SafeSport Quick Guide
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Required By:
Congress and the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) -
Who Completes It:
All Adult Participants -
Frequency:
Completed annually
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What Is Required
Must complete an online training through the U.S. Center for SafeSport; training runs on a four-year cycle. Only one training per year needs to be completed.- Year One: SafeSport Trained Core Course (1.5-2 hrs)
- Year Two: SafeSport Core Refresher 1 Course (15-20 mins)
- Year Three: SafeSport Core Refresher 2 Course (15-20 mins)
- Year Four: SafeSport Core Refresher 3 Course (15-20 mins)
- Year Five: SafeSport Trained Core Course (cycle repeats)
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Where Is It Completed:
Through the Player’s Health platform
SafeSport
Report Abuse
Mandatory Reporting
All Adult Participants of OSA 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.
OSA 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.
OSA 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 OSA’s Safe Soccer Policy), all are encouraged to report abuse through OSA’s digital compliance platform below.
If you make a report to law enforcement, please also make a report online to OSA. This will assist OSA in taking any appropriate action.
Sexual Abuse & Misconduct
Report sexual misconduct, including without limitation child sexual abuse and any misconduct that is reasonably related to an underlying allegation of Sexual Misconduct or Criminal Charges or Dispositions involving Child Abuse or Sexual Misconduct.
Emotional & Physical Misconduct
Not sure what to report and where, more information can be found here.
Overview
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. OSA developed its Safe Soccer Policy to meet the national requirements set forth by this Public Law as well as U.S. Soccer Policy.
OSA 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. OSA’s Safe Soccer Policy was developed to help all participants detect and report abuse, respond to it and prevent future occurrences.
This 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.
OSA defines Adult Participants as:
- Organization Board Members, Officers, and Directors
- Organizational Employees and Independent Directors
- Coaches and Trainers
- Team Managers and Club Administrators
- Tournament Directors
- Adult TOPSoccer Buddies
- Athletic Trainers
- Referees
- eSports Moderators
- Adult Athletes
This policy applies to all OSA members. Please read and share the complete policy with your members, parents, and all other relevant parties.
Safe Soccer Policy
This policy was developed to meet the requirements set forth by Public Law 115-126 Protecting Young Victims for Sexual Abuse and Safe Sport Authorization Act of 2017 (the “SafeSport Act”) as well as U.S. Soccer Policy 212-3. The Ohio Soccer Association (OSA) Safe Soccer Policy sets the standard for all member organizations as part of requirements for Ohio Soccer Association’s Safe Soccer Policy. This program will be updated as required.
This policy applies to all OSA members. Please read and share this information with your members, parents, and all other relevant parties.
Adult Athletes
Effective for the 2021/22 seasonal year, there are new “Adult Athlete” Safe Soccer (risk) national requirements that all members of U.S. Soccer (US Youth Soccer, US Club, AYSO, SAY, etc.) must implement by January 1, 2022. We understand the impact this has on our members and how challenging these requirements are. As a member benefit, OSA is here to help you and your “Adult Athletes” complete this process.
“Adult Athletes” (defined as “Adult Participants”) are athletes who are 18 years of age or older who have regular contact participating on teams with “Minor Athletes” (this includes, but is not limited to training, scrimmages, games, etc.). “Adult Athletes” must complete a background check (valid every two years) as well as the annual SafeSport training.
OSA will be working closely with our member leagues to implement this new national requirement. We appreciate everyone’s efforts to help create a safe environment for all, free from abuse, and misconduct.
PLAYERS 18+ YEARS OLD OR WILL TURN 18 BY 7/31/2025 MUST COMPLETE PRIOR TO CARDING
Starting with the 2024/2025 seasonal year, Adult Athletes will complete their OSA risk requirements directly through their GotSport account. All SafeSport Core or Refresher courses MUST be completed AFTER June 1, 2024, for the seasonal year.
- Players must have an affiliation/role of USYS/Competitive in GotSport
- Players must have a GotSport email/user ID* in order to complete their OSA risk requirements
- Once your Adult Athlete(s) have completed their risk, you can then clone them to your league for “Approval” or “Carding”
*IMPORTANT* Players DO NOT use an email address that has been used by another family member or someone who has used the same email address to take their SafeSport training, if applicable. If the player has already completed a SafeSport training for the current seasonal year, please USE THE SAME EMAIL ADDRESS for the player’s OSA risk account so that they can successfully sync their completed SafeSport training. In order for the SafeSport training to sync the first name, last name, and email address MUST MATCH in BOTH GotSport and SafeSport.
- Log into GotSport with your GotSport player email/user ID (if you are unsure of your email/user ID, contact your Club Administrator)
- If you do not know your password, select “Forgot Password?”
