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Mandatory Reporting

Mandatory and Prohibitive Conduct  Reporting Information  

Mass Youth Soccer has partnered with Players Health for reporting known or suspected child abuse and prohibited conduct. The two different reporting steps are outlined below.

All Adult Participants of Massachusetts Youth Soccer Association are considered mandatory reporters of any known or suspected child abuse. Abuse does not need to be confirmed. Adult Participants should never seek to conduct their own investigations.

Mass Youth Soccer and our member organizations are responsible for providing a process and method that allows for a reasonable suspicion of sexual or physical abuse to be easily reported within a 24 hour period of awareness.

To report known or suspected child abuse or neglect - All steps below must be completed: 

  1. Call Local Law Enforcement
  2. Call the Department of Children and Families (DCF) within 24 hours; DCF also requires a written report be submitted within 48 hours of the initial call. 

REPORTS THAT INVOLVE POTENTIAL CHILD ABUSE OR SEXUAL MISCONDUCT* MUST ALSO BE REPORTED TO BOTH THE US CENTER FOR SAFESPORT AND PLAYERS HEALTH.

  1. File a report with The US Center for SafeSport:  https://uscenterforsafesport.org/report-a-concern

  2. File a report with Mass Youth Soccer via the Players Health portal; Click HERE.

  3. Inform your participating organization’s President and or Risk Manager. 

*Regardless of the age of the parties involved.

Mass Youth Soccer and our member organizations are also required to have a process and method for individuals to report violations of Mass Youth Soccer's required prevention policies and prohibited conduct. This is defined in the Mass Youth Soccer’s Safe Sport Athlete & Participant Safety Policy. All are encouraged to report suspected violations of prevention policies and prohibited conduct to Players Health. Players Health will ensure all appropriate reporting steps are completed.

To report violations of Mass Youth Soccer's prevention policies or prohibited conduct as outlined in Appendix A & B of the Mass Youth Soccer’s Safe Sport Athlete & Participant Safety Policy - Complete both steps below

  1. Submit a report with Players Health; Click HERE.

    1. Players Health will work with you to make sure all applicable required reports and steps are completed.

  2. Inform your participating organization’s President and or Risk Manager.

IMPORTANT:  Making a report online to Players Health will alert the State Risk Manager and assist Mass Youth Soccer in taking any appropriate action (temporary measures).

Mass Youth Soccer does not tolerate retaliation of any kind. Any Adult Participant who makes a good faith report will not be subject to retaliation, including harassment, as a result of making a report. The SafeSport Act also includes qualified immunity for good faith reports. The obligation to report is not always satisfied by making an initial report and an Adult Participant is required to report supplemental information of which they become aware that may be relevant in a pending investigation.

Additional Resources 
Mass Youth Soccer Safe Sport Act Webpage - Title II: Safe Sport Act 

Reporting Obligations for Adult Participants - The Center For SafeSport mandatory reporting, bullying, and hazing resource. As noted on this web page, reports must also be filed with Mass Youth Soccer (LAO) via the Players Health Portal.

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Mandatory Reporting Guidelines

DCF How to Report Video
SafeSport Code
Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse and Safe Sport Authorization Act
The federal law regarding mandated reporting is 34 U.S.C. § 20341, which is part of the Victims of Child Abuse Act of 1990.
www.childwelfare gov/systemwide/laws_policies/statutes/manda.cfm
www.childwelfare gov/topics/systemwide/laws-policies/state/
 
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