If you are currently involved with a Response and Resolution process or considering beginning one, we offer reliable resources to help you. The U.S. Center for SafeSport has several rules, policies and procedures to keep you informed and educated.
General
The Center’s authority derives from the bylaws of the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) and the individual National Governing Bodies (NGBs) who have all agreed to be subject to the Center’s jurisdiction and processes. In addition, in 2018, Congress passed The Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse and Safe Sport Authorization Act of 2017 which mandates that the USOPC eliminate abuse and recognizes the Center’s jurisdiction and authority to fulfill this mission.
Yes. The Center’s independence comes from its bylaws, board of directors and governance. The Center is also responsible for independent, regular and random audits of all NGBs and the USOPC.
The Center responds to and resolves all allegations of sexual misconduct within the USOPC and sets training requirements and abuse-prevention policies for NGBs that oversee individual sports.
Each NGB has its own safe sport program, through which the NGBs enforce the Center’s policies, requirements, and any sanctions imposed after investigation. The NGBs’ safe sport programs have their own mechanisms and designated offices to investigate and resolve allegations of physical and emotional misconduct.
The Center’s funding comes from the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee ( USOPC), as dictated in the Empowering Olympic, Paralympic and Amateur Athletes Act (S.330), the Department of Justice, foundations, and individual donors. It also generates revenue from its fee-for-service model for educating and training sports organizations outside of the USOPC.
The Code establishes the policies and process for the Center’s Response & Resolution Office, provides the rules and procedures for the investigation and resolution of reported incidents, and defines the various forms of prohibited conduct for Participants, including the various forms of sexual, emotional, and physical abuse.
The Code applies to all individuals who participate in sport within the Olympic and Paralympic Movements. The SafeSport Code defines these individuals as “Participants.” This includes a wide range of individuals who participate in sport in various capacities, including members, license holders, or employees of a National Governing Body (NGB) or its Local Affiliated Organizations (LAO), as well as volunteers, trainers, coaches, athletes, or contracted individuals who have been “authorized, approved, or appointed by an NGB, LAO, or the USOPC to have regular contact with or authority over Minor Athletes.” Participants also include those who are otherwise considered to be “within the governance or disciplinary jurisdiction of an NGB, LAO, or the USOPC.” More information regarding the specific types of individuals who fall within an NGB’s jurisdiction can be found on the relevant NGB’s website.
No. At this time, the Center’s authority only extends to the USOPC.
Response and Resolution
reports
You can report a concern by completing this form at any time, or by calling 833-5US-SAFE (587-7233) 9am to 5pm MT weekdays. More information on reporting abuse and misconduct to the Center can be found on the Report a Concern page.
The Center undertakes a preliminary inquiry to assess whether the report is within Center jurisdiction, and whether there is reason to believe a SafeSport Code violation may have occurred. If the answer to both questions is “yes,” the Center initiates an investigation.
Within the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Movement, the Center has exclusive jurisdiction to investigate and resolve reports of:
- Sexual Misconduct, including without limitation child sexual abuse and any misconduct that is reasonably related to an underlying allegation of Sexual Misconduct
- Criminal Charges or Dispositions involving Child Abuse or Sexual Misconduct
- Misconduct Related to Reporting, where the underlying allegation involves Child Abuse or Sexual Misconduct;
- Aiding and Abetting, when it relates to the Center’s process
- Misconduct Related to the Center’s Process
- Other Inappropriate Conduct, as defined herein
Anyone may report abuse or misconduct to the Center.
The Center specifically investigates reports of abuse or misconduct affecting individuals in the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Movement at national, regional, and local levels. This includes members of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee, its national governing bodies (NGBs), and their local and regional affiliates.
The Center does not have authority over non-Movement leagues (such as the NFL or NASCAR), associations (such as the NCAA or AAU), or non-Olympic/Paralympic sports (such as cheer & dance). To report abuse involving non-Movement sports or organizations, contact a relevant liaison at that institution or local law enforcement.
No. Reports may be made based on abuse and misconduct alleged to occur at any time in the past. This differs from criminal investigation standards, in which statutes of limitations may apply.
Yes. All Center employees must report known or suspected child abuse (including child sexual abuse) or neglect to appropriate authorities.
Report first to your local law enforcement—if you are a mandatory reporter, this is required by law—then to the Center. You must make separate reports to both entities, though be aware that the Center often collaborates directly with law enforcement on report investigations.
This page outlines the Center’s response and resolution of abuse and misconduct reports. As the process follows rules articulated in the SafeSport Code, detailed answers to many questions are found in the Code itself. Contact a Process Navigator at 720-531-9024 with additional questions.
