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.

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.  

UPDATED BACKGROUND SCREEN POLICY Any screen that is performed between the start of the season and 12/31/19 will be grandfathered under the old requirements.  Any screens performed after 12/31/19 will be subject to annual rescreens and a minimum increased price of $30/screen every two years. This is a United States Olympic Paralympic Committee (USOPC) policy for all National Governing Bodies which requires full background screen every two years with a supplemental screen in off years starting 12/31/19.  
What does this mean for you and your personnel who need background screens? All current background screens that do not expire this season and new screens performed prior to 12/31/19 will remain under pre USOPC new requirements. Cost of new screen prior to 12/31/19 will be $20.00. These screens will be good for two years (expiring 8/31/2021) with no annual rescreen requirement and no additional cost.

EFFECTIVE SEPTEMBER 1, 2018 DISQUALIFIERS FOR PARTICIPATION IN SANCTIONED EVENTS AND/OR ACTIVITIES: Anyone found guilty, entering a plea of guilty, or a plea of nolo contendere (no contest) regardless of adjudication or received court directed programs and/or other sentencing directives in lieu of a finding of guilt, for the following criminal offenses; All Sex offenses, Murder, and Homicide regardless of time limit; Felony Violence and Felony Drug offenses in the past 10 years; any misdemeanor violence offenses in the past 7 years; any multiple misdemeanor drug and alcohol offenses within the past 7 years; or any other crimes (not listed) against children in the past 7 years (the time frames associated with the categories of crime listed above are calculated based on the date of the offense).

Individuals found to have pending court cases for any of the disqualifying offenses will be disqualified (subject to the right to a hearing). If the disposition of the pending case does not meet the criteria for disqualification as listed above, the individual would then be cleared and reinstated.

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.

• Club Directors
• Coaches
• Officials
• Tournament Directors
• Managers/Junior Age Coaches
• 18 year old players*
• Regular contact with junior level/minor age athletes

•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 available to USAV-NCR members for free.

•NEW 30-Minute Refresher: This is conducted annually following "Core" Center for SafeSport Training. This training is 30 minutes and is a review of the information shared in the Core Center forSafeSport Training. This training is available to USAV-NCR members for free.

•NEW  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 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

• 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

NEW  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:

• Limiting one-on-one interactions, including meetings and individual training sessions
• Massages and rubdowns/athlete training modalities
• Locker rooms and changing areas
• Social media and electronic communication
• Local travel
• Team travel

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

• 19-20 GL/XS/PA – EO + SAM (2019-2020 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.

• 19-20 GL/XS/PA – AI + SAM (2019-2020 General 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.