective Action

All Covered Personnel are responsible to help ensure that we avoid misconduct. Lenoir Youth Soccer Association cannot act to eliminate misconduct unless it has notice of the conduct. Covered Personnel are thus charged with reporting any concerns regarding compliance with the Safe Soccer Framework in the manner provided in the Safe Soccer Framework Handbook. For the avoidance of doubt, in some instances, Covered Personnel will be required to report to law enforcement and/or the U.S. Center for SafeSport.

Furthermore, Lenoir Youth Soccer Association employees are responsible to help assure that the work environment, on or off‐premises, is free from harassment. All employees have an obligation to promptly report any and all allegedly harassing conduct they are the subject of, that they learn of, or that they witness. Our Policy provides for immediate notice of problems to the persons designated in this Policy so that we may address and resolve any problems as quickly as possible.

An employee must report the harassing conduct to either:

§  The person to whom you report (supervisor or manager); Department Head;

§  The President; or

§  The Integrity Hotline.

If the employee feels uncomfortable going to his or her supervisor with the complaint, he/she must report the matter to any other member of management as designated above.

This Policy does not require reporting the misconduct to any individual who is creating the harassment or discrimination.

All Covered Personnel have an obligation to cooperate in any investigation of a complaint of misconduct, including providing any and all information concerning the complaint. Failure to do so may be a violation of this Policy.

Lenoir Youth Soccer Association’s Prohibited Conduct Policy offers its employees greater protection from harassment than does the law. Consequently, Covered Personnel who are found to have violated Lenoir Youth Soccer Association’s Prohibited Conduct Policy shall be subject to corrective action, discipline or termination, even in cases where applicable laws may not have been violated and without regard to whether the conduct constitutes a violation of the law.

An employee wishing to file a complaint outside the Association may also contact either the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or the fair employment agency in his or her state.

Training and Education

Employees and other Covered Personnel that have contact with athletes must successfully complete the U.S. Center for SafeSport training every year. The U.S. Center for SafeSport training can be accessed at https://uscenterforsafesport.org/training-and-education/training-and-education-services/

The investigation and adjudication of matters involving allegations or reports of sexual abuse or misconduct by or against Covered Personnel, or other violations of this Prohibited Conduct Policy that involve prohibited conduct that is reasonably related to and accompanies an alleged violation involving sexualized behavior by Covered Personnel are subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the United States Center for Safe Sport in accordance with the requirements of the USOC and as set forth in the Center’s Bylaws or other Center’s governing documents.

APPENDIX B – REGULATED INTERACTIONS

The majority of child sexual abuse is perpetrated in isolated, one-on-one situations. By reducing such interactions between children and adults, you reduce the risk of child sexual abuse. 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.

These policies are not exhaustive, and members must use best judgment—after applicable training—in their interactions with youth.

Lenoir Youth Soccer Association Policy Regarding One-on-One Interactions

Application

This policy shall apply to:

1. Adults at a facility under the jurisdiction of Lenoir Youth Soccer Association
2. Adult members who have regular contact with amateur athletes who are minors
3. An adult authorized by a Lenoir Youth Soccer Association to have regular contact with or authority over an amateur athlete who is a minor
4. Staff and board members of Lenoir Youth Soccer Association

(collectively, Adults).

Observable and interruptible

§  One-on-one interactions between minors and an Adult (who is not the minor’s legal guardian) at our facility are permitted, if they occur at an observable and interruptible distance by another adult.

§  Isolated, one-on-one interactions between minors and an Adult (who is not the minor’s legal guardian) at our facility are prohibited, except under emergency circumstances.

Meetings

§  Meetings between Adults and minors at our facilities may only occur if another adult is present, except under emergency circumstances. Such meetings must occur where interactions can be easily observed and at an interruptible distance from another adult.

§  If a one-on-one meeting takes place in an office, the door to the office must remain unlocked and open. If available, it will occur in an office that (if available) has windows, with the windows, blinds, and/or curtains remaining open during the meeting.

