Transcript Document

2A – USAV/USOC SafeSport
“We cannot make the mistake of
thinking that misconduct
won’t happen in USA Volleyball!”
Manual Page 2A-1
Slide #38
2A – USAV/USOC SafeSport:
An Introduction
The Stats!
 6 to 13% of athletes experience some form of sexual
abuse or assault within their sports by the age of 18.
 That’s as many as 1 out of every 8 athletes!
 Numbers may be even greater for elite athletes
The Goals!
 USA Volleyball strives to be community
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Manual Page 2A-2
of professionals & role models
We count on professionalism to keep athletes
safe & competition healthy
We must educate all involved to
reduce chances for misconduct
Slide #39
2A – USAV/USOC SafeSport
Elements of the Program:
 Policies on Misconduct:
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Bullying
Harassment
Hazing
Sexual, Physical & Emotional Misconduct
 Awareness, Education and Training:
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Manual Page 2A-2
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IMPACT & CAP Courses
USOC’s SafeSport on-line course (no cost)
Age-specific materials for athletes
USAV SafeSport education & training materials
for Clubs/Parents
Policies on Travel, Social Media & Mobile/Electronic
Communications
Screening of Staff and Volunteers
Reporting Concerns of abuse
Monitoring and Supervision
Enforcement of Policies & Penalties
Slide #40
2A – USAV/USOC SafeSport:
Bullying
Bullying Defined:
Repeated Pattern of committing
or willfully tolerating physical or
non-physical behaviors intended to
cause fear, humiliation, or physical
harm
 Can be Verbally, Socially, Physically
and in Cyberspace, (Social Media)
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Misuse of Power
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Bullies target every kind of athlete
Harms targeted athletes, plus
team morale and performance
Manual Page 2A-2 & 3
Slide #41
2A – USAV/USOC SafeSport:
Harassment
Harassment Defined:
Unwanted, offensive & intrusive behaviors
linked to Discrimination
 Affects on athletes’ performance:
 Loss of focus
 Play/perform tentatively
 Athletes rarely report due to
fear of:
 Retaliation
 Being viewed as a tattletale
 Being further ostracized
Manual Page 2A- 3 & 4
Slide #42
2A – USAV/USOC SafeSport:
Bullying & Harassment
Coaches Set the Stage for how athletes treat
each other… What can a coach do?!
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Program environment conducive to
Team Building
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Climate of Trust – talk with athletes
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Educate athletes – detrimental to team success
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Encourage Peers to Step In
Make known that such actions will
not Be tolerated!
“Culture of Disclosure” so athletes are
Safe in Disclosing information
Keep Antennae Up - pay attention and ask questions
Manual Page 2A- 3 & 4
Slide #43
2A – USAV/USOC SafeSport:
Hazing
Hazing Defined:
Coercing, requiring or willfully
tolerating Humiliating,
Unwelcome or Dangerous
Activity as Condition for Joining
Team.
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Unlike bullying/harassment,
hazing Attempts to INCLUDE athletes
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Widespread “Traditions” or “Rites of Passage”
may actually Damage Team/Program Cohesion
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“Seniority” is NOT “Hazing”
80% of college athletes have reported witnessing or
experiencing Hazing
Manual Page 2A - 4
Slide #44
2A – USAV/USOC SafeSport:
Hazing
Coaches Set the Stage for how athletes treat
each other… What can a coach do?!
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Educate players and parents about dangers
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Send a clear message of a
Zero-Tolerance Policy
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Provide examples
Communicate it clearly & often
Written and Verbally
Implement Strict Consequences
and enforce them 100% of the time
Manual Page 2A - 4
Slide #45
2A – USAV/USOC SafeSport:
Physical Misconduct
Physical Misconduct Defined:
Behaviors resulting in, have potential to, or
threaten to cause physical harm
 Does NOT always include physical contact
 Non-contact may be more difficult to recognize
 Remember - Athlete safety FIRST!
 Environment
 Positioning
 Implements/Equipment
 Appropriate medical services
for rehab & healthcare
Manual Page 2A – 4 & 5
Slide #46
2A – USAV/USOC SafeSport:
Physical Misconduct
Recognizing Physical Misconduct
 All are examples of Physical Misconduct:
 Contact causing intentional harm
 Denying adequate hydration, nutrition or sleep
 Overtraining athletes
 Encouraging or permitting athlete to return to
play TOO SOON after an injury/concussion
 Not providing safe equipment or safe playing
environment
 Failing to provide appropriate medical services
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KNOW your athletes … and the line between pushing
& motivating to achieve more … and causing them
physical harm!
