skip navigation

Safe Environment Zone

As a member of USA Volleyball, North Country Region is proud to participate in the SafeSport program, a program to bring awareness and education and to provide reporting for abuse and misconduct.  All adults working with minors must complete SafeSport training as well as have a current and cleared USAV background screen through NCSI. 

Annual Cost

$14.00 annually starting September 1, 2021 for members whose background screens expired August 31, 2021. For members who purchased a background screen during the 2020-2021 season, the background screen is valid through August 31, 2022.

International Screens for non-citizens has shifted to a flat rate. Searches for Canada will be at the cost of $75.00 and all other international locations will be $150.00

Who Is This For?

Every adult who has regular contact with junior level/minor age athletes.  Each adult's USA Volleyball membership credential will state if this minimum standard has been met.

Junior Manager who turns 18 during the USA Volleyball Season.

Junior Official who turns 18 during the USA Volleyball Season.

Background Screens are Not Equal

Organizations who contract with a background screen company determine the offenses which disqualify a person from participation and/or membership. USA Volleyball will not accept a background screen that is completed outside of the organization. Such a policy better ensures that adult members working with minor age athletes have been thoroughly vetted at a consistent, high standard across all Regions.  

NCSI Communication to Member

Declined: NCSI has determined that the person does not meet USA Volleyball's background screen qualifications. NCSI informs the member, USA Volleyball, and the Region. The Region is NOT informed of the reason for the member's background screen declination.  "Appeals of Disqualifications. All disqualified individuals have the right to request an appeal of their disqualification by filing a written request for review with the USAV General Counsel within thirty (30) days from the date of notification of the disqualification. An email from the individual requesting said review will constitute a timely request, however, no review by USAV shall occur until all other requirements have been met."

USAV General Counsel - Rachael.Stafford@usav.org 

Pending: NCSI needs further information to complete the background screen. This could be due to a name change, misspelling, more than one person with the same name, social security verification, etc...  NCSI will email the member and inform the Region that the member's background screen is pending and therefore delayed until the member provides the needed information. The Region will send a follow up email to the member to contact NCSI with the necessary information.

Approval: NCSI informs the member when the background screen is approved. The Region is not formally notified of this; however, the Regions and USA Volleyball can check a member's eligibility status in the Member Management System.

This USAV Volleyball and Regional Volleyball Association Background Check Policy includes significant alterations to the automatic disqualifiers section. Those who may have passed the background screen previously may no longer qualify under the current automatic disqualifiers.

Full Background Checks. All full background check screens will include at least the following search components:

  1. Social Security Number validation;
  2. Name and address history records;
  3. Two independent Multi-Jurisdictional Criminal Database searches covering 50 states plus DC, Guam, and Puerto Rico;
  4. Federal District Courts search for each name used and district where the individual currently lives or has lived during the past seven years, going back the length of time records are available and reportable;
  5. County Criminal Records for each name used and county where the individual currently lives or has lived during the past seven years, going back the length of time records are available and reportable for each county searched;
  6. National Sex Offender Registry database search of all available states, plus DC, Guam, and Puerto Rico;
  7. Multiple National Watch Lists;
  8. SafeSport Disciplinary Records;
  9. Comprehensive International Records search for U.S. citizens who have lived outside of the United States for six consecutive months in any one country, during the past seven years;
  10. Motor Vehicle Records of at least a 3-year history in the state of licensure; (if driving is required for position).

Falsification of information on any membership application or the consent/release form is grounds for membership revocation or restriction of membership.

Individuals that are disqualified must wait one season before reapplying for affiliation and/or participation with a junior club or team.

ENFORCEMENT: The hiring entity is responsible for ensuring adherence to this policy, and ensuring that those individuals who are disqualified do not participate in USAV/RVA sanctioned events and/or activities.

PENALTY: Failure of a club/entity to request background screening or enforce disqualification is cause for the RVA or USAV to impose penalties. The minimum penalty shall be suspension of all members of the offending club/entity until background screening and enforcement requirements are met.  Additional measures may include financial penalties and/or extended suspensions against disqualified individuals and/or the club/entity.

