The primary responsibility for ensuring that young fencers are safe from sexual and other forms of abuse rests with parents. This means we must understand how sexual abuse, bullying and other forms of abuse manifest in relation to coaches, referees, adult volunteers and other sports officials who come in contact with and are in positions of authority over our young fencers at the club and at tournaments. We must also understand the SafeSport rules that govern how coaches, referees, adult volunteers and other sports official must conduct themselves with young fencers.

This need for education and training of parents on sexual abuse and bullying is now all the more urgent in the face of the recent arrests of 2 fencing coaches for sexual abuse of minor children and the 3 year suspension imposed this week by the US Center for SafeSport on the Pennsylvania State University Head Fencing Coach, Wes Glon.

educating parents

Parents can learn to recognize when sexual abuse or bullying is taking place, to intervene as soon as we recognize a problem, and to understand the process for filing a complaint and getting redress. We can then teach our children what to do when faced with a predator or a bully.

Six primary types of misconduct are addressed in SafeSport Policy:

• Sexual Misconduct, including Child Sexual Abuse

• Emotional Misconduct

• Physical Misconduct

• Bullying

• Harassment

• Hazing

Parent Toolkit for Recognizing Sexual Abuse and Other Forms of Misconduct

The Center for SafeSport provides a COMPLETE PARENT TOOLKIT on sexual abuse, bullying and and other types of abuse to help parents recognize if there is abuse going on. And the toolkit provides advice and tips on how to talk to young children of different ages about sexual abuse and other types of abuse.

You can download the Parent Toolkit HERE

This toolkit is a “must read” for all parents of young fencers, so please take the time to review it.

US Fencing also provides resources for parents about SafeSport, and abuse which you can access HERE

training for parents and young fencers

US Fencing announced on August 18, 2021 that “In the coming weeks, USA Fencing will be launching new SafeSport initiatives, including a speaker series as well as exploring increased educational opportunities for all members. This will complement the SafeSport education requirements already in place for all coaches, referees and volunteers.”

In addition to the Parent Toolkit, the Center for SafeSports offers training for both parents and children through athletesafety.org. US Fencing has also listed these courses on their website HERE.

list of US fencing members suspended by the US Center for SafeSport

US Fencing maintains a list of members who have been banned or suspended from participation in the sport of fencing by the US Center for SafeSport due to sexual misconduct. You can review the list HERE.

complaints process

The US Center for SafeSport retains exclusive jurisdiction over all cases involving sexual abuse while US Fencing retains jurisdiction over cases involving bullying and other forms of abuse. We share with you the flowcharts published by US Fencing on the complaint process for sexual abuse cases and other types of abuse.

send your questions about sexual and other abuse to us fencing

US Fencing will be providing answers to questions on SafeSport at the Board Meeting scheduled for August 31, 2021 at 6pm (EDT)

You can submit questions to US Fencing through https://www.emailmeform.com/builder/emf/USAFencing/SafeSport or safesport@usafencing.org.

Rules governing coaches, referees and adults in youth sport

The US Center for SafeSport recently updated its Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policies (MAAPP) that took effect on August 1, 2021.

These policies govern the conduct of Adult Participants (coaches, referees, adult volunteers and other sports officials who have authority over Minor Athletes) in relation to Minor Athletes during their participation in sports. Under SafeSport rules, all Adult Participants must be SafeSport certified before they can engage in youth sports activities.

We set out below, based on US Fencing’s MAAPP toolkit for clubs, the key components of the updated MAAPP.

one-on-one interactions must have a 3rd person present

The one-on-one policy is an overarching policy that governs all Adult Participant interactions with Minor Athletes.

Under this policy, a club and coach must obtain annual written permission from the parent to conduct one-on-one training with a minor fencer.

Any one-on-one session that is not observable and interruptible is prohibited even if the parent has given the permission above.

This means that all one-on-one interactions between a coach and a fencer in the club must be in the presence of, at least, one other person.

