Tennessee State Soccer Association is focused on creating a safe playing environment for all youth and adult soccer players in Tennessee. One of our most important roles is to educate our member leagues and clubs on their compliance responsibilities at the state and federal levels, and to provide Adult Participants, parents and athletes the means by which to fulfill their legal requirements.
To make this simple to understand, we have broken the requirements down into four ‘pillars’ that we term ‘Safe Soccer’ (formerly: risk management policy). These pillars apply to all membership, regardless of recreational, competitive, or adult affiliation.
| REQUIREMENT | COMPLETED BY |
|---|---|
| Background Check | Adult Participants |
| Sudden Cardiac Arrest Prevention Act | Players/Parents, Coaches |
| Tennessee Sport Concussion Law | Players/Parents, Coaches |
| Safe Sport | Adult Participants |
In order to complete the Safe Soccer requirements, please reach out to your league or club for information. Coaches or other TSSA defined “Adult Participants” may visit this page for step-by-step instructions. Tennessee State Soccer Association provides the ability for its member clubs to be fully compliant in all Safe Soccer requirements through our partner platforms; US Connect and Player’s Health.
ANNUAL REQUIREMENTS: SAFESPORT TRAINING AND CONCUSSION TRAINING
Safesport Training, Cardiac, and Concussion Training are all completed each year within the United States Soccer Federation Learning Center.
ANNUAL REQUIREMENTS: BACKGROUND CHECKS
Background checks are done on a two-year rotation in the United States Soccer Federation Learning Center. A follow up background check is done at the end of the first year. Every two years a background check must be completed. The background check is in compliance with United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC). This means the background check goes back as far as it needs to. There is a national and statewide check completed on every Coach. The check also includes a search through the national sexual predator registry.
MANDATORY REPORTING
All Adult Participants of TSSA 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.
TSSA 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.
TSSA 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 TSSA’s Safe Soccer Policy), all are encouraged to report abuse through TSSA’s digital compliance platform below.
If you make a report to law enforcement, please also make a report online to TSSA. This will assist TSSA in taking any appropriate action.