USA Hockey Safe Sport – Keeping Our Athletes Safe

USA Hockey Safe Sport is committed to keeping our athletes safe. We work to educate and raise awareness of sexual misconduct in sport, and we provide resources and support to victims and survivors.

The Importance of Safe Sport in USA Hockey

USA Hockey is committed to promoting a safe and positive environment for all of our athletes. We believe that every athlete has the right to participate in hockey in an environment that is free from all forms of abuse, including sexual misconduct. Our Safe Sport Program is designed to protect our athletes from all forms of abuse, including sexual misconduct, and to create a culture of respect within the sport of hockey.

The cornerstone of our Safe Sport Program is our comprehensive code of conduct, which applies to all members of USA Hockey This code of conduct establishes clear standards of behavior that are designed to keep our athletes safe. All members of USA hockey are required to abide by the code of conduct, and we require all adults who interact with our athletes to complete a background check and training on how to prevent and report abuse.

We also have a reporting system in place so that any concerns about abuse can be promptly reported and investigated. We take all reports of abuse seriously and we will take appropriate action to protect our athletes.

If you have any questions about our Safe Sport Program or if you need to report an incident of abuse, please contact us at [email protected]

The Risks of Not Following Safe Sport Policies

There are several risks associated with not following USA Hockey Safe Sport policies, including:

-Your athlete could be injured
-Your athlete could be put in a situation where they feel uncomfortable or unsafe
-Your athlete could be put in a situation where they are exposed to inappropriate behavior

USA Hockey Safe Sport is designed to protect athletes from these risks by providing education and training on how to identify and prevent potential abuse. By following USA Hockey Safe Sport policies, you can help keep your athletes safe.

The Consequences of Not Following Safe Sport Policies

As a coach, you are responsible for the safety and wellbeing of your athletes. Ignoring USA Hockey Safe Sport policies puts your athletes at risk of physical, emotional, and sexual abuse.

Physical abuse can occur when a coach uses excessive force during training or punishes athletes by making them do dangerous exercises.

Emotional abuse can occur when a coach yells at athletes, calls them names, or makes them feel unworthy.

Sexual abuse can occur when a coach touches an athlete in a sexual way or forces them to engage in sexual activity.

If you witness any type of abuse, report it immediately to the USA Hockey Safe Sport Program at ___________.

How to Keep Your Athletes Safe

USA Hockey Safe Sport is committed to providing a safe and positive environment for all of our athletes. We believe that athlete safety is a shared responsibility, and we all have a role to play in keeping our athletes safe.

There are a few simple things you can do to help keep your athletes safe:

-Educate yourself on the signs of abuse and misconduct, and be sure to report any concerns immediately.
-Create and maintain an open and respectful environment where athletes feel comfortable speaking up if they have concerns.
-Encourage athletes to speak up if they see or experience something that makes them uncomfortable.
Promote a culture of respect, inclusion, and safety within your team or program.

If you have any questions or concerns about athlete safety, please contact USA Hockey Safe Sport at [email protected]

The Role of Parents in Keeping Athletes Safe

As a parent, you play an important role in keeping your athlete safe. You can help by:

-Educating yourself about the signs of abuse and misconduct
-Talking to your athlete about healthy relationships and setting boundaries
– Monitoring your athlete’s interactions with coaches and other adults
– Reporting any concerns you have to USA Hockey

USA Hockey has a zero tolerance policy for abuse and misconduct. We are committed to creating a safe environment for all athletes. If you have any concerns, please contact us immediately.

The Role of Coaches in Keeping Athletes Safe

As a coach, you are in a unique position to influence the culture of your sport and to make a positive difference in the lives of the athletes you coach. You have the opportunity to teach young athletes not only the skills they need to be successful on the ice, but also important LIFE LESSONS about respect, responsibility, and sportsmanship. By taking a proactive approach to creating a safe and positive environment for your athletes, you can help prevent abuse and other harmful behaviors in hockey.