INVESTIGATIONS
The “preponderance of evidence” standard, which is met when it is more likely than not that a claim is true. This differs from the “beyond a reasonable doubt” standard used in criminal law.
To protect the integrity of the process and the confidentiality of affected individuals, the Center generally does not communicate publicly on the status or outcome of investigations. The Center communicates directly with Claimants and Respondents at important milestones in the investigative process. If the Center enacts a temporary measure or sanction that affects a Respondent’s eligibility to participate in sport, it can be found in the Centralized Disciplinary Database.
Public disclosure of investigation-related information is inconsistent with best practices and can jeopardize the Center’s ability to protect affected individuals. Final decisions are always shared with the Claimant(s), Respondent, and relevant NGB.
RESOLUTION AND ENFORCEMENT
A Respondent may challenge a Center finding of a SafeSport Code violation or related sanction by requesting a hearing administered by independent neutral arbitrators. A video outlining Center arbitrations and process parameters can be viewed at this page. Further process detail is articulated in section XIV of the SafeSport Code.
The relevant NGB, and the USOPC, must ensure enforcement of any temporary measure or sanction issued by the Center.
Administrative Closures
An Administrative Closure is one of three types of resolutions used by the Center, the other two being Informal Resolutions and Formal Resolutions. It is a broad category that encompasses several different reasons a matter may be closed by the Center without a formal or informal resolution.[1]
[1] https://uscenterforsafesport.org/response-and-resolution/
The Center’s decision to administratively close a matter can be made for several reasons. The most common reason a matter is administratively closed is because the Claimant(s) decided not to participate in the Center’s Response & Resolution Process. The Center places great weight on a Claimant’s decision of whether to participate in its process, and it is difficult to proceed with the investigative process in these scenarios, as the Center’s ability to conduct a thorough investigation and collect evidence is limited. An administrative closure allows the Center to reopen the matter if the Claimant(s) decides to participate in the process in the future.
Example:
- An assistant coach files an incident report that alleges the head coach (the individual alleged to have engaged in misconduct is referred to as a Respondent) of a swim program sexually assaulted one of his then-minor athletes, who is now an adult. After receiving the report, the Center immediately contacts local law enforcement, then it reaches out to the Claimant (the athlete in the report) to let them know about the report and explain the Center’s process. After the explanation, the Claimant indicates that they are not ready to speak with Center staff. Center staff explains that the Claimant has the right to decide whether to participate and that the matter will be closed, for now, because the Center staff is unable to get additional information related to the allegations, identify witness, and/or obtain available evidence, and that the matter will be reopened any time in the future if the Claimant decides to move forward.
The second most common reason a matter is administratively closed is that there isn’t enough information available to engage in a full investigation. This happens most often when the Center determines early in its process that there is not enough information to show, by a preponderance of evidence, that a violation occurred. Because the Center does not adhere to a statute of limitations, it is particularly challenging to collect information and evidence on decades-old cases. Using an administrative closure in these situations allows the Center to direct resources to areas of identified risk and allows Response & Resolution staff to focus on other matters.
Example:
- The Center receives an incident report that alleges an athlete (Respondent) physically assaulted a minor athlete (Claimant) from an opposing team. Early in its process, Center staff speak with the Claimant’s parent, who relays to the Center staff that no assault occurred. Based on this information, the Center explains to the minor athlete’s parents that the matter will be administratively closed and can be reopened if additional information becomes available.
There are a few additional reasons why the Center may administratively close a matter other than the two most common reasons listed above. These include: when a report is filed but the Claimant(s) identity is not known; when a Respondent is unknown or deceased and a Center matter has not been informally or formally resolved prior to the Respondent’s death; and when a matter has been previously resolved by a National Governing Body or one of its Local Affiliated Organizations. In many instances, an administrative closure is accompanied by a Letter of Admonishment.
One of the primary goals of the Center is to educate Participants to help foster a safe and respectful sport environment. In furtherance of this goal, the Center may send Letters of Admonishment to notify Respondents of allegations, to remind them of their obligation as a Participant to adhere to the Code and other relevant policies/standards, and to provide them an opportunity to reflect upon and adjust their behavior moving forward.
Example:
- The Center receives an incident report that alleges an athlete (Respondent) made a snide comment to a fellow teammate about that teammate’s recent performance. The Center talks to the teammate (Claimant), and they confirm this was the first and only time the Respondent has ever behaved this way. Based on this information, the Center explains to the Claimant that this conduct would not constitute a violation and the matter will be administratively closed. The Claimant is then encouraged to let the Center know if similar conduct happens again.
