USA Fencing is committed to creating a safe and positive environment for athletes’ physical, emotional and social development, and to ensuring that it promotes an environment free of misconduct. It takes a team effort to accomplish this mission. Accordingly, USA Fencing has developed procedures to be implemented by all event organizers to ensure a safe environment for our fencers. It is the responsibility of each event organizer to monitor and enforce these requirements, with support from USA Fencing as needed. This procedural document details athlete safety requirements as well as resources, strategies and additional information to help event organizers meet the requirements.
SafeSport Training, Background Screen, and Credentialling
All individuals who are part of the sanctioned event and who have regular contact and/or authority over minor athletes must hold a current SafeSport Training certification and have passed the background screen process. SafeSport training must be completed annually and is valid for 365 days from completion. Background screens are valid for a period of two years. These individuals include but are not limited to event officials such as coaches, referees, staff, volunteers, armorers and/or sports medicine staff.
Coaches’ Check-in and Credentialling
- Per the expansion of the US Center for SafeSport’s auditing processes, regional events may be asked to provide a list of credentialed coaches who attended their event. Credentialed coaches need to meet the following requirements:
- Active membership
- Cleared Background Check
- Current SafeSport Training
- Completed Coaches Education Program
- There is a function in the tournament organizer view to scan coaches in that will automatically check these criteria.
- To see how to set up and use the check-in scanner, click here.
- Coaches can also be manually checked here.
- You should provide for some method of identifying those who have meet the above requirements (wristbands, credentials, etc.)
- If a coach does not have all 4 of the requirements above, they are not permitted to engage in coaching activities at the event.
Tournament Staff and Referees
- All tournament staff and officials need to be added to Tournament Staff or Officials section of your tournament page in the database and must have an active membership, SafeSport Training, and background screen to be in compliance.
- Organizers need to check the status of their staff prior to the event to make sure everyone has the “Good to Go” green thumbs up. If someone has the “Not Good to Go” red thumbs down – that staff member needs to complete any outstanding tasks prior to the start of the tournament.
- Any referees hired on site need to be added to the tournament officials list in the database as well. If they are not “Good to Go” they are not eligible to work the tournament.
- Minor Referees: Make sure that you are completing and filing a copy of the Minor Official Travel Form and the Medical Form. The medical form is only needed if the legal guardian is not with them, and the travel form is only needed if the minor is staying overnight.
- You should provide for some method of identifying those who have meet requirements to engage as a tournament official or staff except for referees who are identifiable by their dress code.
Communication and Reporting
Prior to each event, communication must go out to all participants and event officials informing them of the MAAPP requirements to include protocol for reporting MAAPP violations.
Event organizers must communicate to all participants and officials that the USA Fencing MAAPP will be enforced for the duration of the event. This communication must contain a link to the MAAPP. Event organizers must be able to provide proof of this communication if requested by USA Fencing.
The communication also should contain a link to the SafeSport reporting form as this is the means for members to report MAAPP, SafeSport Policy or Code of Conduct violations.
Additionally, event organizers must post the MAAPP to the public tournament page on AskFred and/or USA Fencing Registration Platform for each event.
Approved Sample Language:
As a reminder, the Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policy (MAAPP) and the USA Fencing Codes of Conduct are in effect and will be fully enforced at the tournament. Concerns can be anonymously reported to USA Fencing online here or directly to the US Center for SafeSport here.
Any sexual misconduct or abuse must be reported to the US Center for SafeSport while all other concerns should be reported to USA Fencing.
For any SafeSport questions or issues, contact the Event Organizer FIRST & LAST NAME at EMAIL@ADDRESS.COM
Banned/Suspended Individuals
Event organizers will be required to ensure any participants or event officials are not currently listed as suspended or banned from USA Fencing.
Any banned or suspended members will be prevented from registering for the event as he or she will not have a current USA Fencing membership. To confirm a member’s status, a current Suspended and Banned Members List can be found here.
Signage and Risk Assessment
Event organizers should proactively complete a risk assessment related to MAAPP criteria and take steps to eliminate vulnerabilities. Event organizers should complete a risk assessment prior to the event to eliminate and/or lessen risk related to (where applicable):
- One-on-one interactions
- Medical treatment
- Locker rooms and changing areas
- Social media and electronic communications
- Local and team travel
Event organizers are required to post around the competition venue the following downloadable signage:
- SafeSport Reporting Mechanism Poster
- Locker Room Poster
- Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policy Poster
- One-on-One Interactions Poster