May 30, 2019

USA Archery Shares Updates to SafeSport Code and Adopts Minor Athlete Abuse and Prevention Policies

USA Archery has important updates from the U.S. Center for SafeSport that will affect USA Archery Policies and Procedures.

Policy Updates

1. SafeSport Code
   • An updated version of the SafeSport Code is now available on the USA Archery website.
2. Minor Athlete Abuse and Prevention Policy
   • USA Archery has adopted a Minor Athlete Abuse and Prevention Policy (MAAPP). This policy outlines new requirements for U.S. Center for SafeSport Education Training and Policies for One on One Interactions with Minors.
3. USA Archery Code of Conduct
   • As a result of the updates to the SafeSport Code and the adoption of the MAAPP, USA Archery has an updated Code of Conduct, which references these policies.

Please review the SafeSport Code and Minor Athlete Abuse and Prevention Policies (MAAPP) Frequently Asked Questions to learn how these policy changes affect you.

USA Archery is committed to our ongoing collaboration with the U.S. Center for SafeSport  to foster a culture of safety by raising awareness, centralizing best practices, and providing education and training to promote respect and prevent abuse in sport. We thank you in advance for your support in this continued effort. For more information, please contact USA Archery at [email protected].

SafeSport Code and Minor Athlete Abuse and Prevention Policies (MAAPP)

