The Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse and Safe Sport Authorization Act of 2017 (the “SafeSport Act”) was signed into law on February 14, 2018. NSS developed its Risk Management Policy to meet the national requirements set forth by this Public Law as well as U.S. Soccer Policy.
NSS has a zero-tolerance policy for abuse and misconduct. All participants in the soccer community must play an active role in creating an environment free from emotional, physical, or sexual abuse. The NSS Risk Management Policy was developed to help all participants detect and report abuse, respond to it and prevent future occurrences.
The policy includes six (6) key components:
- Prohibited Conduct
- Mandatory Reporting
- Background Screening
- Education and Training
- Limiting One-on-One Interactions (Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policies)
- Enforcement
The policy also uses the term “Adult Participants” to refer to those adults (aged 18 years and older) to whom these policies apply.
NSS defines Adult Participants as:
1. A member or license holder of an NGB, PSO, LAO, or USOPC;
2. An employee or board member of an NGB, PSO, LAO, or USOPC;
3. Within the governance or disciplinary jurisdiction of an NGB, PSO, LAO, or USOPC;
4. Authorized, approved, or appointed by an NGB, PSO, LAO, or USOPC to have regular contact with or authority over Minor Athletes.
Who is the U.S. Center for SafeSport?
The U.S. Center for SafeSport is an independent 501c(3) non-profit organization focused on ending all forms of abuse in sport. They endeavor to make athlete well-being the centerpiece of the nation’s sports culture through abuse prevention, education, and accountability.
The Center is a trusted educational resource for all sport entities at all levels of sport from grassroots amateur sports organizations to professional leagues.
Education & Training
I AM THE PARENT OF A CHILD WHO PLAYS SOCCER. HOW DO I SPEAK WITH THEM ABOUT SEXUAL ABUSE?
The U.S. Center for SafeSport (the “Center”), an independent 501(c)(3) organization that receives funding from the U.S. federal government, the USOC, the 50 NGBs (including USSF), as well as a number of third-party individuals and organizations, has created training and age-specific Parent Toolkits designed to assist parents in speaking with their children about sexual misconduct and other forms of misconduct.
Free online parent training
Age-Specific Toolkits
MY CHILD’S SOCCER CLUB HAS ASKED FOR MY CONSENT TO TRAIN MY CHILD REGARDING SEXUAL MISCONDUCT AND CHILD ABUSE. WHY?
In 2018, a new law took effect. This law, Public Law 115-126, the Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse and Safe Sport Authorization Act of 2017 (the “SafeSport Act”), (sometimes referred to by Organization Members by its bill number, “S.534,”), requires amateur sports organizations to, among other things, 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.
Reporting
All Adult Participants of NSS are mandatory reporters of any known or suspected child abuse. All reports must be made to the appropriate law enforcement authorities within 24 hours. The abuse does not need to be confirmed. Adult Participants should never seek to conduct their own investigations.
NSS does not tolerate retaliation of any kind. Any Adult Participant or Minor Athlete who makes a good faith report will not be subject to retaliation, including harassment, as a result of making a report. The SafeSport Act also includes qualified immunity for good faith reports. The obligation to report is not always satisfied by making an initial report and an Adult Participant is required to report supplemental information of which he/she becomes aware that may be relevant in a pending investigation.
NSS is required to have a mechanism for all individuals (adults and minors) to report abuse (not just abuse in sexual nature as abuse can be defined as any of the prohibited behaviors outlined under Prohibited Conduct in NSS’s Risk Mgt Policy), all are encouraged to report abuse through the digital compliance platform below.
If you make a report to law enforcement, please also make a report online to NSS.
HOW DO I FIND OUT IF MY CHILD’S COACH HAS HAD A COMPLAINT MADE AGAINST HIM/HER?
Under the Federal SafeSport Act, the U.S. Center for SafeSport is authorized to exercise jurisdiction over the USOC, each national governing body (including USSF), and each Paralympic sports organization with regard to safeguarding amateur athletes against abuse, including emotional, physical, and sexual abuse, in sports. Records of final disciplinary action against individuals affiliated with USSF-controlled programs are publicly available through the Center’s searchable database of disciplinary records at: https://uscenterforsafesport.org/.