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. TSSA has developed its Safe Soccer Policy to meet the national requirements set forth by this Public Law as well as U.S. Soccer Policy.
TSSA 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. TSSA’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.
TSSA 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 TSSA members. Please read and share the complete policy with your members, parents, and all other relevant parties.