South Fayette Girls Basketball Association
Youth Sexual Abuse Prevention Policy & Procedures
South Fayette Lady Lions Basketball Association considers the safety and well-being of the youth in our program a top priority. We prohibit abuse and strive to proactively address reports of this type of conduct. We want to hear about problems or concerns, and we will strive to act on them in a fair way in accordance with our policies.
Policies and Procedures:
South Fayette Lady Lions Basketball Association has adopted the following policy and procedures in an effort to provide a safe environment for our coaches, athletes, and their families.
1) The Coach Recruitment process shall include the following:
a. Volunteer Application- Every coach and volunteer working with our youth must complete our organization’s written application that sets forth appropriate background information and requires disclosure of any prior claims or allegations of sexual abuse or other appropriate misconduct.
b. Background Clearances- All current and potential coaches will be required to submit their background clearances for Pennsylvania State Criminal Act 34, Pennsylvania Child Abuse Act 151 and FBI Act 114. If any volunteer has not resided in PA for 10 years, they need to obtain an FBI Criminal History Clearance- FBI Fingerprinting (pa.gov)
c. Screening- Designated Representatives from the Board will interview each prospective coach/volunteer.
2) An Abuse Prevention Orientation shall be conducted annually.
a. Board Members will review this policy with coaches and volunteers each year. The Positive Coaching Alliance/Kidpower video Protecting Youth Athletes from Sexual Abuse will be shown and the accompanying information sheet, “Protecting Youth Athletes From Sexual Abuse: Key Actions for Parents and Coaches,” http://devzone.positivecoach.org/resource/video/protecting-youth-athletes-sexual-abuse-parents-and-coaches will be distributed to every coach, volunteer and parent.
3) Prohibited Behavior
a. Use of degrading language or behavior. Coaches are also responsible for stopping disrespectful behavior between team members, including sexual harassment.
a. Threatening or intentionally inflicting physical injury upon anyone, especially a minor. Coaches are also responsible for stopping threatening behavior by players.
b. Committing any sexual offense against a minor, or engaging in any sexual contact with a minor.
c. Making any sexual advance or engaging in other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature with a minor.
d. Non-related one-adult/one-child interaction except in an emergency where following this policy would be dangerous to the child. In an emergency situation, the coach or volunteer must contact a representative of the organization to inform him or her of this contact and the reason for it. If a child is receiving individual instruction or working with a private coach, this activity must be in a public setting rather than behind closed doors.
2) Reporting of Suspected Child Sexual Abuse
a. A member of the Board or other official representative will be designated to receive reports of sexual abuse or other inappropriate conduct. This representative will promptly notify the proper law enforcement agencies.
b. All coaches, volunteers, parents and program participants are directed to report any incident of abuse or suspected abuse that they witness or that is reported to them to the designated representative of the Board. Note: This does not preclude individuals from reporting abuse or suspected abuse to the proper law enforcement authorities.
c. The designated representative will keep other Board members fully informed.
d. Should a suspected incidence of abuse be reported, the coach/volunteer in question may be temporarily suspended from duties while an investigation takes place.
e. The Board, when appropriate, shall communicate reports of child sexual abuse to the league members. The confidentiality of any who makes such a report will be protected.
South Fayette Police Department Childhelp’s National Child Abuse Prevention Hotline
412-221-2170 (non-emergency) 1-800-4-A-CHILD
911 (emergency)