Meetings with mental health care professionals

If a mental health care professional meets with minors at our facilities, a closed-door meeting may be permitted to protect patient privacy – provided that

§  the door remains unlocked

§  another adult is present at the facility,

§  the other adult is advised that a closed-door meeting is occurring, and

§  written legal guardian consent is obtained by the mental health care professional, with a copy provided to our organization.

Individual training sessions

Individual training sessions between Adults and minors are permitted at our facility if the training session is observable and interruptible by another adult. The Adult must

§  obtain the written permission of the minor’s legal guardian in advance of the individual training session.

§  Parents, guardians, and other caretakers must be allowed to observe the training session.

§  Permission for individual training sessions must be obtained at least every six months.

Monitoring

When one-on-one interactions between Adults and minors occur at our facility, adults will monitor these interactions. Monitoring includes: knowing that the one-on-one interaction is occurring, the approximate planned duration of the interaction, and randomly dropping in on the one-on-one.

Out-of-program contacts

Adults are prohibited from interacting one-on-one with unrelated minor athletes in settings outside of the program (including, but not limited to, one’s home, restaurants, and individual transportation), unless parent/legal guardian consent is provided for each out-of-program contact Such arrangements are nonetheless strongly discouraged.

Lenoir Youth Soccer Association Policy Regarding Massages and Rubdowns

Application

This policy shall apply to:

1. Adults at a facility under the jurisdiction of Lenoir Youth Soccer Association
2. Adult members who have regular contact with amateur athletes who are minors
3. Any adult authorized by Lenoir Youth Soccer Association to have regular contact with or authority over an amateur athlete who is a minor
4. Staff and board members of Lenoir Youth Soccer Association

(collectively, Adults)

Licensed, certified professional

1. Any massage or rubdown performed by an Adult on a minor athlete at our facilities or a training or competition venue is prohibited unless such Adult is a licensed massage therapist.
2. Any massage or rubdown performed at our facilities or a training or competition venue by a licensed professional must be conducted in open and interruptible locations.
3. 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.
4. Even if a coach is a licensed massage therapist, the coach shall not perform a rubdown or massage of an athlete under any circumstances.

Written consent

Written consent by a legal guardian shall be provided before providing each massage or rubdown on a minor athlete. Parents must be permitted to be in the room as an observer.

Lenoir Youth Soccer Association Policy Regarding Locker Rooms, Rest Rooms and Changing Areas

Application

This policy shall apply to:

1. Adults at a facility under the jurisdiction of Lenoir Youth Soccer Association
2. Adult members who have regular contact with amateur athletes who are minors
3. An adult authorized by Lenoir Youth Soccer Association to have regular contact with or authority over an amateur athlete who is a minor
4. Staff and board members of Lenoir Youth Soccer Association

(collectively, Adults).

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 our organization’s jurisdiction is prohibited. Exceptions may be made for media and championship celebrations, provided that such exceptions are approved by Lenoir Youth Soccer Association and two or more adults are present.

Undress

Under no circumstances shall an unrelated Adult at a facility under our organization’s jurisdiction be undressed (disrobed or partial or full nudity where private body parts are exposed) in front of minor athletes.

Isolated one-on-one interactions
At no time are unrelated Adults permitted to be alone with a minor in a locker room, rest room, or changing area when at a facility under our jurisdiction, except under emergency circumstances.

If our organization is using a facility that has access to a single set of such facilities, we will designate times for use by Adults, if any.

Monitoring

Our organization regularly and randomly monitors the use of locker rooms, rest rooms, and changing areas at facilities under our jurisdiction to ensure compliance with these policies.

Non-exclusive facility

If our organization uses a facility not under its jurisdiction (for, e.g., training or competition or similar events) and the facility is used by multiple constituents, Adults in categories 2 through 4 are nonetheless required to adhere to the rules set forth here.

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, we will check on the athlete’s whereabouts. We discourage parents 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.

