Commissioner Joe Williams com@deltavolleyball.net 870-933-8110.  Please call or email with any questions or concerns.  

“Safety and security don’t just happen; they are the result of collective consensus and public investment. We owe our children, the most vulnerable citizens in our society, a life free of violence and fear.”  Nelson Mandela 

 USA Volleyball and the forty Regional Volleyball Associations are committed to creating a safe and positive environment for its participants’ physical, emotional, and social development. Together we will promote an environment free from abuse and misconduct. It must be recognized that the safety of its Participants lies with all those involved in the sport and is not the sole responsibility of any one person at the club, regional or national level.  

First, and most importantly, whether one is a gifted athlete or a recreational player, volleyball is FUN! It is a lifetime sport enjoyed by players from 8 to 80. Participation in volleyball is not only good exercise, but also involves team cooperation and spirit.   

Athletes enjoy a wide range of physical, emotional and social benefits. Sports develop general physical fitness, and physical exertion has a documented positive mental effect. Athletes have a greater sense of self-worth, demonstrate better collaboration skills, and maintain healthier peer relationships. 

Sports, including volleyball, can also be an at-risk environment for misconduct, including physical and sexual abuse. All forms of  misconduct are intolerable and in direct conflict with the values of USA Volleyball. 

For more information: 
Online – https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Volleyball
Email - SafeSport@usav.org
Call – 719-228-6800 or the Delta Regional Volleyball Association Office at 870-933-8110.   

We are excited to announce enhancements to our SafeSport policy and education requirements as part of our continued commitment to safeguarding our athletes.

USA Volleyball’s top priority continues to be keeping our athletes safe. No form of abuse, including child sexual abuse, has a place in our sport. Under our leadership, this organization will continue to make abuse prevention and response an important piece of
everything we do.

USAV and the RVAA have been front-runners in implementing safety measures. Together we became one of the first NGBs to conduct background screens, implement proactive athlete safety policies and make athlete safety our number one priority. In
maintaining our commitment to safety, we are pleased to announce the adoption of the Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policies (MAAPP).

The enhancements stem from requirements imposed by the U.S. Center for SafeSport (the “Center”). As you know, the Center is the separate, independent organization that oversees all sexual misconduct reports in the Olympic and Para-Olympic movement as mandated by Congress. The Center is responsible for creating requirements in the areas of policy, education and training for every National Governing Body (NGB) in the Movement as authorized by the “Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse and SafeSport Authorization Act of 2017”. As such, USA Volleyball, as an NGB, must follow the Center’s requirements.

MAAPP covers two critical areas, policies for limiting one-on-one interactions with minors and education/training.

Policy Changes
First, the Center requires every NGB to implement a Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policy (MAAPP) by June 23, 2019. This Policy addresses risk areas that present opportunities for abuse to occur.

The Policy covers six (6) areas:
1. One-on-One Interactions, including meetings and individual training sessions
2. Massages and Rubdowns/Athlete Training Modalities
3. Locker Rooms & Changing Areas
4. Social Media & Electronic Communication
5. Local Travel
6. Team Travel

MAAPP will apply to all Applicable Adults (including adult athletes) defined as those who interact with and have direct and frequent contact with minor athletes. Please note non-compliance with MAAPP is a violation of the U.S. Center for SafeSport Code. Violations may be reported at:  https://uscenterforsafesport.org/report-a-concern/

Education and Training Changes
Second, MAAPP requires regular and consistent training for all Applicable Adults (including adult athletes) who interact with and have direct and frequent contact with minor athletes. All  Applicable Adults will be required to complete training annually. Such training consists of “Core” SafeSport training followed by the U.S. Center for SafeSport Refresher course.

To review MAAPP online click on https://www.teamusa.org/usa-volleyball/about-us/safesport/maapp

As mandated, every USA Volleyball member organization (including regions) is required to update its policies to reflect MAAPP by June 23, 2019. Over the next several weeks leading up to the June 23 compliance date, USA Volleyball will share
the policy and education changes across multiple channels and our Safe Sport staff members are prepared to answer any questions you have. They can be reached at safesport.general@usav.org

To prevent any disruption in sport, the Center also encourages athletes who are 17 turning 18 to take the Core SafeSport Training. Parental consent is required.

Further, as of June 12, the Center is now offering age appropriate training for minor athletes. The training is not mandatory but introduces the importance of a positive and welcoming environment while also explaining the different forms of misconduct and how and where to report it. Each course can be accessed at: https://athletesafety.org/training/index. All training requires parental consent.

Your continued support of USAV’s abuse prevention and response efforts is invaluable. Together we can promote a safe and healthy environment for our athletes allowing them to achieve their utmost potential on and off the court.

• USA Volleyball is proud to introduce Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policies  Download MAAPP

These policies outline training requirements and limit one-on-one interactions with minor athletes.  The policies went into effect June 23, 2019.  Legal Guardian Consent (LG) form, fillable.
Legal Guardian Consent Form  

*Completed LG Consent forms will be saved under a region file and forwarded to the region to disseminate to the appropriate club 

• U.S. Center for SafeSport "Core" Training: This is required training for adults who have regular contact with amateur athletes who are minors, and/or have regular contact with or authority over an amateur athlete who is a minor. The training must be completed before regular  contact with an amateur athlete who is a minor begins; or within the first 45 days of initial membership, or upon beginning a new role subjecting the adult to the MAAPP. The “Core” training is required also prior to eligibility to take the Refresher 1. This training is available to USAV members for free. 

• 30-Minute Refresher: This is conducted annually following "Core" Center for SafeSport Training. This training is 30 minutes and is a review of the information shared in the Core Center for
SafeSport Training.  This training is available to USAV members for free. 

• Athletes turning 18 during the season, whose teammates are minors, will be required to take "Core" Center for SafeSport training upon turning 18. To prevent any disruption in play, the center will allow athletes who are 17, turning 18 during the season to take "Core" given parental consent. Once a player turns 18, he or she will not be permitted to continue play until "Core"
SafeSport training has been completed. Complete the parental consent form  before registering for training if you have a minor athlete who needs to take the training. Once the form is completed, your child will be enrolled in SafeSport training. A notification of registration will be sent to the email address on file to access the course. 

*Completed Parental Consent forms will be saved under a region file 

• Youth Training Courses: The U.S. Center for SafeSport has launched youth courses. This training is not mandatory and will be offered through the Center's website http://athletesafety.org. It
requires parental consent. The parent/legal guardian creates the account to provide consent for the child and to decide which course is best for their child. Courses are for preschool age; grades K-2; grades 3-5; middle school and high school. These free courses are for minor athletes and their parents to understand the importance of positive, welcoming environments in sports, where misconduct like bullying or abuse is less likely to happen, and to know where to report abuse, should it happen. 

If you have already completed the Core training you will need to register for the Refresher 1 course.