a. Application

This policy shall apply to:

1) Adult members at a facility that is either partially or fully under the jurisdiction of a Covered Organization;  

2) Adult members who have regular contact with amateur athletes who are minors;

3) Any adult authorized by a Covered Organization to have regular contact with or authority over an amateur athlete who is a minor; and 

4) Adult staff and board members of a Covered Organization.

(Collectively “Applicable Adult” for the purposes of this policy.)

b. Observable and interruptible

• One-on-one interactions between a minor athlete and an Applicable Adult (who is not the minor’s legal guardian) at a facility partially or fully under our jurisdiction are permitted if they occur at an observable and interruptible distance by another adult.

• One-on-one interactions between minor athletes and an Applicable Adult (who is not the minor’s legal guardian) at a facility partially or fully under our jurisdiction are prohibited, except in the circumstances described in subpart d of this section and under emergency circumstances.

c. Meetings

• Meetings between Applicable Adults and minor athletes at a facility partially or fully under our jurisdiction may only occur if another adult is present, except under emergency circumstances. Such meetings must occur where interactions can be easily observed and at an interruptible distance from another adult.

• If a one-on-one meeting takes place in an office at a facility partially or fully under our jurisdiction, the door to the office must remain unlocked and open. If available, it will occur in an office that has windows, with the windows, blinds, and/or curtains remaining open during the meeting.

d. Meetings with mental health care professionals and health care providers

If a mental health care professional and/or health care provider meets with minor athletes at a facility partially or fully under our jurisdiction, a closed-door meeting may be permitted to protect patient privacy provided that: (1) the door remains unlocked; (2) another adult is present at the facility; (3) the other adult is advised that a closed-door meeting is occurring; and (4) written legal guardian consent is obtained in advance by the mental health care professional and/or health care provider, with a copy provided to our organization.

e. Individual training sessions

Individual training sessions between Applicable Adults and minor athletes are permitted at a facility partially or fully under our jurisdiction if the training session is observable and interruptible by another adult. It is the responsibility of the Applicable Adult to obtain the written permission of the minor’s legal guardian in advance of the individual training session if the individual training session is not observable and interruptible by another adult. Permission for individual training sessions must be obtained at least every six months. Parents, guardians, and other caretakers must be allowed to observe the training session.