The Center then issues a Letter of Admonishment to the Respondent explaining that continuation of such behavior could constitute Emotional and Physical Misconduct and a violation of the SafeSport Code subject to sanctions.
When a matter is administratively closed, it is considered resolved. Notices of the closure are provided to the Claimant(s), NGBs, and the Respondent, if they are aware a report has been made alleging they engaged in misconduct. Importantly, the matter can quickly be reopened and proceed through a full investigation.
Another important note is that an NGB or an LAO, per its own policy and procedures, can still implement Temporary Measures or a Safety Plan, so long as such temporary measures do not result in a de facto suspension.
Any time the Center receives additional information about a closed matter, it thoroughly reviews the new information to determine whether additional investigation is needed. In the matter of administrative closures, the Center will evaluate the new information or evidence and determine whether the matter should be re-opened and continue through the Response & Resolution process.
Yes. To date, the Center has reopened more than 200 matters of alleged abuse within the Olympic and Paralympic Movement.
An administrative closure can happen at any stage in the Response & Resolution process. Most commonly, it occurs in early in the investigative process. The matters that close in the early stages have typically gone through preliminary investigative steps, meaning Center staff have spoken to witnesses, third-party reporters, and even law enforcement or have conducted interviews with Claimant(s), witnesses, and potentially the Respondent.
Education and Training
We have a variety of courses for adults and minor athletes. Topics include mandatory reporting, sexual misconduct, emotional and physical misconduct, and abuse prevention.
More information for NGB members
More information for individuals, groups, or youth sports organizations
Not sure if you’re in an NGB? Check this list. If you’re still unsure after viewing the list, please contact your club administrator.
If you are a member of a National Governing Body (NGB) recognized by the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee, you are required to complete the full SafeSport® Trained Core course and annual Refresher course. Check with your NGB’s membership services to confirm how you should access SafeSport courses.
I am not part of a National Governing Body. Can I still access the courses?
Yes! Individuals and organizations outside of NGB sports can also take SafeSport courses.
If you represent a group or youth sports organization:
Please reach out to us to learn how your organization can benefit from the SafeSport® Trained course. To receive pricing and online offerings for your organizations, fill out a training purchase form.
If you are an individual:
Visit safesporttrained.org to sign up.
We provide tip sheets, discussion guides, videos, live trainings, and other resources for parents and guardians, coaches, and athletes of all ages. As some resources discuss potentially triggering content, parents and guardians should consider viewing them with minor athletes. For more information about live training options or to request a training, please email us at [email protected].
Audit and Compliance
In accordance with 36 U.S.C. § 220542(a)(2)(H), the U.S. Center for SafeSport (“the Center”) has been granted authority to complete regular and random audits of National Governing Bodies (NGBs) recognized by the USOPC.
The U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) and affiliated National Governing Bodies.
The Center conducts two types of regular and random audits: Administrative Audits and Event Audits.
The Center’s audit team conducts at least one audit of each NGB and the USOPC annually.
The Center sends applicable audit standards to NGBs and the USOPC each year. These standards include various requirements around education and training, communication and reporting allegations of misconduct, as well as event quality control protocols ensuring athlete safety and well-being at all levels of sport. The Center incorporates these audit standards into the U.S. Center for SafeSport Audit Manual which is released annually to the USOPC and all NGBs (in Q4).
Beginning with the 2021 audit cycle, all audit reports can be found on the Center’s audit and compliance page.
The Center would then require the NGB to implement corrective measures (to be approved by the Center’s audit team) by a specified deadline.
The Center has the authority to impose further requirements or penalties, which are outlined in the “Delinquency of corrective measures: protocol and penalties” section of the Audit Manual.
In addition to the SafeSport Code, the Center sets mandatory Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policies (MAAPP). The MAAPP includes an Education & Training Policy (requiring certain individuals to be SafeSport® Trained annually), as well as required policies that limit one-on-one interactions between certain adults who have regular contact with or authority over Minor Athletes.
Tech Support
ONLINE TRAINING COURSE QUESTIONS
Please consult with your organization’s website or administrative team for registration instructions before creating a SafeSport account. Some organizations will require registration through their membership platform before SafeSport account creation or require you to register with a specific link.
Before you take your course, please check with your organization admin or National Governing Body (NGB) to determine the best way to access your account, which course to take first/next, and when to take your first/additional courses.
If you do not remember your password for safesporttrained.org, please go to the Forgot Password page. You will be prompted to enter the email address or username associated with your account. Next, you will receive an email with instructions on how to reset your password. If you do not receive the email within five minutes, please Submit a Help Request.
