Updates for 2020-2021 Season

There are several changes to the SafeSport program effective with the 2020-2021 season. While they are highlighted below, it is the responsibility of each individual member to understand and comply with these changes.

To Confidentially Report a SafeSport Concern: safesport@usahockey.org  
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.

Updates for the 2020-2021 Season

Who is impacted? 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 is required to comply with SafeSport. There are no carve-outs or exceptions.

Oversight 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: https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-bill/534/text.
•   MAAPP: The U.S. Center for SafeSport’s (“USCSS”) Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policies, dated January 23, 2019 (the “MAAPP”) https://uscenterforsafesport.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Minor-Athlete-Abuse-Prevention-Policies.pdf.
•   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, 2020: https://uscenterforsafesport.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/2020-SafeSport-Code-04.01.20.pdf.
•   The USA Hockey SafeSport Handbook, published 6/4/2020: https://cdn2.sportngin.com/attachments/document/3e1e-2145880/2020_SafeSportProgramHandbook_-_Final_.pdf#_ga=2.163576444.1558002212.1600146781-1489488849.1548292068.

SafeSport Training
•   For an FAQ of the current program, go to: https://www.usahockey.com/trainingfaqs.
•   Annual training: SafeSport training is now 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 ( https://www.usahockey.com/safesporttraining ) 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 are a 2003 birth year or earlier are required to take SafeSport education before they can be rostered for the 2020-2021 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 directs them to the USA Hockey SafeSport Webpage: https://www.usahockey.com/safesportprogram.
•   “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 member programs. They are only required to provide the information to direct participants to the online training and SafeSport resources.

Accountability 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.

Non-compliance 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).

Consequences 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.

Ultimate Responsibility for SafeSport Compliance 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 SafeSport Concerns 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: CAHASafeSport@gmail.com
•   SafeSport concerns can be reported through the Member Program to CAHA at any time, at: CAHASafeSport@gmail.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 USCSS at: https://uscenterforsafesport.org/report-a-concern/
•   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.

USA Hockey Required Documents and Policies
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 CAHA Website SafeSport page, or here: https://www.usahockey.com/resourcesanddownloads.

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). A program can make these policies more stringent than the USA Hockey template, but they cannot be made less stringent.
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

Focus on: Billeting
Billeting is governed by SafeSport. Billeting requirements are mandated by USA Hockey and the policy can be found on the CAHA SafeSport page or on page 24 of the USA Hockey SafeSport Handbook.
Key changes and conditions:
●   Each member program that has one or more billeted players is required to have a named Billet Coordinator.
●   The Billet Coordinator is responsible for ensuring there is a completed CAHA Billet Application and Policy Acknowledgement on file for all parties of each Billet transaction. The CAHA Billet Application and Policy Acknowledgement can be found on the CAHA SafeSport page. (An organization may use its own supplemental application or forms, but CAHA’s application is required).
●   The Billet Coordinator is responsible for completing the CAHA Billet Database spreadsheet each time a change is made to it. CAHA is required by USA Hockey to audit the billet records of all billeting organizations throughout the course of the season and this form must be complete at all times.
●   Read the CAHA Billet Policy to review the penalties for non-compliance – they can be substantial.
●   Documents for Billet programs:
     o CAHA Billet Agreement and Policy Acknowledgement  CAHA_billet agreement_092020.docx
     o CAHA Billet Coordinator Master Spreadsheet  CAHA Master Billet Coordinator Spreadsheet.xlsx

For questions or more information, contact CAHA’s SafeSport Coordinator, Jaime Campbell, at: CAHASafeSport@gmail.com.