Safe Sport Law
WHAT IS SAFE SPORT?
The Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse and Safe Sport Authorization Act of 2017 (commonly referred to as the “SafeSport Act”) was enacted in 2018 by Congress in reaction to the abuse found throughout various youth sports organizations. The purpose of the law is to expand existing mandated reporting laws concerning sexual abuse to all youth sport organizations that participate in international or interstate sporting events. Although Titans Fastpitch does not participate in international or interstate sporting events, the legislation does broadly require that our organization provide a “standard of care” concerning incidents of alleged sexual abuse of our athletes regarding reporting, training, policies and procedures, and periodic safety system reviews.
Every adult volunteer with Titans Fastpitch is subjected to a background check; they must take training relating to abuse; and they are required to comply with the policies and procedures listed below.
Every parent/legal guardian is required to comply with the policies and procedures listed below. YOU are the first line of defense in protecting your child(ren) from sexual abuse and other forms of abuse.
REPORTING ABUSE
All Titans Fastpitch adult volunteers who interact with a minor athlete and become aware of an alleged incident of a sexual nature is REQUIRED TO REPORT the incident to local law enforcement authorities within a 24-hour period following the applicable adult’s awareness of such an incident. An adult volunteer is also required to promptly notify the Titans Fastpitch Compliance Committee as well as any other member of the Titans Fastpitch Board of Directors within the same 24-hour period following such an incident, so that the Titans Fastpitch Board of Directors can remove the accused volunteer from his or her position of authority over our athletes.
Beyond those who are deemed mandatory reporters, anyone, including you, who suspects that an alleged sexual abuse incident took place shall report the alleged incident to local law enforcement authorities and the Titans Fastpitch Compliance Committee.
A Titans Fastpitch volunteer or board member may not retaliate against those who report an alleged incident of a sexual nature or those who are accused of such an incident. The reporting of an alleged incident is to remain confidential. Those that are accused of an incident of a sexual nature will be immediately removed from their position of authority over all athletes until law enforcement authorities and/or the courts, either civil or criminal, exonerate the accused.
**It should be noted that when reporting an alleged incident of a sexual nature, that the incident must be reported to the local law enforcement authority that has jurisdiction where the incident took place (i.e., if the incident occurred in Berea contact the Berea Police Department; if the incident occurred in Middleburg Heights contact the Middleburg Heights Police Department).**
For emergencies dial 9-1-1 for any city.
Below is a list of non-emergency numbers:
Berea Police Department: (440) 234-1234
Middleburg Heights Police Department: (440) 243-1234
Strongsville Police Department: (440) 580-3230
Brook Park Police Department: (216) 433-1239
Seven Hills Police Department: (216) 524-3911
Olmsted Falls Police Department: (440) 235-3145
North Royalton Police Department: (440) 237-8686
Brecksville Police Department: (440) 526-8900
Independence Police Department: (216) 524-1234
Cuyahoga Heights Police Department: (216) 883-6800
Cuyahoga County Child Protective Services: (216) 696-KIDS
LIMITING ONE-ON-ONE INTERACTION WITH ADULT VOLUNTEERS
Titans Fastpitch recognizes that one-on-one time with trusted adult volunteers can be a healthy and beneficial experience for our athletes. However, it is also recognized that most sexual abuse of children is perpetrated in isolated, one-on-one situations. To reduce the potential risks of such occurrences, Titans Fastpitch recognizes that reasonable policies and procedures must be created to regulate interactions between adult volunteers and our athletes. These policies will allow for the benefits of one-on-one interactions but also reduce the potential risks involved with such interactions.
One-on-one interactions that do occur between an applicable adult, who is not the parent or legal guardian, while partially or fully under Titans Fastpitch’s jurisdiction (within the City of Berea or engaged in a mutual sporting event within our partner jurisdictions), are permitted if they occur in an observable and interruptible distance of at least one other adult; preferably another affiliated trusted adult or a parent or legal guardian of the athlete. An “applicable adult” is defined as a Titans Fastpitch volunteer or board member.
Unless a medical emergency or an unforeseen exigent circumstance that would cause imminent danger to the athlete exists, one-on-one meetings should never take place in a closed environment (i.e., locker room, bathroom, office, vehicle). One-on-one interactions with anyone other than the parent, legal guardian, or family member of the athlete are prohibited unless the parent/legal guardian emails the Titans Fastpitch Compliance Committee prior to each event to allow interactions with an applicable adult (i.e., allowing the athlete’s coach to give your child(ren) a ride home or engaging in an individual training session).
OTHER POLICIES TO LIMIT EXPOSURE TO ABUSE
Massages & Rubdowns/Athletic Trainer Modalities
Titans Fastpitch does not employ or contract any volunteer athletic trainers. Therefore, Titans Fastpitch does not authorize the use of massages, rubdowns, or athletic training modality.
Locker Rooms and Changing Areas-Including Bathrooms
It is recommended that all athletes come fully dressed from home in their provided uniforms prior to engaging in authorized athletic activities. Depending on the location, Titans Fastpitch is provided with a portable toilet, fixed toilet, and/or locker room facilities via the local jurisdiction where our organization is participating in athletic activity. Titans Fastpitch does not have jurisdiction or control over these facilities. Regardless, if these facilities are provided, the policy pertaining to one-on-one interaction between applicable adults and our athletes shall be adhered to when utilizing these facilities. Under no circumstances should an applicable adult undress, dress, or change or observe a minor athlete undress, dress, or change while utilizing these facilities unless the applicable adult is the athlete’s parent or legal guardian. No applicable adult, unless a parent or legal guardian of an athlete, shall undress, dress, or change while observable to an athlete.
Social Media and Electronic Communications
Titans Fastpitch recognizes that the use of social media and electronic communication devices can be beneficial and facilitate effective communication between applicable adults and our athletes and their parents and legal guardians. For the purposes of this policy, all communication originating from applicable adults between our athletes and their parents and legal guardians shall be professional in nature.
It is preferred that applicable adults and athletes limit their social media and electronic communication, unless the applicable adult is a parent or legal guardian of the athlete. It is preferred that the parent or legal guardian be contacted by the applicable adult. If the need arises for an applicable adult to contact an athlete, communication originating from an applicable adult to an athlete must also include the parent or legal guardian of the athlete (i.e., if an applicable adult contacts an athlete via a social media post, text, or email, the parent or legal guardian must also be copied to the post, text, or email). In the event that communication originates from an athlete to an applicable adult, the applicable adult shall notify the parent or legal guardian that the communication took place.
Local Travel/Team Travel
Titans Fastpitch participates in inter-city sporting engagements with other local jurisdictions. We do not provide a means of transportation to our events. It is preferred that the parent or legal guardian provide transportation to their child(ren) unless the child(ren) has obtained the ability to transport him or herself. Carpooling to inter-city events is at the parent or legal guardian’s discretion. In the event that an applicable adult provides transportation to an athlete, unless the applicable adult is the parent or guardian of the athlete, the one-on-one interaction policy shall be adhered to. One-on-one interaction is prohibited unless the parent/legal guardian emails the Titans Fastpitch Compliance Committee prior to each event to allow the applicable adult to provide transportation to the athlete.