Allston Brighton Youth Hockey Sexual Abuse Policy

It is the policy of the Allston Brighton Youth Hockey organization that there shall be no sexual abuse of any minor involved in any of its Member Programs by an employee, volunteer, independent contractor or another participant. Sexual abuse of a minor occurs when an adult employee, volunteer, independent contractor or other participant touches a minor for the purpose of causing the sexual arousal or gratification of either the minor or the employee, volunteer, independent contractor or other participant. Sexual abuse of a minor also occurs when a minor touches an employee, volunteer, independent contractor or other participant for the sexual arousal or sexual gratification of either the minor or the employee, volunteer, independent contractor or other participant, if the touching occurs at the request or with the consent of the employee, volunteer, independent contractor or other participant. Sexual contact between or among children also can be abusive if there is a significant disparity in age, development, or size, rendering the younger child incapable of giving informed consent, if there is the existence of an aggressor, or where these is an imbalance of power and/or intellectual capabilities. The sexually abusive acts may include sexual penetration, sexual touching, or non-contact sexual acts such as exposure or voyeurism. Neither consent of the minor to the sexual contact, mistake as to the participant’s age, nor the fact that the sexual contact did not take place at a hockey function are defenses to a complaint of sexual abuse. Sexual abuse may also occur between adults or to an adult. Sexual abuse includes sexual interactions that are nonconsensual or accomplished by force or threat of force, or coerced or manipulated, regardless of the age of the participants. Sexual abuse may also include non-touching offenses, such as sexually harassing behaviors; an adult discussing his/her sex life with a minor; an adult asking a minor about his/her sex life; an adult requesting or sending a nude or partial dress photo to minor; exposing minors to pornographic material; sending minors sexually explicit electronic messages or photos (e.g.“sexting”); deliberately exposing a minor to sexual acts; or deliberately exposing a minor to inappropriate nudity.

Without limiting the above, any act or conduct described as sexual abuse, sexual misconduct or child sexual abuse under applicable federal or state law constitutes sexual abuse under this Policy. Any Allston Brighton Youth Hockey member who engages in any act of sexual abuse or misconduct is subject to appropriate disciplinary action including but not limited to suspension, permanent suspension, and/or referral to law enforcement authorities.

Allston Brighton Youth Hockey Physical Abuse Policy

It is the policy of the Allston Brighton Youth Hockey organization that there shall be no physical abuse of any participant involved in any of its Member Programs by any employee, volunteer, independent contractor or other participant. Physical abuse means physical contact with a participant that intentionally causes or has the potential to cause the participant to sustain bodily harm or personal injury. Physical abuse also includes physical contact with a participant that intentionally creates a threat of immediate bodily harm or personal injury. Physical abuse may also include intentionally hitting or threatening to hit an athlete with objects or sports equipment. In addition to physical contact or the threat of physical contact with a participant, physical abuse also includes the providing of alcohol to a participant under the age of consent and the providing of illegal drugs or non-prescribed medications to any participant. Without limiting the above, any act or conduct described as physical abuse or misconduct under applicable federal or state law constitutes physical abuse under this Policy. Physical abuse does not include physical contact that is reasonably designed to coach, teach, demonstrate or improve a hockey skill, including physical conditioning, team building and appropriate discipline. Permitted physical conduct may include, but is not necessarily limited to, shooting pucks at a goaltender, demonstrating checking and other hockey skills, and communicating with or directing participants during the course of a game or practice by touching or moving them in a non-threatening, non-sexual manner. Any ABYH member who engages in any act of physical abuse is subject to appropriate disciplinary action by the Board, including but not limited to suspension, permanent suspension, and/or referral to law enforcement authorities.

Allston Brighton Youth Hockey Emotional Abuse Policy

It is the policy of the Allston Brighton Youth Hockey organization that there shall be no emotional abuse of any participant involved in any of its programs by an employee, volunteer, independent contractor or other participant.

Emotional abuse involves a pattern of deliberate, non-contact behavior that has the potential to cause emotional or psychological harm to a participant. These behaviors may include verbal acts, physical acts or acts that deny attention or support.

Examples of emotional abuse prohibited by this Policy include, without limitation:

      • Verbal behaviors

      • Attack a participant personally by name calling, etc.

      • Repeatedly and excessively yelling at a particular participant or participants in a manner that serves no productive or       motivational purpose

      • Physically aggressive behaviors

      • Throwing objects at participants

      • Punching walls, windows, or other objects.

