Transcript Slide 1

Safe Haven Addendum
Workshop 603
Update Topics
• Safe Haven Challenges
• Additional Protocols
• Key Program Updates
What do you find most
challenging?
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Incidents?
Parents?
Player conduct?
Volunteer conduct?
Rules?
Safe Haven Challenges
Creating a safe haven has never been more
challenging.
• Increase in reported SAM cases in many youth
organizations and sports nationwide.
• 20%-30% of reported SAM cases occurred
between minors.
• Registered Sex Offenders reported at fields
Safe Haven Challenges
There may be predatory patterns…
• Officiating – scouting potential victims.
• Coaching – building a position of trust.
• Grooming – filling needs of children or parents.
– Gift giving
– Favoritism
– Private messaging/activities
• Bold, symbolized by Pedo Bear
Safe Haven Challenges
Registered Sex Offenders
• 775,000 registered sex offenders in the U.S.
• It may be unlawful for them to be around
children other than their own.
• May be parents or spectators.
• May “volunteer” under the radar – field setup,
concession stands.
Safe Haven Challenges
California School District failed to prevent student's
sexual assault - December 20, 2012
Jury found the School District responsible for 30% of a $23
million judgment based on the school district's failure to
supervise. Settled another lawsuit for $139 Million in 2014.
California lawsuit filed over alleged failure to
conduct background check - January 16th, 2013
Parents filed a lawsuit against U.S.Y.S. and a California Youth
Soccer Association alleging that the local youth soccer club
failed to perform a background check.
Safe Haven Challenges
Death from Second-Impact Syndrome
Deaths have been reported from a second impact while
the brain is still recovering from a concussion.
5th Concussion Lawsuit Filed Against NCAA November 15, 2013
Case joins a growing field of lawsuits alleging the NCAA
was negligent in its care for athletes who they claim are
suffering the long-term effects of concussions and head
trauma suffered during their collegiate careers.
Safe Haven Challenges
Teen pleads guilty in referee’s death – August, 2013
17 year old soccer player in Utah pleaded guilty to
homicide by assault in the death of a referee.
Mother of one player kicked the opposing player
while both players were down on the ground in
retaliation for a foul during a game.
Police called to escort threatening spectator from
field.
Coach arrested for assaulting referee.
Additional Protocols
What can we do?
Require a Volunteer Application every year.
Require the use of eSignature (Policy 3.7).
Require training and certification.
Monitor fields for appropriate use of protection
guidelines.
• Run more comprehensive/timely background
checks with more efficient vendors.
• Use kids zone
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AYSO’s Safe Haven
Information for Parents
New →
www.ayso.org
Additional Protocols
What should you do if you observe
concerning behaviors?
• Contact Safe Haven.
• Notify CVPA, Division Coordinator and Regional
Commissioner.
• Address any protocol/guideline violations.
• Is it simply a lack of training?
• Add additional observations or monitoring.
Additional Protocols
What should you do if you suspect someone
is a sex offender?
• Contact Safe Haven or law enforcement.
Officers can help assess any risks or restrictions.
• Remember everyone has civil rights.
• Illegal to post/distribute identities/pictures.
• Safe Haven will help you balance the need to
protect children with the rights of the individual.
Additional Protocols
What should you do if a volunteer is
arrested or under investigation?
• Notify Safe Haven immediately.
• The volunteer must be asked to “step aside”
from any volunteer position for which a
conviction would make him/her ineligible to hold
the position.
• Safe Haven will change their volunteer status
accordingly in eAYSO.
Additional Protocols
What should you do if a volunteer is
arrested or under investigation?
• Do not comment on any allegations or individual
except to acknowledge what has been made
public and to reinforce AYSO’s commitment to
the protection of our children and to working
with law enforcement as required without
casting any judgments on the case.
Additional Protocols
What should you do if a volunteer is
arrested or under investigation?
• Safe Haven will confirm facts and any mandated
reporting requirements with law enforcement
and contact Legal Commission.
• Any prepared statements will be provided.
• An designated AYSO spokesperson will handle
media inquiries.
Additional Protocols
Young Adult Volunteers
• Complete an adult volunteer application upon
turning age of majority.
• Take AYSO’s Safe Haven training as a new adult.
• Please counsel these young people about the
importance of maintaining appropriate
boundaries and transparency in their
interactions with minors.
Additional Protocols
Divorced Parents
• AYSO’s position is to ask parents to work
together in the best interest of their children
and not to mediate domestic disputes.
• Regions can only share player information with
parents listed on the Registration form; if there
is a dispute, both parents must provide proof
of custody.
Additional Protocols
Divorced Parents
• Player information will be given to parents with
proof of custody unless registering parent has
court documentation to the contrary.
• AYSO does not enforce temporary restraining
orders; if a protective order is presented which
protects a child from an adult, the Region
should not assign the adult as a coach for the
child.
eSign Update
AYSO National Policy Statement 3.7
Jan.1, 2014: All AYSO volunteer applications must
be submitted using eSign via eAYSO.
Aug.1, 2014: All AYSO player registration forms
must be submitted using eSign via eAYSO.
Why eSign?
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Reduce cost of long-term storage of “wet”
signature forms.
Improved/faster background checks.
Protect privacy of our families reassure
them their information is secure.
Help mitigate increases in insurance costs.
Preserve “chain of custody” in event of
litigation.
eSign for Volunteers
• eSign speeds up the background checking.
• Any volunteer application that does not come through
eSign will be automatically red-flagged and cannot be
registered by the Region until a signed form is received
by Safe Haven.
Concussion Update
• Relatively Small number of reported concussions
on Incident Reports over the last few years.
• Most commonly described incidents occurred
with player-on-player contact or from fall to the
ground.
• No proven protective headgear. Regions must
not sponsor or endorse any type of protective
headgear or sideline testing products.
Concussion Update
Concussion Update
Concussion Update
Concussion Update
• When required by State Law, parents must
obtain a medical clearance in addition to
completing the Participation Release Form.
• Any player who exhibits any sign/symptom of a
concussion and is removed from play, may not
return to play for the remainder of that day.
Concussion Update
The Region Safety Director must receive:
• an AYSO Incident Report
• signed Participation Release
• copy of the signed Player Registration Form
• copy of any SAI claim form
whenever a player is removed from play due to
signs/symptoms of concussion. Fax/email forms to
[email protected].
Code of Conduct Update
AYSO Policy Statement 2.12
• In order to ensure the protection of
volunteers and players, Policy 2.12 has
been updated to reflect AYSO’s
Code of Conduct Policy Against
Harassment, Abuse or Violence.
• Includes recommended sanctions for
misconduct consistent with due
process.
Code of Conduct Update
Studies on increasing violence in youth sports found:
• Adults living vicariously through children.
• Kids being forced to play adult versions of games to
satisfy an “adult” thirst for experiencing what is seen on
television.
• “Win-at-all-costs”, focus on being #1 and the
scoreboard instead of the purpose of youth sports –
skill, physical and emotional development, and most of
all, fun!
Code of Conduct Update
• Reinforces the philosophies and policies that support a
safe haven with education.
• Harassment of any kind is not tolerated and must be
addressed immediately.
• Address bad behavior immediately and consistently
before it becomes violent.
• Do not ignore steps for dispute resolution and due
process – verify facts and right to be heard.
Create it and they will come.