Here are some ways you can create a safe and positive environment for your athletes:

-Promote respect for all athletes, regardless of their gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sexual orientation or disability.

-Encourage open communication between you and your athletes. Make sure they feel comfortable coming to you with any concerns or questions they may have.

-Make sure your athletes know that they can always speak up if they feel unsafe or uncomfortable.Encourage them to report any Maltreatment (including bullying, hazing or sexual misconduct) to a responsible adult.

-Model appropriate behavior for your athletes. Treat them with respect at all times and do not engage in any Maltreatment yourself.

-Regularly review USA Hockey’s SafeSport Program policies with your team. Make sure everyone understands what is expected of them and what maltreatment is prohibited under the policy.

-Be aware of the warning signs that an athlete may be being abused or mistreated. These can include changes in behavior or appearance, withdrawal from friends or activities, suddenly acting scared or anxious around certain people, or bruises or other injuries that cannot be explained. If you have concerns about an athlete’s welfare, trust your gut and take action by speaking to someone who can help, such as a USA Hockey SafeSport representative (http://www..usahockeyrule..com/safesport).

The Role of Officials in Keeping Athletes Safe

As officials, we play an important role in keeping athletes safe. We are in a unique position to monitor and report any suspicious or inappropriate behaviour. By being aware of the signs of abuse, we can help prevent athletes from becoming victims.

Some indicators that an athlete may be experiencing abuse include:

· Discomfort around a particular coach or official

· reluctance to change into workout clothes or participate in activities

· fear of certain locations or activities

· avoiding eye contact or social interaction with others

· withdrawing from friends or usual activities

· changes in eating or sleeping habits

If you see any of these signs, or have any concerns about an athlete’s safety, please report it to USA Hockey’s SafeSport Program at safesport.org/report-abuse.

The Role of Clubs in Keeping Athletes Safe

All USA Hockey Affiliates are required to have at least one representative complete the USA Hockey SafeSport Training. The training is designed to help identify and prevent bullying, hazing, sexual misconduct and other inappropriate behaviors that are detrimental to creating a positive environment for our athletes.

Clubs play a critical role in maintaining a safe environment for all members. In addition to the training, clubs should adopt policies and procedures to help prevent misconduct. Some of these policies might include:
-A code of conduct that outlines expectations for all members
-A clear process for reporting misconduct
-An open door policy that encourages members to come forward with concerns

USA Hockey also offers a variety of resources to help clubs create a safe environment, including templates for codes of conduct and policies and procedures. For more information, visit USAHockey.com/SafeSport.

The Role of Leagues in Keeping Athletes Safe

As the governing body of hockey in the United States USA Hockey is committed to providing a safe and positive environment for all of its members. The USA Hockey Safe Sport Program is designed to protect young athletes from emotional, physical and sexual abuse.

Through the USA Hockey Safe Sport Program, leagues can play a key role in preventing abuse and creating a safe environment for all athletes. League administrators, coaches and officials can help by completing the online training and taking the appropriate actions to create a culture of respect within their leagues.

In addition to the online training, leagues are encouraged to develop policies and procedures to address disciplinary actions related to misconduct. These policies should be reviewed and updated on a regular basis to ensure they are aligned with the latest best practices.

By taking these steps, leagues can help create a safe environment for all athletes to enjoy the sport of hockey.

What to Do If You Suspect Abuse

No one wants to think about the possibility of abuse occurring in Youth Sports but unfortunately, it does happen. If you suspect that a child is being abused, it is important to take action to ensure their safety.

If you are a witness to abuse, or if a child confides in you that they are being abused, the first step is to contact law enforcement or child protective services. It is also important to contact USA Hockey Safe Sport at (800) 404-8727 so that we can investigate and take appropriate disciplinary action, if necessary.

If you have any concerns about the safety of a child in a USA Hockey Program please do not hesitate to contact us. We are committed to keeping our athletes safe and will take any allegations of abuse seriously.