Emotional abuse does not include generally-accepted and age appropriate coaching methods of skill enhancement, physical conditioning, motivation, team building, appropriate discipline, or improving athletic performance.

Any Allston Brighton Youth Hockey member who engages in any act of emotional abuse is subject to appropriate disciplinary action by the Board including but not limited to suspension, permanent suspension, and/or referral to law enforcement authorities.

      Note: Bullying, threats, harassment, and hazing, defined below, often involve some form of emotional misconduct.

Bullying, Threats and Harassment

Bullying is the use of coercion to obtain control over another person or to be habitually cruel to another person. Bullying involves an intentional, persistent or repeated pattern of committing or willfully tolerating physical and non-physical behaviors that are intended to cause fear, humiliation, or physical harm in an attempt to socially exclude, diminish, or isolate another person. Bullying can occur through written, verbal or electronically transmitted expression or by means of a physical act or gesture. Bullying behavior is prohibited in any manner in connection with any Allston Brighton Youth Hockey sanctioned activities or events. Examples of bullying prohibited by this Policy include, without limitation physical behaviors, including punching, kicking or choking an athlete; and verbal and emotional behaviors, including, the use of electronic communications (i.e., “cyber bullying”), to harass, frighten, degrade, intimidate or humiliate. While other team members are often the perpetrators of bullying, it is a violation of this Policy if a coach or other responsible adult knows or should know of the bullying behavior but takes no action to intervene on behalf of the targeted participant(s).

Allston Brighton Youth Hockey’s Locker Room Policy

In addition to the development of our hockey players and enjoyment of the sport of hockey, the safety and protection of our participants is central to Allston Brighton Youth Hockey’s goals. Allston Brighton Youth Hockey adheres to USA Hockey’s SafeSport Program as a means to help protect its participants from physical abuse, sexual abuse and other types of misconduct, including emotional abuse, bullying, threats, harassment and hazing.

To help prevent abuse or misconduct from occurring in our locker rooms, Allston Brighton Youth Hockey has adopted the following locker room policy. This policy is designed to reduce the risk of misconduct in locker rooms.

Locker Room Monitoring

Allston Brighton Youth Hockey requires direct and regular monitoring of locker room areas. Prior to and at the end of practices and games, Allston Brighton Youth Hockey requires an adult presence in the locker room. The head coach, assistant coach, or screened parent volunteer must be present in the locker room before practices and games and accompany the team into the locker room at the end of practices and games.

Parents in Locker Rooms

Except for players at the younger age groups [Mites and Squirts] we discourage parents from entering locker rooms unless it is truly necessary. If a player needs assistance with his or her uniform or gear, if the player is or may be injured, or a player’s disability warrants assistance, then we ask that parents let the coach know beforehand that he or she will be helping the player.

Naturally, with our youngest age groups it is necessary for parents to assist the players getting dressed. We encourage parents to teach their players as young as possible how to get dressed so that players will learn as early as possible how to get dressed independently. In circumstances where parents are permitted in the locker room, coaches are permitted to ask that the parents leave for a short time before the game and for a short time after the game so that the coaches may address the players. As players get older, the coach may in his or her discretion prohibit parents from a locker room.

Cell Phones and Other Mobile Recording Devices

Cell phones and other mobile devices with recording capabilities, including voice recording, still cameras and video cameras, are not permitted for use in the locker rooms or in the vicinity of the locker room. Parents should instruct and coaches will remind players to POWER OFF cell phones before entering the locker room. If phones or other mobile devices must be used, they should be used in public areas or outside the rink. A violation of the cell phone policy may result in disciplinary action by the board, which may include suspension from hockey activities. The Cell Phones and Other Mobile Recording Devices shall apply to all who enter any locker room or are in the vicinity.

Prohibited Conduct and Reporting

Allston Brighton Youth Hockey prohibits all types of physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, bullying, threats, harassment and hazing, all as described in the USA Hockey SafeSport Handbook. Participants, employees or volunteers in Allston Brighton Youth Hockey’s may be subject to disciplinary action for violation of these locker room policies or for engaging in any misconduct or abuse or that violates the USA Hockey SafeSport Policies.