Manual Page 2A – 4 & 5
Slide #47
2A – USAV/USOC SafeSport:
Emotional Misconduct
Emotional Misconduct Defined:
Intentional conduct which harms Athlete’s spirit &/or
self-worth via repeated rejection, threats, harassment,
terrorizing, isolating, or belittling.
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Sustained, repeated pattern of non-contact
behavior has potential to cause emotional or
psychological harm
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NOT a substitute for state’s legal definition of
“Emotional Abuse”
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Misguided attempt to motivate or punish for
performance, or inability of coach to control emotions
 Most reported form of misconduct
 Increases as athletes progress up competitive Ladder
 75% of elite athletes have reported they’ve been
emotionally abused during athletic careers
Manual Page 2A – 5
Slide #48
2A – USAV/USOC SafeSport:
Emotional Misconduct
Coaches, Beware!
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Win-at-all-Costs approach
Understand teaching, motivating,
and disciplining
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Supportive coach-athlete relationships
Related to athletic success
 Berating/degrading/manipulating
athletes is a misuse of authority & ego driven
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Ignoring or excluding athlete from practice/matches
Breaks down critical coach-athlete relationship
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Emotional misconduct can cause athletes to
drop out of sport
Manual Page 2A – 5 & 6
Slide #49
2A – USAV/USOC SafeSport:
Emotional Misconduct
Prevent Emotional Misconduct:
 Keep ego in check
 Build UP athletes…
 Focus on positive coaching techniques
 Apologize if you accidentally cross the line
 Emotional misconduct often connected
to other forms of abuse
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Emotional abuse makes it easier to
go on to physical or sexual abuse by
making unrealistic promises, praising then
degrading, and isolating from peers
Manual Page 2A – 6
Slide #50
2A – USAV/USOC SafeSport:
Predator Grooming Behavior
Predator Grooming Behavior:
 Predators are subtle and cunning in
approach to victims.
 Use combination of attention,
affection, and gifts.
 Prolonged & purposeful Tactics allow
predators to avoid detection & almost
guarantee athlete compliance
 Vitally important to recognize “grooming” techniques
so they can be interrupted and stopped immediately.
 Six identified Stages of Grooming …
Manual Page 2A – 6 & 7
Slide #51
2A – USAV/USOC SafeSport:
Predator Grooming Behavior
1. Targeting a victim:
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Offenders Identify Vulnerable
Victims
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Although ANY Athlete can be
Preyed Upon by a Kind and
Affectionate Adult in a Position of
Trust or Authority
2. Gaining trust: often, trust comes automatically
because “coach” is…
 In a position of mentorship
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Considered a role model
Manual Page 2A – 6
Slide #52
2A – USAV/USOC SafeSport:
Predator Grooming Behavior
3. Recognizing & fulfilling needs:
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Giving extra attention
Positive reinforcement
Starting position or playing Time
Scholarship or introduction to recruiters
Learning what the athlete values
4. Isolating the Victim:
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“Special relationship”
Secret sharing
Alone time
Confusion about relationship
Manual Page 2A – 6
Slide #53
2A – USAV/USOC SafeSport:
Predator Grooming Behavior
5. Sexualizing the Relationship:
 Breaks down psychological/physical Barriers
 “Accidental” nudity
 Use of pornography/touching to get victim
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desensitized and confused
Sets stage for sexual Assault
Secrecy and blame used to control victim
6. Maintaining Control:
 Secrecy and concealment phase
 Better the predator is in breaking down barriers,
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the easier it will be to maintain control and
get victim to keep the secret
Abuse may even occur in public, in presence
of others
Manual Page 2A – 7
Slide #54
2A – USAV/USOC SafeSport:
Predator Grooming Behavior
Abuse in Public:
Many offenders progress to sexually abusing victims or
committing Inappropriate acts in front of other witnesses!
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This does Two Things:
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Creates a defense for the offender…
Sends mixed message to the victim
RED FLAGS!
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Expensive gifts or money?
Separation of athlete from teammates
or parents?
Finds ways to be alone with the athlete?
Manual Page 2A – 7
Slide #55
2A – USAV/USOC SafeSport:
Responding and Reporting
Four Steps for Responding:
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Interrupt or disrupt the conduct
Share your concerns
Report to your designated administrator
If you suspect child abuse, report to the proper law
enforcement authorities
When or How should I
make a report?!
