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Safe Sport & MAAPP Information

USA Volleyball and Safe Sport

 

The safety of its participants is of paramount importance to USA Volleyball.

USA Volleyball has a ZERO TOLERANCE for abuse and misconduct. This includes not only on-court safety, but also off-court safety in any part of USA Volleyball’s programs.

USA Volleyball is committed to creating safe and fun environments for youth. This includes, but is not limited to, providing training, educational materials and resources for our regions, clubs, coaches and parents.

NGB ATHLETE SAFETY POLICY

SAFESPORT CODE

The SafeSport Code establishes consistent standards of response and resolution to abuse and misconduct claims across the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Movement, whose affiliated individuals must comply with policies and procedures as defined by the Code.

Why Safe Sport?

 

Thank you for your commitment to Safe Sport. Together, we can promote a safe and respectful environment on and off the court.

Safe Sport training must be completed prior to interacting with athletes. The content of this Safe Sport training was developed and is maintained by the U.S. Center for SafeSport, which retains individual course completion records. Note: Safe Sport training is free for USA Volleyball members who take the training through their SportsEngine account. Completing this training through your account automatically updates your USAV member record.

You will take three lessons during this training:

  • Emotional and Physical Misconduct
  • Sexual Misconduct
  • Mandatory Reporting

Updates to Safe Sport Training

(updated Dec. 20, 2021)

  • U.S. Center for SafeSport “Core” Training: This is required training for adults who have regular contact with amateur athletes who are minors, and/or have regular contact with or authority over an amateur athlete who is a minor. The training must be completed before regular contact with an amateur athlete who is a minor begins; or within the first 45 days of initial membership, or upon beginning a new role subjecting the adult to the MAAPP. The training must be completed by March 23, 2019, for all current members or after for new members. Available to USAV members for free.
  • 30-Minute Refresher: This is conducted annually following “Core” Center for SafeSport Training. This training is 30 minutes and is a review of the information shared in the Core Center for SafeSport Training. Available to USAV members for free.
  • Athletes turning 18 during the season, whose teammates are minors, will be required to take “Core” Center for SafeSport Training upon turning 18. To prevent any disruption in playing eligibility, athletes turning 18 during the USAV season are given a membership that requires Safe Sport parental consent and SafeSport Training completion to be eligible.
  • Parent and Youth Training Courses: The U.S. Center for SafeSport has launched youth courses. This training is not mandatory and will be offered through the Center’s website at safesporttrained.org. It requires parental consent. The parent/legal guardian creates the account to provide consent for the child and to decide which course is best for their child. Courses are for athletes ages 5-12, athletes ages 13-17, and for parents. These free courses are for minor athletes and their parents to understand the importance of positive, welcoming environments in sports, where misconduct like bullying or abuse is less likely to happen, and to know where to report abuse, should it happen.

How to Register for Training

 

Parental consent is required for minor athletes to register for Safe Sport training. Complete the parental consent form in SportsEngine when registering.
Safe Sport training is accessed through your new SportsEngine membership account.

Instructions

Visit the USAV Academy Helpdesk.

Visit the Center’s NGB Services page for more information on responsibilities, education and training.

REPORTING

 

Please note that there are a number of options and requirements to report abuse.

Report to law enforcement immediately if you are aware of sexual abuse. If abuse includes sexual misconduct report to both law enforcement and the U.S. Center for SafeSport.

Out of respect for the importance of this issue and to encourage honest and effective reporting, knowingly making a false or malicious report will not be tolerated and may be a violation of USA Volleyball’s Code of Conduct. USA Volleyball strictly prohibits staff/regions/clubs from charging filing fees for Safe Sport reports.

The U.S. Center for SafeSport accepts all reports affecting the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Movement of:

  • Sexual Misconduct, including without limitation child sexual abuse and any misconduct that is reasonably related to an underlying allegation of Sexual Misconduct
  • Criminal Charges or Dispositions involving Child Abuse or Sexual Misconduct
  • Misconduct Related to Reporting, where the underlying allegation involves Child Abuse or Sexual Misconduct
  • Misconduct Related to Aiding and Abetting, Abuse of Process, or Retaliation, when it relates to the Center’s process
  • Other Inappropriate Conduct

The Center has exclusive jurisdiction to investigate and resolve reports affecting the Movement in the bulleted categories above.

The Center also accepts reports of emotional and physical misconduct (including bullying, hazing, stalking and harassment) within the Movement. Reports of emotional and physical misconduct can also be made directly to USA Volleyball. Also, reports of MAAPP violations can be made directly to USA Volleyball.

Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policy 
(M.A.A.P.P.)

The MAAPP is a collection of proactive prevention and training policies for the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Movement. It has three primary components: an Education and Training Policy, Required Prevention Policies, and Recommended Prevention Policies. The Center developed the MAAPP to assist National Governing Bodies, Paralympic Sport Organizations, Local Affiliated Organizations, the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee, and other individuals to whom these policies apply in meeting their obligations under federal law.

Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policies (MAAPP) outline training requirements and limit one-one-one interactions with minor athletes.

DOWNLOAD MAAPP (PDF)

MAAPP Summary

 

The goal of Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policies is to limit one-on-one interactions with minor athletes; interactions with minors should be observable and interruptible. Any violation of MAAPP is reportable.

2022 MAAPP AT A GLANCE (PDF)

The policy covers the following areas:

  • Limiting one-on-one interactions, including meetings and individual training sessions
  • Meeting and Training Sessions
  • Athletic Training Modalities, Massages and Rubdowns
  • Locker Rooms and Changing Areas
  • Electronic Communications
  • Transportation
  • Lodging

MAAPP LEGAL GUARDIAN CONSENT FORM

Questions regarding MAAPP should be directed to USAVSafeSport@usav.org.

MAAPP Resources

Misconduct has the potential to not only affect your performance but also cause physical or emotional harm.

Spotting inappropriate behavior depends on understanding what’s acceptable as you encounter new and different situations.

More resources can be found at the U.S. Center for SafeSport.