Rock Soccer Safety Procedures

Rock Soccer Club is committed to providing a safe environment for children and young adults can develop their soccer skills and enhance their love for the sport. All players are to feel comfortable and welcome during this development. The club has approved the following safety procedures designed to reduce safety risk. Given the nature of the sport, it is not possible to establish procedures for all types of risk and players are reminded of the risk waivers signed during enrollment. The SafeSport Act program requirements are required by law including mandatory reporting. The club policies on concussions, injuries, bullying, horseplay, referee respect, and code of conduct are policies of The Rock Soccer Club and the Rock Soccer Club board reserves the right to interpret these procedures on a situational basis. Any safety concerns from club members are to be promptly communicated to a coach or board member. 

ATHLETE AND PARTICIPANT SAFETY

The Rock Soccer Club is member of the Wisconsin Youth Soccer Association (WYSA). All coaches, board members, managers and other key volunteers (known as covered personnel) complete a biennial background check, administered by  WYSA. In addition to these background checks, these club resources also complete the requirements of the Core SafeSport Training requirements in accordance with the Safe Sport Act. All coaches are required to maintain their WYSA license and those costs can be covered by the club.  The RSC Vice President position is responsible to ensuring all aspects of the safety program and training are met by the end of the 4th week of every season.  The status of all required training and background checks will be reported in the board meeting notes.

The SafeSport Act is a congressional law that covers all youth sports that are under the umbrella of a US National Program. as a member of Wisconsin Youth Soccer Association, Rock Soccer complies with all requirements. These requirements are summarized into the following major sections:

The program includes six key components:

1. Background Screening Policy
2. Mandatory Reporting Policy
3. Training and Education Policy
4. Prohibited Conduct Policy
5. Policy to Limit One-on-One Interactions
6. Policy on Monitoring and Enforcement

Participant Training for Minors
In addition to covered personnel, WYSA is also obligated to offer training to minor participants. The U.S. Center for SafeSport has released five training modules focused on Youth Athlete Training on athletesafety.org. The modules are age-based: Preschool, Grades K-2, Grades 3-5, Middle School and High School, and are anywhere from 10-20 minutes in length. A parent/guardian must first create an account in order to give consent for their child to access the training as well as select the appropriate module for their child’s age. It is not necessary for us (WYSA or Clubs) to track participation of minor athletes in the training, however we do need to document the offering.

Mandatory Reporting

Per the SafeSport Act, the definition of mandatory reporter now includes any “adult who is authorized, by a national governing body, a member of a national governing body, or an amateur sports organization that participates in interstate or international amateur athletic competition, to interact with a minor or amateur athlete at an amateur sports organization facility or at any event sanctioned by a national governing body, a member of a national governing body, or such an amateur sports organization.”

In accordance with federal legislation, it is WYSA’s Mandatory Reporting Policy that all Covered Personnel shall be considered mandatory reporters for cases of suspected child abuse. Individuals who may not be considered “Covered Personnel” under WYSA’s Athlete and Participant Safety Program may nonetheless have an obligation to report suspected child abuse under applicable federal or state law. Therefore, WYSA urges all individuals to act to report suspected child abuse.

In the event the reporting obligation is triggered, a report must be made, within 24 hours, to appropriate law enforcement authorities, as governed by applicable federal and state law. Should the mandatory reporter require assistance making a report to the appropriate law enforcement authority, he or she should consult with the WYSA State Office.

A report to law enforcement may be made anonymously. There is no fee or cost associated with making a report.

In addition to the obligation to report cases of suspected child abuse to law enforcement pursuant to the SafeSport Act, Covered Personnel must also make a report to the WYSA State Office.

Without limiting the foregoing, it is also WYSA’s Mandatory Reporting Policy that Covered Personnel must report any suspected violation of the WYSA Athlete and Participant Safety Program to the WYSA Executive Director. Furthermore, WYSA prohibits retaliation against individuals making good faith reports of any suspected violation of the WYSA Athlete and Participant Safety Program. The SafeSport Act also includes qualified immunity for good faith reports.

Importantly, civil or criminal statutes of limitations do not affect or negate the obligation of a Covered Personnel to report possible sexual misconduct. Misconduct should be reported, regardless of when it occurred.

Links for all referenced programs and laws can be found on the Wisconsin Youth Soccer Website

CONCUSSIONS AND SPORTS INJURIES

Given the nature of the sport of soccer, all players are at risk to a range of injuries. The coaches strive to create a safe environment for age specific drills and game play however injuries can and do occur.  It is essential that parents maintain current contact information with the coach and team manager in the unfortunate instance of an injury. Many coaches have a first aid background and all coaches will participate in concussion awareness and protocol training bi-annually. Out of the abundance of caution, the coaching staff reserve right and will remove players from games and practices due to their assessment of any actual or potential injuries. For an acute injury the coaches will attempt to contact the parents but will transport/arrange for transport and treatment using the insurance information provided at the beginning of the season.

BULLYING

The Rock Soccer Club is committed to ensuring that children feel welcome in the club. If any player feels like they are being bullied, it is to reported to the coach or a board members. The disciplinary actions will be as follows: First offense - The coach or board members will talk to all the kids involved in the incident and a warning will be given. The coach or board member will document the discussion and provided it to board. Second offense - the coach or board members will let the child(ren) and the parents know that the bullying behavior occurred again including specific details. Parents will be required to respond in writing to the coach or board member. This exchange will be documented and provided to the board. Third offense - will result in a 1 game suspension. Fourth offense - will result in removal from the league for the season.

HORSEPLAY AND DISRUPTIVE BEHAVIOR

RSC desires the practice and game experiences to be fun and rewarding for all participants. Excessive horseplay or disruptive behavior interferes with the coaching staff’s ability to instruct and develop new skills while putting players at additional risk. The disciplinary actions will be as follows: First offense - The coach will issue a verbal warning. Second offense - The coach will ask the player to remove him/herself and sit down for 10 minutes. Third offense - The coach will ask the player to sit out for the balance of the practice/game and the coach will have a conversation with the parents. Further occurrences will be address by the coach and coaching director with the parents which could include removal for the season.