ALLSTON BRIGHTON YOUTH HOCKEY TRAVEL POLICY

Allston Brighton Youth Hockey encourages all of its teams to take advantage of travel tournament opportunities. We believe that this provides our players with a competitive, bonding experience that is not replicated in regular league play. Allston Brighton Youth Hockey has established policies to guide travel tournament participation in order to minimize one-on-one interactions between players and adults to reduce the risk of abuse or potential misconduct. Adherence to these travel guidelines will increase player safety and improve the player’s experience while keeping travel a fun and enjoyable experience.

We distinguish between travel to off-ice training, practice and local games as (“local travel”), and team travel that involves a coordinated overnight stay as (“team travel”).

Local Travel

Local travel occurs when Allston Brighton Youth Hockey or one of its teams does not sponsor, coordinate, or arrange for travel.

•Players and/or their parents/guardians are responsible for making all arrangements for local travel. The team and its coaches, managers or administrators should avoid responsibility for arranging or coordinating local travel. It is the responsibility of the parents/guardians to ensure the person transporting the minor player maintains the proper safety and legal requirements, including, but not limited to, a valid driver’s license, automobile liability insurance, a vehicle in safe working order, and compliance with applicable state laws. The employees, coaches, and/or volunteers of Allston Brighton Youth Hockey or one of its teams, who are not also acting as a parent, should not drive alone with an unrelated minor player and should only drive with at least two players or another adult at all times, unless otherwise agreed to in writing by the minor player’s parent.

•Where an employee, coach and/or volunteer is involved in an unrelated minor player’s local travel, efforts should be made to ensure that the adult personnel are not alone with the unrelated player, by, e.g., picking up or dropping off the players in groups. In any case where an employee, coach and/or volunteer is involved in the player’s local travel, a parental release should be obtained in advance.

•Employees, coaches, and volunteers who are also a player’s parent or guardian may provide shared transportation for any player(s) if they pick up their player first and drop off their player last in any shared or carpool travel arrangement.

•It is recognized that in some limited instances it will be unavoidable for an employee, coach or volunteer of Allston Brighton Youth Hockey or one of its teams to drive alone with an unrelated minor player. However, efforts should be made to minimize these occurrences and to mitigate any circumstances that could lead to allegations of abuse or misconduct.

Team Travel

Team travel is overnight travel that occurs when Allston Brighton Youth Hockey or one of its teams sponsors, coordinates or arranges for travel so that our teams can compete locally, regionally, nationally or internationally.

•When possible, Allston Brighton Youth Hockey will provide reasonable advance notice before team travel. Travel notice will also include designated team hotels for overnight stays as well as a contact person within ABYH or the team. This individual will be the point of contact to confirm your intention to travel and to help with travel details.

•The Allston Brighton Youth Hockey Team will post specific travel itineraries when they become available. These will include a more detailed schedule as well as contact information for team travel chaperones. All players must have a parent or designated guardian (with written consent of parents) attend the tournament and all of its activities.

•Regardless of gender, a coach shall not share a hotel room or other sleeping arrangement with a minor player (unless the coach is the parent, guardian or sibling of the player).

•The coach may establish a curfew by when all players must be in their hotel rooms or in a supervised location.

•The team personnel may ask hotels to block adult pay per view channels.

Individual meetings between a player and coach may not occur in hotel sleeping rooms and must be held in public settings or with additional adults present.

•Meetings do not occur in hotel rooms, but the team may reserve a separate space for adults and athletes to socialize.

•If disciplinary action against a player is required while the player is traveling without his/her parents, then except where immediate action is necessary, parents will be notified before any action is taken or immediately after the action.

•No coach or adult chaperone shall at any time be under the influence of alcohol or drugs while performing their coaching and/or chaperoning duties.

Adults/Parents are encouraged to behave responsibly with alcohol on hotel property. Adult/Parents should adhere to the USA Hockey Parent Code of Conduct Policy while attending games.

•During team travel, coaches, team personnel and chaperones will help players, fellow coaches and team personnel adhere to policy guidelines, including, without limitation, the Travel Policy, Locker Room Policy and Reporting Policy.

•Prior to any travel, coaches will endeavor to make players and parents aware of all expectations and rules.

Prohibited Conduct and Reporting

Allston Brighton Youth Hockey prohibits all types of physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, bullying, threats, harassment and hazing, all as described in the USA Hockey SafeSport Handbook. Participants, employees or volunteers in Allston Brighton Youth Hockey may be subject to disciplinary action for violation of the Travel Policies or for engaging in any misconduct or abuse or that violates the USA Hockey SafeSport Policies.