Lenoir Youth Soccer Association Policy Regarding Social Media & Electronic Communications

Application

This policy shall apply to:

1. Adult members who have regular contact with amateur athletes who are minors
2. An adult authorized by Lenoir Youth Soccer Association to have regular contact with or authority over an amateur athlete who is a minor
3. Staff and board members of Lenoir Youth Soccer Association

(collectively, Participating Adults).

Content

All electronic communication originating from Participating Adults to amateur athletes who are minors must be professional in nature.

Open and transparent

• If a Participating Adult needs to communicate directly with an amateur athlete who is a minor via electronic communications, another Participating Adult or the minor’s legal guardian will be copied.
• If a minor athlete communicates to the Participating Adult privately first, the Participating Adult should respond to the minor athlete with a copy to another Participating Adult or the minor’s legal guardian.
• A Participating Adult communicating electronically to the entire team will copy another Participating Adult.
• Amateur athletes who are minors may “friend” the organization’s official page.

Prohibited electronic communications

• Participating Adults are not permitted to communicate privately via electronic communications with amateur athletes who are minors, except under emergency circumstances.
• Participating Adults are not permitted to “private message,” “instant message,” “direct message”, or send photos via Snapchat or Instagram to a minor athlete privately.
• Participating Adults are not permitted to maintain social media connections with minors; such adults are not permitted to accept new personal page requests on social media platforms from amateur athletes who are minors and existing social media connections with amateur athletes who are minors shall be discontinued

Requests to discontinue

Legal guardians may request in writing that their child not be contacted through any form of electronic communication by the organization or by the organization’s Participating Adults. The organization will abide by any such request that their child not be contacted via electronic communication, absent emergency circumstances.

Hours

Electronic communications will only be sent between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.

Monitoring

The organization monitors its social media pages and removes any posts that violate the organization’s policies and practices for appropriate behavior.
The organization will inform the legal guardian of a minor athlete of any prohibited posts, as well as the organization’s administrator.

Lenoir Youth Soccer Association Policy Regarding Local Travel

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

Application

This policy shall apply to:

1. Adult members who have regular contact with amateur athletes who are minors
2. An adult authorized by Lenoir Youth Soccer Association to have regular contact with or authority over an amateur athlete who is a minor
3. Staff and board members of Lenoir Youth Soccer Association

(collectively, Participating Adults).

Transportation

• The organization does not arrange for local travel.
• Participating Adults who are not also acting as a legal guardian, shall not ride in a vehicle alone with an unrelated athlete who is a minor, absent emergency circumstances, and may only drive with at least two other minor athletes or another adult at all times, unless otherwise agreed to in writing by the minor athlete’s parent/legal guardian in advance of each local travel.

Shared or Carpool Travel Arrangement

We encourage parents/legal guardians to pick up their minor athlete first and drop off their minor athlete last in any shared or carpool travel arrangement.

Parents/legal guardians receive education concerning child abuse prevention before providing consent for their minor to travel alone with a Participating Adult.

Lenoir Youth Soccer Association Policy Regarding Team Travel

Team travel is travel to a competition or other team activity that the organization plans and supervises.

Application

This policy shall apply to:

1. Adult members who have regular contact with amateur athletes who are minors
2. An adult authorized by Lenoir Youth Soccer Association to have regular contact with or authority over an amateur athlete who is a minor
3. Staff and board members of Lenoir Youth Soccer Association

(collectively, Participating Adults).

Team/competition travel

When only one Participating Adult and one minor athlete travel to a competition, the minor athlete must have his/her legal guardian’s written permission in advance and for each competition to travel alone with the Participating Adult.

Hotel rooms

Participating Adults shall not share a hotel room or other sleeping arrangement with a minor athlete (unless the Participating Adult is the legal guardian, sibling, or is otherwise related to the minor athlete).

Meetings

Meetings shall be conducted consistent with the organization’s policy for one-on-one interactions – i.e., any such meeting shall be observable and interruptible.

Meetings shall not be conducted in a hotel room.