AYSO Safe Haven
Child and Volunteer Protection Advocate

OnlineSafe Haven Certification Child and Volunteer Protection course - required for all Coaches, Referees, Team Parents, & All Volunteers - can now be taken from home from this CBT!

Safe Haven is a child and volunteer protection program that was the first of its kind in youth sports.  This program was developed to comply with the Child Protection Act and the Volunteer Protection Act of 1997 by corporate AYSO for all AYSO Regions to follow.

The child protection aspect is intended to stop child abuse, educate or remove its perpetrators, and screen out predators before they get into the program. It includes proactive steps which provide a medium for positive, healthy child development, precluding the outbreak of child abuse in a weak, unfocused, nonempowering environment.

Volunteer protection comes in to play as a result of volunteer training, certification and continuing education. The Volunteer Protection Act of 1997 provides certain legal protections for volunteers who have been trained and certified, and act in accordance with a written job description. Safe Haven has these three elements, giving volunteers the highest degree of protection available under the law.

We encourage you to contact, for any reason, our Regional Child & Volunteer Protection Advocate To view the responsibilities & duities please follow this link.

A reprint from AYSO Corporate at www.soccer.org:

AYSO Criminal Background Check Policy
September, 2004

Since January 1, 2001, all American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) regions, areas, and sections are required to comply with the AYSO policy on criminal background checks.

1. The following AYSO positions shall be subject to a criminal background check:
  *  All coaches of sports teams
  *  All assistant coaches of sports teams
  *  All officers, board members, and staff who lead or organize children's activities
  *  All referees

2. Any person volunteering in AYSO must complete and sign an AYSO volunteer application form each year. The application form includes a Criminal Background Check Release.

3. The Safe Haven Department at the NSTC shall act as the criminal background requesting entity unless specific arrangements have been approved in writing by the AYSO National Executive Director.  Criminal background checks are performed on an ongoing basis throughout the year. The responses on the AYSO Volunteer Application Form may target certain individuals for automatic background checks.

4. Each Region shall designate at least one person as the Child and Volunteer Protection Advocate (CVPA) who will act as the liaison between the Region and AYSO for purposes of enacting this policy.

5. The results of the criminal background checks will be kept strictly confidential. The AYSO Safe Haven staff members at the National Support & Training Center in Hawthorne, CA are the only people authorized to review or have access to the reports. The Notice of Duty to Review Criminal Record process will be initiated by AYSO.  These reports shall be kept in a locked, secure location, for a period as indicated by applicable law or until the person is no longer a volunteer, whichever is later.

6. When a negative determination is made, a copy of the criminal conviction report received by AYSO is sent to that volunteer applicant, in an envelope marked “Confidential – to be opened by addressee only,” along with the Notice of Duty to Review Criminal Record cover letter which is attached to this policy.

7. The CVPA or Regional Commissioner (RC) will be immediately notified of any issues related to the criminal background check of members of their region.

8. If a background check discloses a criminal conviction, AYSO Safe Haven Staff shall consult the Table of Convictions below and advise the region.  Each situation will be considered on a case-by-case basis using the following guidelines:

  *  Persons convicted of a violent crime or crime against a person (including sex offenses) within the prior 20 years should be disqualified from any position listed in policy paragraph #1 above.

  *  Persons convicted of a theft related crime or fraud within the prior 15 years should be disqualified from any position involving the handling of funds or property.

  *  Persons convicted of a substance abuse crime within the past 10 years should be disqualified from any coaching position or any position that leads children's activities.

  *  Discretion shall be exercised in a uniform manner, so that similar convictions and circumstances result in similar treatment.

  *  Felony convictions of any nature are serious offenses and will be viewed with extreme caution. Misdemeanor convictions, particularly where remote in time, may be viewed with more leeway where the applicant’s conduct since the conviction indicates rehabilitation or lack of risk to the children and the program. 

