At NENSA, athlete safety is our top priority.
Any member of NENSA who is appointed to a position of authority over or who has frequent contact with athletes should clear criminal background screening and complete SafeSport training. This includes NENSA member coaches and NENSA members in a club whom the club formally designates to be in a position of authority over athletes, as well as NENSA Staff & Board members. Any athlete 18 years or older, who is a US Ski & Snowboard member, must also complete the SafeSport training as a condition of membership with US Ski & Snowboard.
If you suspect violations of the SafeSport Code, or if you or anyone suspect that a child is experiencing misconduct of a sexual nature, don’t investigate it yourself. Call the SafeSport hotline and local child protection authorities (Police or Child Welfare Office) and report it to the experts who have the skills to investigate the matter. If you have a doubt on whether conduct is occurring, please err on the side of reporting.
Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policies
What is the Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policy?
The U.S. Center for SafeSport Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policies have been adapted by U.S. Ski & Snowboard for its members and member clubs. As a US Ski & Snowboard club, NENSA follows these policies.
The Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policy (MAAPP) has four primary components:
- Required Prevention Policies, focused on limiting one-on-one interactions
between Adult Participants and Minor Athletes, that must be implemented to
prevent abuse; - Organizational Requirements for Education & Training and Prevention Policies;
- Education & Training for certain Adult Participants; and
- Recommended Prevention Policies.
The purpose of the MAAPP is to provide specific policies to support athlete safety. Please read the MAAPP so that you know your responsibilities.
SafeSport
What is the U.S. Center for SafeSport?
The Center, headquartered in Denver, was established by Congress under the Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse and Safe Sport Authorization Act of 2017. The Center is a separate and independent organization from the USOC, and provides a central source for education, reporting, investigation, and tools for U.S. Ski & Snowboard (our National Governing Body (NGB)) and the other national governing bodies. More than 525,000 individuals have completed the SafeSport Training. To learn more, please see the following links:
- SafeSport Courses for All
- SafeSport Code
- Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policies (MAAPP)
- SafeSport Helpline
We are all responsible to provide for a safe culture:
Creating that culture begins with understanding the rules and taking the training but goes far beyond that foundation in order to create a culture of safety. We all need to pay attention, listen to those around us who are expressing concerns, and be willing to step up to make sure our culture is one of respect and a safe place. All of us have easy access to report inappropriate behavior, report-a-concern.
