Policies, Reporting & Jurisdiction FAQ

MY ORGANIZATION IS INTERESTED IN DEVELOPING REASONABLE PROCEDURES TO LIMIT ONE-ON-ONE INTERACTIONS BETWEEN MINORS AND ADULTS. WHERE DO I GET STARTED?

Consult the USSF Model MAAPP and USSF Model Prohibited Conduct Policy on the Safe Soccer tab on this site. These model policies must be adopted by Organization Members and cover abuse prevention, prohibited conduct, and abuse reporting and response. Organization Members may choose to implement stricter standards than those provided in the model policies.

HOW DO I REPORT SUSPECTED CHILD ABUSE OR SEXUAL MISCONDUCT?

The SafeSport Act requires “Covered Individuals” to report suspected child abuse within 24 hours. “Covered Individuals” to whom this obligation extends include any adult who is authorized to interact with minor or amateur athletes at a facility under the jurisdiction of a national governing body such as USSF, but the law goes further and extends this obligation to “amateur sports organizations,” meaning any not-for-profit corporation, association, or other group organized in the United States that sponsors or arranges an amateur athletic competition out-of-state or internationally. If you are unsure of where to report in your state, search “[your State]” and “Mandatory Reporter” – many states have specified agencies (see, e.g., http://www.keepkidssafe.pa.gov/). If you cannot find such an agency or the Attorney General has not yet designated such an agency, contact local law enforcement.

Allegations of child abuse or sexual misconduct must be reported to the U.S. Center for SafeSport. Report here: https://uscenterforsafesport.org/report-a-concern/ or by calling (833) 587-7233 if you have reasonable suspicion of sexual misconduct or harassment, child abuse (including child sexual abuse), or intimate relationships involving an imbalance of power.

The Center has exclusive jurisdiction over allegations of sexual misconduct and criminal charges or dispositions involving child abuse. Jurisdiction over other allegations of child abuse declined by the Center rests with the Organization Member with whom the accused person participates, or with U.S. Soccer if the accused person is a U.S. Soccer Program Participant under the Safe Soccer Framework.

HOW DO I REPORT OTHER PROHIBITED CONDUCT OR A VIOLATION OF THE MINOR ATHLETE ABUSE PREVENTION POLICIES?

Reports of other prohibited conduct (including, but not limited to physical misconduct and emotional misconduct such as bullying, hazing, stalking and harassment) can be made either to U.S. Soccer here: https://www.ussoccer.com/safeguarding/report-a-concern or to the Organization Member with whom the accused person participates. You may also report these violations to the Center for SafeSport.

Reports may be made anonymously, and there are no costs or fees associated with making a report.

Jurisdiction over reports of other prohibited conduct rests with the U.S. Soccer Organization Member with whom the accused person(s) is registered, or with U.S. Soccer if the accused person is a U.S. Soccer Program Participant under the Safe Soccer Framework.

COULD I BE SUBJECT TO RETALIATION FOR MAKING A REPORT?

USSF does not tolerate retaliation. No individual who makes a good faith report shall be subject to retaliation, including harassment or any adverse employment consequence, as a result of making a report including before, during, or after the reporting and resolution process.

HOW DO I REPORT RETALIATION?

Allegations of retaliation must be reported to the Center. The Center has exclusive jurisdiction over allegations of retaliation related to the Center’s process. Jurisdiction over reports of retaliation not involving the Center’s process, if declined by the Center, rests with the U.S. Soccer Organization Member with whom the accused person(s) is registered, or with U.S. Soccer if the accused person is a U.S. Soccer Direct Program Participant under the Safe Soccer Framework.

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER I FILE A REPORT WITH U.S. SOCCER?

If your report contains allegations of child abuse, sexual misconduct, retaliation or abuse of the Center for SafeSport’s process, U.S. Soccer will refer your report to law enforcement and/or to the Center within 24 hours, as required by federal law and the SafeSport Code. U.S. Soccer will not interfere in, attempt to interfere in, or attempt to influence the outcome of any Center investigation.

If your report contains allegations of other prohibited conduct (including, but not limited to physical misconduct and emotional misconduct such as bullying, hazing, stalking and harassment) against a “U.S. Soccer Program Participant” as defined by the Safe Soccer Framework, U.S. Soccer will take appropriate steps to investigate and resolve your report. If your report contains allegations of other prohibited conduct (including, but not limited to physical misconduct and emotional misconduct such as bullying, hazing, stalking and harassment) against a participant in one of U.S. Soccer’s Organization Members, U.S. Soccer will refer your report to the appropriate Organization Member for follow up.

In any case, U.S. Soccer will notify you of its jurisdictional determination.

More information on U.S. Soccer’s Response and Resolution Process can be found HERE.