 Don’t attempt to evaluate validity!
 USAV requires reporting Sexual Misconduct.
 To report abuse call 1-855-306-7775 or submit an online
Report Abuse Form.
Manual Page 2A – 7 & 8
Slide #56
2A – USAV/USOC SafeSport:
Responding and Reporting
Mandatory Reporters:
Usually individuals in frequent contact with children
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Legal reporting responsibilities
vary by state
 Some states Include coaches
 Many states require anyone
who suspects child abuse to report
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Failure to report may result in criminal charges
It’s not an easy situation to be in, but again,
don’t evaluate validity before reporting!
Manual Page 2A – 8
Slide #57
2A – USAV/USOC SafeSport:
Responding and Reporting
Some Final Thoughts on Responding . . .
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We ALL can/should report to Law Enforcement
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Junior Personnel Code of Conduct REQUIRES
adults affiliated with a Jr team to report
unethical behavior/misconduct!
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Child abuse suspicions/allegations should be
reported to your Club, your RVA & proper law
enforcement authorities…
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Not your responsibility to investigate!
Clubs/RVAs may require report of any suspicions, allegations,
observations, knowledge of abuse/misconduct
Know your state’s Laws! (State Statutes Search)
Recognize misconduct to maintain safe & fun
sport environment
Manual Page 2A – 8
Slide #58
2A – USAV/USOC SafeSport:
Social Media Professionalism
Electronic Communication
 Must be professional in nature
 For sole purpose of communicating
Information about team activities
 Must adhere to USAV Code of Conduct
regarding athlete protection
 Must NOT contain or relate to
ANY of the following:
 Drugs or alcohol Use
 Sexually-oriented language, conversation, activities, or
images
 Coach’s personal life, social activities, relationships,
family issues or personal problems
Manual Page 2A – 9
Slide #59
2A – USAV/USOC SafeSport:
Social Media Professionalism
TAP Test
 Transparent: clear, direct & free from
hidden meanings, innuendo and
Expectations
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Accessible: include another club/team
adult in communications – it’s a matter
of record!
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Professional: high standards & integrity of word
choice, tone, grammar and subject matter
Manual Page 2A – 9
Slide #60
2A – USAV/USOC SafeSport:
Social Media Professionalism
Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Blogs…
 Do NOT accept/request “Friend” requests
from/to your athletes on personal pages
 No private messages/IM methods w/athletes
 Have club Facebook page (or other social
site) where players & parents may join to
receive team & club activities updates
 Set Your pages to “private” to prevent
athletes from accessing personal Info
 Be smart! Social media is public forever!
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Manual Page 2A – 9 & 10
Texting
TAP Test guidelines…
Limited only to communicating information related to
club/team activities
Only between the hours of 7 AM & 10 PM, or alternate start
& end time as set by club/RVA policy
Slide #61
2A – USAV/USOC SafeSport:
Social Media Professionalism
Final Thoughts on Social Media:
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Parents have right to request that children NOT be contacted via
any form of electronic communication w/ immediate compliance!
If emailing athletes, parents or other coach/administrators
must also be copied.
Coaches must refrain from making comments that could
be interpreted as slurs, are demeaning, or are derogatory,
defamatory or inflammatory.
Avoid exaggeration, colorful language, copyrighted
materials, legal conclusions/characterizations.
Think before posting! Will your effectiveness as a
coach/mentor & teacher/professional be placed at risk?
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Use good judgment – act responsibly/ethically
Post meaningful & respectful comments, & honor differences
Refrain from using social media to publicly discuss/criticize
others
Manual Page 2A – 10
Slide #62
2A – USAV/USOC SafeSport:
SafeSport Program Review
USOC & USAV SAFESPORT PROGRAMS
 Education & training is best protection athletes
have against abuse.
 USOC SafeSport.org website (& USAV’s
SafeSport webpage) has many resources for:
players, parents, coaches & clubs
 Safety of all participants is of utmost
importance to USAV (on and off-court).
 Remain committed to creating safe &
fun sports environments for youth.
 Provide training, materials and resources for
USAV Regions, clubs, coaches, parents and all athletes.
 Zero tolerance policy for abuse & misconduct.
 Check the USA Volleyball Website for more information.
 Also www.safesport.org
 And http://www.teamusa.org/stopabuse
 Coaching using Professional Ethics as your guide – on to
Chapter 3!
Manual Page 2A – 10
Slide #63