Online training courses do not have to be completed in one sitting. However, it is recommended that you log out of the training for breaks over 30 minutes by clicking the “X” within the course player. This will ensure that your progress is saved.
Here are the steps to resume the course where you left off if you are taking the training directly through safesporttrained.org:
- Sign in using your email address and password.
- Select “My Courses” from the dashboard.
- From the My Courses dashboard, select “Resume” on your current course tile, and “Resume” on the proceeding screens to return to your course.
If you’re accessing the training from your organization’s membership platform, you will need to follow the instructions provided by your organization.
Your course progress will be saved along the way. After completing your online training course, an online certificate will be saved to your account. Please follow any additional steps your organization has outlined post-course completion. We recommend downloading a copy of your certificate to ensure you have completion verification readily accessible, if needed.
Once you have successfully completed a course, you can download your certificate at any time by following these steps:
(Please note that these steps only apply to learners accessing the training directly from safesporttrained.org. If you are accessing the training from your organization’s membership platform, please refer to their instructions to access your certificate.)
- Sign into your account using your username or email address and password. If you do not remember your password, you can click this link to reset your password: Forgot Password – SafeSport LMS.
- From the drop-down menu, click on your name and select “Transcript.”
- From your transcript, any courses you completed will have a “Download” button.
- Click the “Download” button to open your certificate in a new browser tab.
- You can then click the save icon in the new tab containing your certificate to download a PDF version for later reference. You can also click the print icon to print a copy of your certificate.
Members of a National Governing Body (NGB) who are adult participants and have authority over or regular contact with minors are required to renew their training every 365 days from the last completed course. In order to be compliant, one of the courses listed below is required annually following the below cadence:
- Year 1: SafeSport® Trained
- Year 2: Refresher 1: Recognizing and Reporting Misconduct
- Year 3: Refresher 2: Preventing Misconduct
- Year 4: Refresher 3: Creating a Positive Sport Environment
- Year 5: Restart the training cycle beginning with SafeSport® Trained
Your organization may have additional training requirements to meet their compliance standards. Please check with your organizational admin or NGB for more information on requirements.
For learners who are not part of an NGB, check with your organization admin on the best course path before you begin taking multiple courses.
SafeSport training is offered to learners who are members of a National Governing Body (NGB) at no cost. If you are a member of an NGB and are prompted for payment for a course, please contact Learner Support for assistance: Submit a Help Request.
LEARNER SUPPORT ACCOUNT ASSISTANCE
Our Learning Support team can help you with the following: access to training certificates, account updates, password resets, merging emails/accounts, affiliating you to multiple sport organizations, and any technical issues with your training. For any of these needs, we encourage you to Submit a Help Request
For other needs, we encourage you to reach out to your organization’s admin.
If you are unsure which SafeSport training courses you have previously completed or what course you need to complete next, please submit a help request and include any email addresses you might have used to take your initial training, your date of birth, and any relevant club or sport information. Submit a Help Request
Your SafeSport account can be affiliated with multiple organizations to provide them with access to your training history. SafeSport® Trained courses are valid for 365 days from completion, but please check with your organization for their specific training requirements to ensure alignment. If you need to affiliate your account to multiple organizations, please Submit a Help Request and list your sport organizations.
For optimal learner experience, it is highly recommended to take the course from a laptop or desktop that has Microsoft Windows or macOS. Preferred browsers include Chrome, Edge, Safari, and Firefox. (Internet Explorer is no longer supported.)
For an optimal learning experience, do not navigate away from the course or multitask while actively completing the course. If you need to take a break from the course for longer than 30 minutes, it is recommended that you exit the course using the “X” within the course player.
If you experience an issue with progressing through a slide containing a video, please ensure that the browser and tab containing the training is active while the video is playing.
Our Learner Support team can assist you with technical issues, including if your course freezes or is not progressing. Please take a screen capture, or a photo of your screen, and submit a help request with details of the issue or error you are experiencing at this link: Submit a Help Request.
For any technical issues with your SafeSport online training, please contact the SafeSport Learning Solutions & Support Team directly via our support portal: Submit a Help Request
SafeSport Learner Support Desk hours:
Daily, 7:00 AM – 4:00 PM MST
DONATIONS AND STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS
Yes: directly through our donation portal.
Yes. After making an online donation, you will receive an email that can serve as your official tax receipt: be sure to keep a copy for tax purposes.
As a 501(c)(3) registered nonprofit organization, U.S. Center for SafeSport donations are eligible for federal tax deduction.
Reach out to us to explore a sponsorship or partnership that can benefit your organization and leave a lasting positive impact.