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Keeping Kids Safe on and off the Ice

By Minnesota Hockey, 10/02/18, 12:00PM PDT

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Through the USA Hockey SafeSport Program, USA Hockey and Minnesota Hockey are committed to creating the safest possible environment for participation in hockey.

The first step in providing a great youth sports experience is establishing a safe environment for kids to participate in. With the comprehensive SafeSport Program implemented by USA Hockey and Minnesota Hockey, the sport of hockey has never been safer.

USA Hockey had systems in place to protect players from abuse long before SafeSport was launched in 2012, but by uniting all of the policies and procedures into one policy, USA Hockey once again displayed the type of paramount importance it places on player safety.

Today, the SafeSport program utilizes a six-pronged approach to ensure all USA Hockey Member Programs are guarded against abuse and misconduct:

  • The SafeSport Handbook includes Policies that apply to all USA Hockey Member Programs.
  • Administrators, coaches and parents are provided with Training on how to recognize and reduce circumstances in which potential abuse may occur.
  • USA Hockey and Minnesota Hockey require Background Screening for anyone who will have regular or routine interaction with players
  • Reporting mechanisms have been instituted at the local, state and national levels for suspected abuse or misconduct (including protections from any retaliation or repercussions for such reporting)
  • Procedures are in place to Respond to allegations of abuse and misconduct
  • USA Hockey and its Member Programs will Monitor and Supervise the SafeSport program to help ensure its effectiveness.

While USA Hockey and Minnesota Hockey consistently work to implement and uphold this framework of the SafeSport Program, volunteers, coaches, parents and players have a critical role in recognizing incidents at the local level and reporting them. In a recent training session, Minnesota Hockey Vice President and SafeSport Coordinator Scott Gray said he believes SafeSport violations are under-reported and emphasized the importance of people understanding what types of incidents need to be reported.

Below are the seven primary types of abuse and misconduct addressed by SafeSport policies. For official definitions of these violations, reference the USA Hockey SafeSport Handbook or click here.  

  • Sexual Abuse
  • Physical Abuse
  • Emotional Abuse
  • Bullying
  • Threats
  • Harassment
  • Hazing

Conduct that is prohibited or regulated by the USA Hockey Playing Rules (e.g., rough play, punching an opponent, “intent to injure” incidents, yelling at a referee or opponent, etc.), and complaints related to officiating, are not intended to be covered by the SafeSport Program policies and is instead to be addressed and/or penalized under the Playing Rules.

Through the USA Hockey SafeSport Program, USA Hockey and Minnesota Hockey are committed to creating the safest possible environment for participation in hockey. We hope you will join us in that effort this season by familiarizing yourself with SafeSport policies and watching for signs in your community.

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About Minnesota Hockey

Minnesota Hockey, an affiliate of USA Hockey, is the governing body of youth and amateur hockey in Minnesota and the premier developer of hockey players in the state.

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