Who Is This For?

  • Club Directors
  • Coaches
  • Officials
  • Tournament Directors
  • Chaperones/Team Representatives
  • Junior Managers and Junior Officials
  • 18 year old players on a junior level team
  • Regular contact with junior level/minor age athletes

NCR SafeSport Contact

Region Commissioner
Laura Bush
laura@ncrusav.org
952-831-9150 ext 1

U.S. Center for SafeSport "Core" Training:This is required training for adults who have regular contact with amateur athletes who are minors, and/or have regular contact with or authority over an amateur athlete who is a minor. The training must be completed 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. The “Core”training is required also prior to eligibility to take the Refresher.This training is a member benefit and no additional fee is applied to complete.

Athletes turning 18 during the season, whose teammates are minors, will be required to take “Core” Center for SafeSport training upon turning 18. To prevent any disruption in play, the center will allow athletes who are 17, turning 18 during the season to take “Core” given parental consent. Once a player turns 18, he or she will not be permitted to continue play until “Core” SafeSport training has been completed. Complete the parental consent form in SportsEngine before registering for training if you have a minor athlete who needs to take the training. Once the form is completed, your child will be enrolled in SafeSport training. A notification of registration will be sent to the email address on file to access the course.

SafeSport Training needs to be completed once a year. After the first year, you will take the Refresher Courses until the process restarts in year 5.

  • Year 1 - SafeSport Core 
  • Year 2 - SafeSport Refresher 1
  • Year 3 - SafeSport Refresher 2
  • Year 4 - SafeSport Refresher 3
  • Year 5 - Restart with SafeSport Core

Respectful conduct in a sport environment involves ethics, morals, and standards of behavior. All Members of USA Volleyball sign a Code of Conduct when registering for membership.  Why is it important?

  • Responsibility - committed to doing what is right
  • Integrity - shows members and non-members a culture of honesty
  • Behavior Norms - prevents "innocent" ethics violations
  • Standard of Practice - reference guide to correcting behavior or steering a decision

Who Is This For?

  • Club Administration
  • Club Handbooks
  • Club Personnel
  • Anyone who has regular contact with amateur athletes
  • Recommend to share with parents and guardians of junior level/minor age athletes in the organization
  • Recommend to post on club website

USA Volleyball is proud to introduce Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policies (MAAPP). These policies outline training requirements and limit one-one-one interactions with minor athletes.  The policies also meet the mandate from the U.S. Center for SafeSport for all National Governing Bodies to implement measures that better ensures safety for coaches, affiliated adults, and minor athletes. The policies are effective June 23, 2019. Legal Guardian Consent(LG)form, fillable. Legal Guardian Consent Form

MAAPP Summary

The goal of Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policies is to limit one-on-one interactions with minor athletes--interactions with minors should be observable and interruptible. Any violation of MAAPP is reportable.

The policy covers six areas:

Questions regarding MAAPP should be directed to safesport.general@usav.org.

USA Volleyball and the 40 Regions are able to provide to each member secondary liability coverage insurance.  This individual benefit is a part of USA Volleyball membership and utilized at USA Volleyball or Region sanctioned tryouts, practices, tournaments, camps and clinics.

  • Secondary sports accident for those with primary insurance and primary sports accident insurance (with $1,000 deductible) for those registrants without health insurance during USAV/RVA sanctioned events
  • General liability insurance - covering all USAV/RVA sanctioned activities.

CERTIFICATE of INSURANCE

  • 20-21 GL/XS/PA – EO + SAM (2020-2021 General Liability / Excess Liability / Participant Accident – Evidence of Coverage with Sexual Abuse and Molestation coverage shown) This is your standard evidence of coverage issued to a club or any third party. It is only proof of insurance.
  • 20-21 GL/XS/PA – AI + SAM (2020-2021General Liability / Excess Liability / Participant Accident – Additional Insured with Sexual Abuse and Molestation coverage shown) This certificate template is proof of insurance for the region and/or a club AND also provides additional insured status for third party entities, such as venue owners.