  TABLE OF CONVICTIONS (a partial list)

Violent Crimes & Crimes Against a Person:
     Aggravated Assault
     Aggravated Battery w/ Firearm
     Armed Robbery
     Arson
     Assault
     Attempted Murder
     Battery
     Blackmail
     Child Abduction
     Child Pornography
     Domestic Battery
     Endangering the Life or Health of a
              Child
     Exploitation of a Child
     Extortion
     Harboring a Runaway
     Hate Crime
     Home Invasion
     Intimidation
     Involuntary Manslaughter
     Kidnapping
     Murder
     Possession of explosives
     Terrorism
     Reckless Homicide
     Robbery
     Second Degree Murder
     Stalking
     Solicitation for Murder
     Tampering w/Food or Drugs
     Threatening Public Officials
     Treason
     Unlawful Restraint
     Vehicular Car Jacking
     Vehicular Endangerment
     Violation of Order of Protection

Sex Offenses:
     Bigamy
     Child Pornography
     Criminal Sexual Abuse  
     Criminal Sexual Assault
     Criminal Transmission of HIV
     Distribution/Sale of Pornography
       to a Minor  
     Indecent Solicitation of a Child
     Keeping a Place of Prostitution 
     Obscenity
     Pandering
     Pimping
     Prostitution
     Public Indecency
     Sex with a Minor
     Sexual Exploitation of a Child
     Solicitation of a Sexual Act

Theft-related Crimes:
     Bid Rigging
     Bid Rotating & Kickbacks
     Bribery
     Burglary
     Check Kiting
     Interference with Public Contracts
     Looting
     Money Laundering
     Possession of Burglary Tools
     Tax Evasion

Theft-related Crimes Continued:
     Fencing of Stolen goods
     Forgery
     Industrial Espionage 
     Theft of Intellectual Property
     Ticket Scalping

Fraud:
     Deceptive Sales 
     Fraudulent Advertisement
     Insurance Fraud
     Mail and Wire Fraud
     Odometer Fraud
     Public Aid Fraud

Substance Abuse Crimes:
     Abuse of Prescription Medicines
     Criminal Drug Conspiracy
     Distribution of Alcohol to Minors
     Illegal Transportation of Controlled
       Substances
     Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
     Possession of Illegal Substances
     Sale of Alcohol to Minors
     Sale or Manufacture of Illegal
       Substances

Miscellaneous Crimes:
     Aggravated Discharge of a Firearm
     Interference with Judicial
       Proceeding
     Computer Tampering
     Interference with Penal Institution
     Concealing or Aiding a Fugitive
     Legislative Misconduct
     Criminal Damage to Property
     Obscene Phone Calls
     Criminal Fortification of Building
     Obstructing Justice
     Criminal Trespass 
     Obstructing a Peace Officer
     Discrimination in Sale of Real
         Estate 
     Disorderly Conduct
     Driving Under the Influence of
       Alcohol
     Driving without a License
     Driving without Insurance
     Eavesdropping
     Environmental Crimes
     Gunrunning
     Harassment of Jurors or Witnesses
     Illegal Transportation of Controlled
       Substances
     Identity Switching
     Illegal Gambling Unlawful Use, Sale, or Discharge of
       a Metal Piercing Bullet
     Impersonating a Law Enforcement
     Officer Vandalism   
     Perjury
     Reckless Conduct
     Reckless Driving
     Repeated Traffic Offenses
     Sale of Tobacco to Minors
     Tampering with Public Records
     Unlawful Possession of Weapons
     Unlawful Sale of Firearms
     Unlawful Use of Body Armor


(The following letter is sent to any applicant, and only the applicant, if there are convictions that fall under the above criteria)

Notice of Duty to Review Criminal Record
2004
October 13, 2004
Region 0000
Fist and Last Name
Street Address
City, State Zip

Enclosed you will find a copy of your criminal history report obtained by the American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO).

Pursuant to the laws of many states and in your own self-interest, you should review the record as soon as possible.  Should you determine it is inaccurate or incomplete you are required to notify AYSO of such discrepancy within seven working days of your receipt of this letter.

For privacy protection, you should speak to Ellisa Hall at the AYSO National Support & Training Center. You may contact her during regular working hours, 8:00a.m.–5:00p.m. Pacific Time, Monday – Friday at (800) 872-2976, e-mail her at ellisahall@ayso.org, or write her at 12501 S Isis, Hawthorne, CA 90250.

If the record is inaccurate, AYSO has a procedure for you to follow with the reporting agency to correct the information.

If the report is accurate, it is in the best interests of this organization that you not volunteer.  If we fail to hear from you within seven days, we will contact your region with our final decision.

Ellisa Hall
National Certification and
Advocacy Administrator