- From the player’s profile, click Dashboard
- If the player’s OSA background check or SafeSport status for the applicable registration year shows as Required, Expired or anything other than Fulfilled, click on Details next to each applicable OSA risk requirement for instructions on how to successfully complete
If you are 18+, you must:
- Submit an OSA background check (OSA covers the fee, no code needed)
- New Adult Athletes: Complete the “SafeSport Trained – U.S. Soccer Federation” training
- Returning Adult Athletes: Complete ONE (1) U.S. Soccer Federation “Refresher” training
- Download/save a copy of your “SafeSport Trained” certificate for your records
For players turning 18 during the seasonal year:
- Obtain parent/guardian consent directly through their GotSport account by clicking on the SafeSport requirement Details in their Dashboard prior to completing the “SafeSport Trained – U.S. Soccer Federation” training
- Complete the “SafeSport Trained – U.S. Soccer Federation” training
- Download/save a copy of your “SafeSport Trained” certificate for your records
SafeSport Trained – U.S. Soccer Federation Training Example
U.S. Soccer “Refresher” Training Example
The following courses DO NOT satisfy the SafeSport requirement:
- SafeSport for Youth Athletes
- SafeSport for Adult Athletes
- SafeSport for Kids
Mandatory Reporters
“Adult Athletes” now have certain requirements to complete by law, including being mandatory reporters.
If you have questions about Adult Athlete requirements or need assistance completing the requirements, please contact Jen Fickett.
Minor Coaches
OSA’s Safe Soccer Policy, applicable to all member organizations, provides that all coaches, trainers, team managers, club administrators, organization board members, officers, directors, employees, independent contractors, referees, and any other person age 18 or older who may have the opportunity to have direct and unmonitored access to children in your organization must undergo comprehensive background screening and training designed to prohibit misconduct.
This training has been created by the U.S. Center for SafeSport, an independent non-profit organization that develops policies and procedures to prevent emotional, physical, and sexual abuse of athletes.
OSA registered minor coaches are also required to complete the SafeSport Training (the same training taken by adults pending their age) with parental/guardian consent at no cost.
Additional requirements by the State of Ohio include:
- Concussion Training: In accordance with “Ohio’s Return to Play” law, coaches are required to complete a State of Ohio approved concussion training every two (2) years.
- Lindsay’s Law: In accordance with Ohio Senate Bill 252, all members must follow and adhere to the Sudden Cardia Arrest in Youth Athletes Law (Lindsay’s Law). The law requires coaches to annually complete a set of requirements prior to participating in any organized sports activity.
Starting with the 2024/2025 seasonal year, Minor Coaches will complete their OSA risk requirements directly through their GotSport account.
- Minor Coaches must have an affiliation/role of USYS and either Grassroots or Competitive in GotSport
- Minor Coaches must have a GotSport email/user ID* in order to complete their OSA risk requirements
- Once your Minor Coach(es) have completed their risk, your league can proceed to “Approve” or “Card” them
*IMPORTANT* Minor Coaches DO NOT use an email address that has been used by another family member or someone who has used the same email address to take their SafeSport training, if applicable. In order for the SafeSport training to sync the first name, last name, and email address MUST MATCH in BOTH GotSport and SafeSport.
- Log into GotSport with your GotSport player email/user ID (if you are unsure of your email/user ID, contact your Club/League Administrator)
- If you do not know your password, select “Forgot Password?”
- From the Minor Coach’s profile, click Dashboard
- If the Minor Coach’s SafeSport, Concussion Training, and/or Lindsay’s Law statuses for the applicable registration year shows as Required, Expired or anything other than Fulfilled, click on Details next to each applicable OSA risk requirement for instructions on how to successfully complete
Parent/Guardian Consent: Is obtained directly through the Minor Coach’s GotSport account by clicking on the SafeSport requirement Details in their Dashboard prior to complete the “SafeSport Trained – U.S. Soccer Federation” training.
SafeSport Trained – U.S. Soccer Federation Training Example
OSA is committed to supporting an environment in which all participants in the soccer community (athletes, coaches, referees, administrators, or volunteers), play an active role in creating an environment free from emotional, physical, and sexual abuse.
If you have questions about Minor Coach requirements or need assistance completing the requirements, please contact Jen Fickett.
Training For Parents/Guardians & Minor Athletes
Parent/Guardian Training
Ohio Soccer Association strongly encourages all parents of Youth Participants to take the U.S. Center for SafeSport’s Parent’s Guide to Misconduct in Sport Training on an annual basis.
This free online course designed for parents/guardians of athletes of all ages explains the issues of misconduct in sport and helps parents ensure their children have a positive and safe sport experience. An online Parent Toolkit is also available.
Minor Athlete Training
OSA strongly encourages all Minor Athletes, with parental consent, to take the U.S. Center for SafeSport Youth Athlete Training on an annual basis.
These free online trainings are designed as an introduction for Minor Athletes and their parents/guardians 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 occur. A parent/guardian must first create an account in order to give consent for their child to access the free training and select the appropriate module for their child’s age.