Frequently Asked Questions

Updated May 28th, 2019

1. Why is the MAAPP Important? 
   • USA Archery (USAA), in partnership with the U.S. Center for SafeSport (the Center), is committed to building a sport community where participants can work and learn together in an atmosphere free of emotional, physical, and sexual misconduct. Federal law authorizes the Center to address the risk of emotional, physical, and sexual abuse of amateur athletes in the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Movements (See:Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse and Safe Sport Authorization Act of 2017). The MAAPP is based on recommendations and requirements from the Center.
2. What are the key components of the MAAPP? 
   • The MAAPP includes an education and training policy and policies for:
     • One-on-one interactions
     • Massages and Rubdowns/Athlete Training Modalities
     • Locker Rooms and Changing Areas
     • Social Media and Electronic Communications
     • Local Travel
     • Team Travel 
3. Who is Affected by the MAAPP? 
   • Adult members at USAA who have regular contact with amateur athletes who are minors to include any volunteer, coach, instructor, judge, administrator, trainer, or medical personnel (excluding those who only have incidental and observable contact with athletes at events);
   • An adult authorized by USAA to have regular contact with or authority over an amateur athlete who is a minor;
   • Adult staff and board members of USAA (with the exception of USAA Clubs and State Associations whose adult staff and board members have no contact with or authority over minor athletes).
4. Who is required to take the Core U.S. Center for SafeSport Training?
   • The adults listed in #3 above are required to complete the Core U.S. Center for SafeSport Training (available through yourUSA Archery Membership Services Account) no later than March 23, 2019, or at minimum:
     • Before regular contact with an amateur athlete who is a minor begins; or
     • Within the first 45 days of initial membership, or upon beginning a new role subjecting the adult to the MAAPP. Training other than the Core U.S. Center for SafeSport training does not satisfy this policy.
     • Note: In addition to those Adults listed in #3 above, if you hold, or are planning to obtain, a USA Archery certification (instructor, coach, judge etc.) or any other role within USA Archery that requires a current U.S. Center for SafeSport Course to maintain that certification/role, you will be required to complete the Core U.S. Center for SafeSport Course.
   • The Core U.S. Center for SafeSport Training includes three modules:
     • Emotional and Physical Misconduct
     • Mandatory Reporting
     • Sexual Misconduct Awareness Education
5. How often do I need to complete the U.S. Center for SafeSport Course?
   • You will only need to complete the Core U.S. Center for SafeSport Course one time. However, a refresher course is required on an annual basis effective the calendar year following the completion of the Core U.S. Center for SafeSport Training beginning September 1, 2019.
6. When will my U.S. Center for SafeSport Course expire?
   • Anyone who completes the U.S. Center for SafeSport Training on or after September 1, 2019 will have an expiration date 12 months from the completion date of the course.
   • If you have previously completed the Core U.S. Center for SafeSport Training within your USA Archery Membership Services account, on September 1, 2019,your expiration date will be changed to 12 months from the date of course completion.  
   • If this change causes your SafeSport certificate to go into a lapsed status, you will need to complete the U.S. Center for SafeSport Refresher Course immediately to remain in compliance with the MAAPP and to remain current with your USA Archery certifications such as range pass, coach, judge, etc. If you have questions about your certifications, please contact [email protected].
7. How often do I need to complete the U.S. Center for SafeSport Refresher Course?
   • The U.S. Center for SafeSport Refresher Course must be completed on an annual basis once you have completed the Core U.S. Center for SafeSport Course.
   • Note: In addition to those Adults listed in #3 above, if you hold, or are planning to obtain, a USA Archery certification (instructor, coach, judge etc.) or any other role within USA Archery that requires a current U.S. Center for SafeSport Course to maintain that certification/role, you will be required to complete the U.S. Center for SafeSport Refresher Course on an annual basis once you have completed the Core U.S. Center for SafeSport Course.
8. How long is the Core Center for SafeSport Training?
   • The Core U.S. Center for SafeSport Training is a 90-minute course made up of three modules listed in Question #4. 
9. Can a minor under age 18 take the U.S. Center for SafeSport Course?
   • Yes, however minors will be required to provide parental consent prior to the completing the U.S. Center for SafeSport Course within their USA Archery Membership account.
10. How do I take the U.S. Center for SafeSport Course and Refresher Course? 
    • Please follow the steps below to access and complete the Core U.S. Center for SafeSport Training and/or the Refresher Course:
      1. Log into your USA Archery account (https://usarchery.sport80.com/login)
      2. Ensure the correct profile is opened (if you have multiple people on your account, you may need to collapse the profile that defaults to being opened)
      3. Select “Center for SafeSport Training” in the menu directly under your name
      4. Click Add Center for SafeSport Training button (right-hand side of screen)
      5. Here you will see the training course options:
         1. To complete the Core Center for SafeSport Training (approximately 90 minutes), you will need to Add and complete the following three courses:
            1. Core Training: Emotional and Physical Misconduct
            2. Core Training: Mandatory Reporting
            3. Core Training: Sexual Misconduct Awareness Education
         2. To complete the Refresher Course, you will need to Add and complete the Refresher Course: Recognizing and Reporting Misconduct
      6. Once you have added the appropriate course, you will see a pop-up box with additional information to review. Click the Add button at the bottom of the screen
      7. Once you click Add, you will see a pop-up window with a link to click to begin the course
      8. The course(s) will remain in a Pending Approval status until complete. You may start a course, stop, logout and come back to your account to complete at a later date
    • Once a course is complete, your account will automatically update (may not be immediate). For more information on how to complete the course please contact [email protected].
11. When should I file a SafeSport Complaint?
    • Reporting misconduct is vital to protecting athletes and preventing further incidents. The following forms of misconduct should be reported to law enforcement and/or the U.S. Center for SafeSport:
      • Child Abuse
        • An Adult Participant who learns of information and reasonably suspects that a child has suffered an incident of child abuse, including sexual abuse, shall immediately make a report of the suspected abuse to both Law Enforcement and the U.S. Center for SafeSport.
      • Sexual Misconduct
        • The Center encourages anyone who experiences or becomes aware of an incident of Sexual Misconduct involving a Participant to immediately report the incident to the U.S. Center for SafeSport (and/or to law enforcement if the matter involves possible criminal conduct). Adult Participants must promptly report possible Sexual Misconduct directly to the U.S. Center for SafeSport whenever such participants become aware of conduct that could constitute Sexual Misconduct.
      • All Other Forms of Misconduct: Please complete the USA Archery SafeSport Reporting Form and submit to [email protected]. Additional information on reporting a violation can be found on the USA Archery website here.
    • Every Participant* must report violations of the Code and suspicions or allegations of misconduct. All cases of suspected emotional, physical or sexual abuse of a minor (under the age of 18) must be reported to law enforcement immediately. Filing a report with the Center and/or USAA does not satisfy this obligation.
    • *Participant
      • Any individual who is seeking to be, currently is, or was at the time of the alleged Code violation:
        • A member of USA Archery;
        • An employee of USA Archery;
        • Authorized, approved, or appointed by USA Archery to have regular contact with Minor Athletes. 
12. Will USA Archery provide supplemental education sessions related to athlete safety so I can learn more?
    • USA Archery will provide educational sessions on athlete safety in 2019 to help parents, athletes and coaches better understand USA Archery’s policies as required by the U.S. Center for SafeSport and the United States Olympic Committee (USOC).  Sessions are scheduled to be held at the:
      • 2019 JOAD National Target Championships
      • 2019 U.S. National Outdoor Target Championships
      • Online Webinars – Date TBD
    • Each session will include information on the following topics:
      • The Core U.S. Center for SafeSport Course and Refresher Course
      • The USOC and USA Archery’s background screening requirements
      • USA Archery’s Minor Athlete Abuse and Prevention Policies, reporting procedures for misconduct in sport
      • Additional resources and education programs designed to educate parents and young athletes including the Parent Toolkit, Coaching Boys into Men and Athletes as Leaders courses.
    • There will also be an OPTIONAL course available to parents in the USA Archery Membership Services System when you click Add Center for SafeSport Training titled “Parent’s Guide to Misconduct in Sport”. This course is designed for the parents of athletes of all ages, explains the issues of misconduct in sport and helps parents ensure their children have a positive and safe sport experience.