SafeSport Policy

Purpose:

The purpose of this risk management policy is to assist ECAS in preventing and outline steps ECAS has taken to help prevent the occurrences of misconduct against minor children that participate in ECAS's community league and report any misconduct incidents that occur.

Coach Selection Process and Requirements:

1.) Community league coaches are parent volunteers and are assigned to teams by the ECAS Board and League Directors.  Any previous coaching performance in ECAS is considered in coach selection. ECAS reserves the right to accept input from other leagues and sports associations.

2.) All coaches and volunteer staff with access to youth will be required to undergo an annual criminal background check run by a third-party vendor.  Any background check indicating that a potential coach is unfit to work with youth will result in disqualification.  See our Background Checks page for more information on our background check criteria.

3.) All coaches and volunteers staff with access to youth will be required to watch the child safety video and pass the certification offered through Trusted Coaches, or another vendor approved by the ECAS Board. The certification will be required annually.  The training includes the following:

• Mandatory reporting requirements for child abuse (including sexual abuse), and how to report suspected child abuse (including sexual abuse);
• Identifying and preventing abusive behavior such as bullying, hazing, and physical or mental abuse;
• Training on identifying sexual misconduct and grooming behaviors;
• Recognizing victims of child abuse (including sexual abuse); and
• Prevention techniques.

4.) All coaches are required to undergo concussion training every three years.

Protection of Minors:

• Buddy System: Two adults (Ex: any combination of coach(es), volunteer(s), parent(s)) should be present at all ECAS events so that a minor is not isolated one on one with an unrelated adult.
• Coach drivers who are also the parents/guardians of a minor participant may provide shared transportation but should always pick up their own child first and drop him/her off last.
• In the event of out of town travel, coaches and volunteer staff are discouraged from allowing any unrelated children to stay in their hotel rooms.
• Touch is acceptable only if it is “respectful and appropriate”
• Comments or actions of a sexual, suggestive or abusive nature are prohibited.
• Take home / pick up of athletes by league personnel is strongly discouraged because of difficulty in limiting one on one contact.

What Is Required In The Event Of An Allegation of Misconduct in ECAS

• Police should be contacted as soon as possible regarding the incident that violates, but in no event later than 24 hours after the incident occurred.
• Designated ECAS Safe Sport official should be contacted as soon as possible.
• The adult subject to the allegation of misconduct should be immediately suspended or reassigned to alternative duties that do not involve contact with youth, pending the outcome of the police investigation.
• ECAS should not comment publicly on the allegation or police investigation until the police investigation has concluded.
• ECAS will not retaliate against an individual, acting in good faith, making a report of misconduct required by the Victims of Child Abuse Act of 1990, as may be amended from time to time.
• Reports may also be made to the US Center for Safesport at https://uscenterforsafesport.org/report-a-concern/

Eau Claire Americans Softball has adopted this program and incorporated it into our written policies and procedures as of 11/3/2025.