SafeSport

To Confidentially Report a SafeSport Concern: safesport@caha.com

Include:

• Date, time, location, summary of incident.
• Name of minor(s) athlete(s) involved.
• Who can be contacted for more information.
• Note: SafeSport reports are confidential. SafeSport concerns can be made anonymously, but it can be difficult to address a reported concern when no contact information is provided.

SafeSport is year-round, it does not just apply to the travel season. SafeSport also applies to both travel and in-house/recreational programs. Any program that is a member of USA Hockey and provides sanctioned USA Hockey programs or events, as well as all registered members, is required to comply with SafeSport. There are no carve-outs or exceptions.

SafeSport compliance is now mandated in federal legislation and is regulated by four (4) governing documents as follows:

• Federal Legislation: The Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse and SafeSport Authorization Act of 2017 (the “SafeSport Authorization Act”) adopted on February 14, 2018.
• MAAPP: The U.S. Center for SafeSport’s (“USCSS”) Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policies, dated September 22, 2020 (the “MAAPP”).
• U.S. Center for SafeSport (USCSS) SafeSport Code for the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Movement (the “Code” or the “SafeSport Code”) published April 1, 2022.
• The USA Hockey SafeSport Handbook, published 12/31/2022.

• For an FAQ of the current program, go to: https://www.usahockey.com/trainingfaqs.
• Annual training: SafeSport training is required ANNUALLY (not every 2 years). A refresher will be available after the full “core” course is taken. Note: When a member goes to the SafeSport Training link it will automatically direct to the training that member needs to complete. There is no challenging or appealing the training record for an applicant.
• Athletes turning 18: Athletes that will turn 18 during the season are required to take SafeSport education before they can be rostered for the season.
• Programs must offer information regarding SafeSport to athletes and parents. The easiest thing to do is send email communication, post on a Website, or include information in membership agreements that direct them to the USA Hockey SafeSport Webpage.
• “Why isn’t CAHA providing ‘official’ SafeSport training anymore?” Because the USCSS only recognizes their official online training as “SafeSport Training”. They do not recognize any other form of training and it does not count toward eligibility.
• USA Hockey and its affiliates are not required to train the adult participants in their Adult League member programs. They are only required to provide the information to direct participants to the online training and SafeSport resources.

Every adult participant (as defined in the legislation) who plays a specific role (coach, manager, volunteer, locker room monitor, practice assistant, board member, administrator, etc.) is held liable for reading, understanding and enforcing the SafeSport policies. It is not the responsibility of the SafeSport Coordinator to train adult participants – it is a personal responsibility to take the online training, read the Handbook, read the SafeSport legislation, read the SafeSport Code and read the Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policies.

There are no “opt-outs” or work-arounds for SafeSport. As an NGB, every member program of a USA Hockey affiliate is required to implement all of the SafeSport protocols and policies in their programs (this includes in-house and rec programs).

SafeSport violations have the potential to result in penalties ranging from suspension through removal of participation (for many years or life), as well as potential monetary, civil, state and federal action. The consequences for non-reporting of known or suspected SafeSport violations could be levied by CAHA, USA Hockey, civil or federal courts. “I didn’t know” is not an acceptable position or defense in a SafeSport complaint or investigation.

Member Clubs/Programs are responsible for the conduct of their paid membership, not the state affiliate (CAHA) or USA Hockey. The Program signs individual participation agreements/financial agreements with its members and therefore is responsible for the compliance of its members………not CAHA.

Reporting requirements have not changed, it is just more important than ever that they be followed.

• SafeSport concerns can be reported confidentially via email at any time to: SafeSport@caha.com
• SafeSport concerns can be reported through the Member Program to CAHA at any time, at: SafeSport@caha.com
• SafeSport concerns can be reported directly to USA Hockey at any time (where they will be directed back to CAHA SafeSport) at: SafeSport@usahockey.org
• Concerns of physical and/or sexual abuse of a minor can be reported directly to the U.S. Center for SafeSport
• SafeSport violations (including non-reporting) have the potential to result in penalties ranging from individual suspension through removal of participation (for many years or life), as well as potential monetary, civil, state and federal action. Penalties could also be against a Member Program, as they are the responsible party in SafeSport for their members’ actions.

There are several Zero Tolerance policies required by the MAAPP’s, the CODE and the USA Hockey SafeSport Handbook. Templates can be found on the USA Hockey’s Resources and Downloads page

These required policies must be adopted individually by each Member Program. They must be distributed to the membership of each program and be available to all members (the organization’s Website is a good place for them).

These policies include but are not limited to:

• Minor Athlete Travel Permission Form (whenever another adult transports a player that is not their child)
• Team Travel Policy
• Locker Room Policies (youth and Co-ed)
• Permission for Massages and Rub Downs of a Minor Athlete
• Permission for Individual Training of a Minor Athlete

Billeting requirements are mandated by USA Hockey and the Policy can be found on the CAHA’s Policies webpage under USA Hockey Billeting Policy or in the USA Hockey SafeSport Handbook.

For questions or more information, contact CAHA’s SafeSport Coordinator, Scott Gray, at: SafeSport@caha.com.