ONE-ON-ONE POLICY DETAILS

locker room rules

Adults must announce themselves before entering a locker room. They cannot enter a locker room if there is only one minor inside.

In addition, a club must provide a private or semi-private place for Minor Athletes to change clothes or undress. The SafeSport rationale is to provide Minor Athletes, who may feel uncomfortable changing in the presence of others.

Adult Participants must not shower with Minor Athletes unless the Close-In-Age exception exists or the shower is part of a pre- or post-activity rinse while wearing swimwear. SafeSport wants to prevent any situation where intentional or unintentional exposure of Adult Participant’s breasts, buttocks, groin, or genitals to any Minor Athlete(s) could occur.

There are specific requirements around media and championship celebrations in locker rooms including: (1) Parental consent is now required, (2) the Organization must approve, (3) two or more Adult Participants must be present, and (4) everyone must be fully clothed. The SafeSport rationale for the rule is to ensure the safety of all Minor Athletes when recording and/or photography is used to document a championship or sport accomplishment.

A parent/guardian may provide a written request that their Minor Athlete/s not change or shower with an Adult Participant (e.g., Adult Participant who meets the Close-in-Age Exception) and that the Organization (club/tournament organizer) and Adult Participant must abide by this request. This is to ensure the safety of all Minor Athletes.

locker room policy details part 1 and part 2

ATHLETIC TRAINING MODALITIES, MASSAGES, AND RUBDOWNS

Parental consent is required at all times and parents can be present if they desire it.

The rules governing One-On-One interactions that all activities be observable and interruptible also apply. There must be a second Adult Participant present during the activity. And the Minor Athlete must be clothed or partially clothed at all times.

ATHLETIC TRAINING MODALITIES, MASSAGES, AND RUBDOWNS policy details

Transportation Policy

Any transportation provided by an Adult Participant to a Minor Athlete related to participation in sport is covered under the policy. This includes situations where a fencer flies with their coach to a NAC, for example.

A coach can travel with a Minor Athlete provided:

• there is parental consent and

• all aspects of the One-On-One policy are strictly followed including all travel activities are observable and interruptible.

transportation policy details

Lodging Policy

All requirements of the One-On-One policy must be followed, including all interactions at the lodging or hotel site must be observable and interruptible.

No coach can sleep in the same room with a fencer unless the relationship falls within the

exceptions of dual relationship, close in age or personal care assistant. This rule does not apply to situations where lodging is arranged by 2 parents where neither one is an Adult Participant.

lodging policy details

Meetings and Training Sessions

All meetings and training sessions require annual written consent from parents, and parents must be allowed to observe the training sessions. (It is a “red alert” if the coach requests that you leave.)

All aspects of the One-On-One policy must be followed including all meetings and training sessions must be observable and interruptible.

Meetings with licensed mental health care professionals or health care providers (not including athletic trainers) do not have to be observable and interruptible if:

• The door remains unlocked.

• Another adult is present in the facility and aware of the meeting.

meetings and training sessions policy details

Electronic communications policy

The policy applies to all communications, including phone calls, video calls, texts, social media platforms (e.g., Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, WhatsApp, Snapchat, etc.), fitness applications, emails, and direct messaging, between an Adult Participant and Minor Athlete.

Any communication between an Adult Participant and a Minor Athlete must include a parent/guardian, other adult family member or a 2nd Adult Participant. This rule also applies when the communication is initiated by the Minor Athlete.

It is not uncommon for a teenage fencer to set up their private lesson appointments directly with the coach and inform the parent after the fact. This type of communication is disallowed under SafeSports’ Communication policy unless the parent is included or copied in the communication.

Electronic Communication Policy DEtails

please share this information

Parents who are well informed about sexual abuse and other forms of abuse are the best protection young fencers have against predators and bullies. Please share this information with other parents so that they too are informed about how to protect their fencers.