American Youth Soccer Organization
Child and Volunteer Protection Policy

Basic Child Protection Policies
Administration
Training
Conduct

Basic Child Protection Policies

AYSO is proud to have as part of their team, members to serve as Child Protection Advocates. It is their responsibility to oversee the child protection program in accordance with AYSO guidelines. They are members of the regional board and will act as the main resource on child protection issues.

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Administration

1. The region is committed to the protection of all its children from all forms of abuse and neglect while participating in the program, and it promotes the awareness and prevention of child abuse in the community at large.

2. The region requires all volunteers complete, date and sign the appropriate volunteer application form and its authorization to AYSO to perform applicant screening. All volunteers shall be screened at a level appropriate to the level of risk.

3. The region shall have the right to revoke the participation of any individual who lies or knowingly misrepresents information on the application form, or who violates the principles of these child protection policies. AYSO shall have the right to revoke both the registration and certification of any volunteer who falsifies information, is found guilty of child abuse, or fails to fill in and return the volunteer application form.

4. A volunteer accused of abuse will be asked to resign voluntarily. If the volunteer refuses, the board will move to suspend the volunteer until the matter has been resolved. Regardless of civil or criminal guilt for the alleged child abuse, the continued presence of the volunteer in the program will damage the reputation of the region, even during the investigation and pretrial phase.

5. A volunteer accused of child abuse but subsequently cleared may apply for reinstatement in the region. However, reinstatement is not a right, and reinstated volunteers are not guaranteed to return to their former positions.

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Training

1. All coaches, referees, other volunteers who work directly with children, and the child protection advocate shall be trained before working with children. Head coaches must be certified; assistant coaches and referees should be certified.

2. Only certified AYSO materials and courses (or those approved by AYSO) may be used to train and certify these key volunteers.

3. Properly signed rosters of attendees will be sent to AYSO Education to validate each attendee's training and certification, and to insure that the coaches and referees are registered with AYSO.

4. Courses and clinics shall be taught by AYSO trained instructors. Only official AYSO programs, procedures, and policies will be taught.

5. Other volunteers will be trained before they do their jobs, including child protection training as appropriate. Whenever possible, "on the job training" will be avoided.

6. Volunteers shall be subject to ongoing evaluation, and additional training may be required to maintain good standing within the region and the organization.

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Conduct

1. The region advocates and expect exemplary behavior by all its participants, and it will hold a strict line on conduct as laid out in these policies, regardless of whether misconduct is committed by coaches, referees, players, siblings, parents, or spectators.

2. Demeaning verbalizations are not permitted, especially those abusive statements that deal with race, ethnicity, religion, nationality, gender, age, or sex.

3. In addition to verbal abuse, physical, emotional, sexual, and ethical abuses are prohibited, as is neglect of a child. Examples of potentially abusive behaviors include but are not limited to striking, hitting, slapping, pushing, kicking, shaking, biting, yelling, threatening, insulting, mocking, demeaning, indecent gesturing, wanton gesticulation, ogling, suggestive posturing, inappropriate touching, lewd remarks indecent exposure, unwanted physical contact, suggestions to cheat or to harm another, or unreasonable pressure to play when sick or injured.

4. Some forms of touching are acceptable as long as they are specific and appropriate:

	Touching should be in response to the need of the child, not the need of the adult.
	Touching should be with the child's permission.
	Resistance to touching must be respected.
	Touching should never include the breast, buttocks, or groin.
	Touching should be done in the open, not in private.
	Touching should have a brief, limited duration.
	Touching is age and developmentally dependent; what is appropriate changes over time.

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