Clarkstown Soccer Club upholds the highest standards for participant safety by ensuring all adults engaged in our registered and affiliated programs comply with the most rigorous standards for background checks and abuse training.
We do this not just because it’s the law, but because it’s the right thing to do. Abuse prevention is now an integral part of our roles as youth soccer administrators, coaches, referees, volunteers and parents.
We understand these new requirements will necessitate additional steps for all involved, but our kids are worth the effort. Abuse in youth sports is more prevalent than most of us think – and it can happen in any town. We all need to “go the extra mile” to ensure our kids can enjoy the game in a healthy and non-threatening environment.
* Mandatory Reporting: Any adult — board member, employee, coach (paid or volunteer, head or assistant), team administrator/manager, or other volunteers — interacting with an amateur athlete in the program has a duty to report abuse and/or suspected abuse within a 24-hour period of awareness. EVERY adult is a mandatory reporter.
* Prevention Training: Consistent training must be offered and provided to all adult members who are in regular contact with amateur athletes who are minors, and educational training for children to better understand appropriate vs. inappropriate behavior, both in terms of adult-to-child and child-to-child interaction;
* Prevention Policies: All youth sport organizations must establish reasonable procedures to limit one-on-one interactions between an amateur athlete who is a minor (under the age of 18) and an adult who is not their parent/guardian; anti-retaliation policies; and other relevant policies.
Therefore, every adult who may have the opportunity to have direct and unmonitored access to children must complete:
- A comprehensive background check and screening process; and
- a SafeSport Trained – U.S. Soccer Federation training course and an annual refresher course.
To make complying with these new requirements as easy as possible, CSC utilizes the GotSport system that our member organizations will use as a one-stop-shop for background checks and SafeSport training certifications. Visit the SafeSport Training page for instructions on registration and training.
To gain a better understanding of the law, review the links below: