Abuse Prevention Policy

Zero Tolerance for Abuse

Syracuse Challenger Baseball has a zero tolerance for abuse in all youth sports teams, programs or activities.   It is the responsibility of every coach and volunteer to participate in the effort to create a safe environment for all sports participants.  Syracuse Challenger Baseball is a unique league with the inclusion of players of all ages.  For the purpose of this policy, the use of age-defining terms such as “youth” or “child” is meant to cover all of our players and athletes, regardless of age

Definitions

“Syracuse Challenger Baseball Activity” includes any game, events or practice that qualify any coach, assistant coach, team training, team manager, referee, league president, league delegate, labor employee, or any other individual over the age of 18 seeking affiliation with any affiliated program within Syracuse Challenger Baseball who has direct or indirect contact or influence on a minor athlete.

REPORTING RESPONSIBILITIES

Given Syracuse Challenger Baseball’s zero tolerance for abuse, Syracuse Challenger Baseball encourages a culture of communication regarding matters that place an athlete at risk.

Syracuse Challenger Baseball supports and encourages a culture of communication related to abuse or suspected abuse of athletes. If you see or suspect inappropriate interaction with or between athletes, it is your responsibility to report the inappropriate interaction to a coach, supervisor, team official, league official, or other designated Syracuse Challenger Baseball representative.

Because sexual abusers ‘groom’ athletes for abuse, it is possible that a coach or volunteer may witness behavior intended to ‘groom’ a child for sexual abuse.  Coaches and volunteers are asked to report any ‘grooming’ behaviors, any policy violations, or any suspicious behaviors to a supervisor, team official, league official, or other designated Syracuse Challenger Baseball representative.

All reports of inappropriate behaviors or suspicions of abuse will be taken seriously and will be reported, in accordance with this Code of Conduct and state law, to law enforcement, Child Protective Services, or other appropriate agency.

ENFORCEMENT OF POLICIES

Coaches and volunteers who supervise other leaders are charged with the diligent enforcement of all athlete safety policies contained in this Code of Conduct.  A violation of these policies can be grounds for immediate dismissal from Syracuse Challenger Baseball Activities.  Final decisions related to policy violations will be the responsibility of a designated Syracuse Challenger Baseball representative.

REPORTING VIOLATION OF POLICY

In order to maintain a safe environment for athletes, coaches and volunteers must be aware of their individual responsibility to report any questionable circumstance, observation, act, omission, or situation that is a violation of these policies.  All questions or concerns related to abuse should be directed to a designated Syracuse Challenger Baseball representative.

CONSEQUENCES OF VIOLATION

Any person accused of committing a prohibited act or any act considered to be harmful to a child will be immediately suspended from all Syracuse Challenger Baseball activities.  This suspension will continue during any investigation by Syracuse Challenger Baseball, law enforcement or any child protective agency.

Any person found to have committed a prohibited act may be prohibited from any future Syracuse Challenger Baseball Activity.

Failure to report a prohibited act as designated in this policy is a violation of this policy and grounds for dismissal or removal.  Coaches or volunteers who fail to report a prohibited act may be restricted from participation in any Syracuse Challenger Baseball Activity.

NEW YORK STATE REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

Who is required to report?

Any of the following, when acting in their professional or official capacities: Physicians; Registered physician assistants; Surgeons; Medical examiners; Coroners; Dentists; Dental hygienists; Osteopaths; Optometrists; Chiropractors; Podiatrists; Residents; Interns; Psychologists; Registered nurses; Social workers; Emergency medical technicians; Licensed creative arts therapists; Licensed marriage and family therapists; Licensed mental health counselors; Licensed psychoanalysts; Licensed behavior analysts; Certified Behavior Analyst Assistants; Hospital personnel engaged in the admission, examination, care, or treatment of persons; Christian Science practitioners; School officials (which includes, but is not limited to, school teacher, school guidance counselor, school psychologist, school social worker, school nurse, school administrator, other school personnel required to hold a teaching or administrative license or certificate, or full or part-time compensated school employee required to hold a temporary coaching license or professional coaching certificate); Social services workers; Employee of a publicly-funded emergency shelter for families with children; Directors of a children’s overnight camp, summer day camp or traveling summer day camp; Directors of a children’s overnight camp, summer day camp or traveling summer day camp; Day care center workers; School-age child care workers; Providers of family or group family day care; Employees or volunteers in a residential care facility for children that is licensed, certified or operated by the office of children and family services; Child care or foster care workers; Mental health professionals; Substance abuse counselors; Alcoholism counselors; All persons credentialed by the office of alcoholism and substance abuse services; Peace officers; Police officers; District attorneys or assistant district attorneys; Investigators employed in the office of the district attorney; and Any other law enforcement official.

In addition to those persons and officials required to report suspected child abuse or maltreatment, any person may make such a report if such person has reasonable cause to suspect that a child is an abused or maltreated child.

When is a report required and where does it go?

Reasonable cause to suspect that a child coming before them in their professional or official capacity is an abused or maltreated child, or reasonable cause to suspect that a child is an abused or maltreated child where the parent, guardian, custodian, or other person legally responsible for such child comes before them in their professional or official capacity and states from personal knowledge facts, conditions, or circumstances which, if correct, would render the child an abused or maltreated child. Social services workers are required to report or cause a report to be made when they have reasonable cause to suspect that a child is an abused or maltreated child where a person comes before them in their professional or official capacity and states from personal knowledge facts, conditions or circumstances which, if correct, would render the child an abused or maltreated child. Any person or official required to report suspected abuse or maltreatment, who has reasonable cause to suspect a child died as a result of child abuse or maltreatment shall report that to the medical examiner or coroner. The medical examiner or coroner will accept the report for investigation and must issue a preliminary written report of his or her finding within 60 days of the date or death, absent extraordinary circumstances. The medical examiner or coroner will deliver his or her final report promptly, absent extraordinary circumstances, to the police, the appropriate district attorney, the local child protective service, the office of children and family services and, if the institution making the report is a hospital, the hospital. The office of children and family services will promptly provide a copy of the preliminary and final reports to the statewide central register of child abuse and maltreatment. Any person may make such a report if such person has reasonable cause to suspect that a child is an abused or maltreated child.

Where does it go?

Updated reporting instructions and forms are available through the New York Statewide Central Register of Child Abuse and Maltreatment accessible at: http://ocfs.ny.gov/main/cps/. Oral reports must be made immediately to the statewide central register of child abuse and maltreatment hotline (1-800-342-3720), unless local child protective services plan provides for reports to local child protective services. In that case, the local service should immediately report to the statewide central register. Oral reports shall be followed by a report in writing within 48 hours after such oral report. For those mandated to report, written reports must be made to the local child protective service (except that written reports involving children in a home operated or supervised by an authorized agency must be made to the statewide central register of child abuse and maltreatment). Whenever such person is required to report under this title in his or her capacity as a member of the staff of a medical or other public or private institution, school, facility or agency, he or she shall make the report as required by this title and immediately notify the person in charge of such institution, school, facility or agency, or his or her designated agent. Such person in charge, or the designated agent of such person, shall be responsible for all subsequent administration necessitated by the report. Any report shall include the name, title and contact information for every staff person of the institution who is believed to have direct knowledge of the allegations in the report.

What definitions are important to know?

inflicts or allows to be inflicted upon such child physical injury by other than accidental means which causes or creates a substantial risk of death, or serious or protracted disfigurement, or protracted impairment of physical or emotional health or protracted loss or impairment of the function of any bodily organ; creates or allows to be created a substantial risk of physical injury to such child by other than accidental means which would be likely to cause death or serious or protracted disfigurement, or protracted impairment of physical or emotional health or protracted loss or impairment of the function of any bodily organ; or commits or allows to be committed certain criminal offenses against the child; or allows, permits or encourages a child to commit certain criminal offenses.

“Abused child” under the family court act means a child less than eighteen years of age whose parent or other person legally responsible for his care: “Abused child” means a child less than 18 years of age and who is defined as an abused child by the family court act (see definition below).

“Child” under the family court act means any person or persons alleged to have been abused or neglected, whichever the case may be.

“Maltreated child”includes a child under 18 years of age who has been defined as a neglected child by family court act (see definition below) or has had serious physical injury inflicted upon him or her by other than accidental means.

“Neglected child” under the family court act means a child under the age of 18: whose physical, mental or emotional condition has been impaired or is in imminent danger of becoming impaired as a result of the failure of his parent or other person legally responsible for his care to exercise a minimum degree of care: care to exercise a minimum degree of care: in supplying the child with adequate food, clothing, shelter or education in accordance with the provisions of part one of article sixty-five of the education law, or medical, dental, optometrical or surgical care, though financially able to do so or offered financial or other reasonable means to do so; or in providing the child with proper supervision or guardianship, by unreasonably inflicting or allowing to be inflicted harm, or a substantial risk thereof, including the infliction of excessive corporal punishment; or by misusing a drug or drugs; or by misusing alcoholic beverages to the extent that he loses self-control of his actions; or by any other acts of a similarly serious nature requiring the aid of the court; provided, however, that where the respondent is voluntarily and regularly participating in a rehabilitative program, evidence that the respondent has repeatedly misused a drug or drugs or alcoholic beverages to the extent that he loses self-control of his actions shall not establish that the child is a neglected child in the absence of evidence establishing that the child’s physical, mental or emotional condition has been impaired or is in imminent danger of becoming impaired; or who has been abandoned by his parents or other person legally responsible for his care.

What timing and procedural requirements apply to reports?

Initial reports must be made immediately by telephone or facsimile using a form supplied by the Office of Children and Family Services (available at: http://ocfs.ny.gov/main/cps/) (1-800-342-3720). A written report must follow the initial report within 48 hours.

What information must a report include?

Written reports shall be made on forms supplied by the commissioner of the office of children and family services and shall include: The names and addresses of the child and his or her parents or other person responsible for his or her care (if known); The name and address of the residential care facility or program in which the child resides or is receiving care (if any); The child’s age, sex, and race; The nature and extent of the child’s injuries, abuse, or maltreatment (including any evidence of prior injuries, abuse, or maltreatment to the child or his or her siblings); The name of the person or persons alleged to be responsible for causing the injury, abuse, or maltreatment (if known); Family composition (where appropriate); The source of the report; The identity of the person making the report and where he or she can be reached; The actions taken by the reporting source (including the taking of photographs, x-rays, removal or keeping of the child or notifying the medical examiner or coroner); and Any other information required by regulation or which the person making the report believes might be helpful. Any report shall include the name, title and contact information for every staff person of the institution who is believed to have direct knowledge of the allegations in the report.

Anything else I should know?

Statutory citation(s): A medical or other public or private institution, school, facility or agency shall not take any retaliatory personnel action against an employee because such employee believes that he or she has reasonable cause to suspect that a child is an abused or maltreated child and that employee therefore makes a report. No school, school official, child care provider, foster care provider, residential care facility provider, hospital, medical institution provider or mental health facility provider shall impose any conditions, including prior approval or prior notification, upon a member of their staff specifically required to report. Any person or official required to report cases of suspected child abuse or maltreatment, including workers of the local child protective service who has reasonable cause to suspect that a child died as a result of child abuse or maltreatment shall report that fact to the appropriate medical examiner or coroner. Only one report must be made from an institution, school or agency. Whenever any person is required to report in their capacity as a member of the staff of a medical or other public or private institution, school, facility, or agency, he shall immediately notify the person in charge of such institution, school, facility, or agency, or his designated agent, who shall then take or cause to be taken at public expenses color photographs of visible trauma and shall, if medically indicated, cause to be performed a radiological examination on the child. Any person, official or institution required by this title to report a case of suspected child abuse or maltreatment who willfully fails to do so shall be guilty of a Class A misdemeanor. Any person, official or institution required by this title to report a case of suspected child abuse or maltreatment who knowingly and willfully fails to do so shall be civilly liable for the damages proximately caused by such failure. Any person or official required to report cases of suspected child abuse and maltreatment may take or cause to be taken at public expense photographs of the areas of trauma visible on a child who is subject to a report and, if medically indicated, cause to be performed a radiological examination on the child. Any photographs or x-rays taken shall be sent to the child protective service at the time the written report is sent, or as soon thereafter as possible. Any person, official, or institution participating in good faith in the providing of a service pursuant to Section 424, the making of a report, the taking of photographs, the removal or keeping of a child pursuant to the title, or the disclosure of child protective services in compliance with the statute, shall have immunity from any liability, civil or criminal, that might otherwise result by reason of such actions. Good faith is presumed if such liability did not result from willful misconduct or gross negligence.

N.Y. Soc. Serv. Law §§ 412, 413, 414, 415, 416, 418, 419, 420; N.Y. Family Court Act § 1012.

RESPONSE TO REPORT OF ABUSE

When a report of abuse or neglect occurs, team or league representatives will take the necessary and appropriate action to ensure a safe environment for the person at risk.

Prohibited Substances and Activities

INTOXICANTS

Coaches and volunteers are prohibited from being under the influence of alcohol or any illegal drugs while participating in any Syracuse Challenger Baseball Activity.  Coaches and volunteers are prohibited from providing alcohol or illegal drugs to minor athletes or any other program participant.

TOBACCO

Syracuse Challenger Baseball programs and activities are tobacco-free.  Syracuse Challenger Baseball requires coaches and volunteers to refrain from the use or possession of tobacco products while in the presence of minor athletes or their parents.  Coaches and volunteers are prohibited from providing tobacco products to minor athletes.

NUDITY

Coaches and volunteers that participate in Syracuse Challenger Baseball Activities should never be nude in the presence of minor athletes.

SEXUALLY ORIENTED CONVERSATIONS

Coaches and volunteers that participate in Syracuse Challenger Baseball Activities are prohibited from engaging in any sexually oriented conversations with minor athletes.  Coaches and volunteers are not permitted to discuss any inappropriate or explicit information about their own personal relationships, dating, or sexual activities with any minor athlete in the program.  This provision includes the use of cellular phones, text messages, e-mail, instant messaging, Facebook, and online chat rooms or other social media.  See also Electronic Communication and Social Media, below.

POSSESSION OF SEXUALLY ORIENTED MATERIALS

Coaches and volunteers that participate in Syracuse Challenger Baseball Activities are prohibited from possessing any sexually oriented materials (magazines, videos, etc.) while in the presence of minor athletes.

Physical Contact with Athletes

Appropriate physical contact between minor athletes and coaches or volunteers is a productive and inevitable part of sport. Athletes are more likely to acquire advanced physical skills and enjoy their sport participation through appropriate physical contact. However, guidelines for appropriate physical contact reduce the potential for abuse and misconduct in athletics – as well as false allegations of abuse.

APPROPRIATE PHYSICAL CONTACT

Syracuse Challenger Baseball, and organizations and individuals affiliated with Syracuse Challenger Baseball acknowledge and adhere to the following principles and guidelines regarding physical contact with minor athletes.

 Common Criteria for Appropriate Physical Contact

Physical contact with minor athletes – for safety, consolation and celebration – has multiple criteria that make it both safe and appropriate. These include:

1. The physical contact takes place in public;
2. There is no potential for (or actual) physical or sexual intimacies during the physical contact;
3. The physical contact is for the benefit of the athlete, not to meet an emotional or other need of an adult.

Safety

The safety of minor athletes is paramount, and in many instances the athletic activity is made safer through appropriate physical contact. Examples include:

1. Spotting an athlete so that he or she will not be injured by a fall or piece of equipment;
2. Positioning an athlete’s body so that he or she more quickly acquires an athletic skill, gets a better sense of where his or her body is in space, or improves balance and coordination;
3. Making athletes aware that he or she may be in harm’s way due to other practicing athletes, or equipment use;
4. Releasing muscle cramps.

Celebration

Sports are physical by definition. Syracuse Challenger Baseball recognizes that participants often express a joy of participation, competition, achievement and victory through physical acts. Syracuse Challenger Baseball encourages these public expressions of celebration, which include:

1. Greeting gestures such as high-fives, fist bumps, and brief hugs;
2. Congratulatory gestures such as celebratory hugs, “jump-arounds” and pats on the back for any form of athletic or personal accomplishment.

Consolation

It may be appropriate to console an emotionally distressed athlete (e.g., an athlete who has been injured or has just lost a competition).  Appropriate consolation includes, publicly:

1. Embracing a crying athlete – in a public place or circumstance;
2. Putting an arm around an athlete while verbally engaging them in an effort to calm them down (“side hugs”);
3. Lifting a fallen athlete off the playing surface and “dusting them off” to encourage them to continue competition.

PROHIBITED PHYSICAL CONTACT

Prohibited forms of physical contact include, without limitation:

1. Asking or having a minor athlete sit in the lap of a coach or volunteer;
2. Lingering or repeated embrace of a minor athlete that goes beyond the criteria set forth for acceptable physical contact;
3. Slapping, hitting, punching, kicking or any other physical contact meant to discipline, punish or achieve compliance from a minor athlete;
4. “Cuddling” or maintaining prolonged physical contact of a minor athlete during any aspect of training, travel or overnight stay;
5. Playful, yet inappropriate contact that is not a part of regular training, (e.g., butt-pats, tickling or wrestling-type “horseplay”);
6. Continued physical contact that makes a minor athlete obviously uncomfortable, whether expressed or not;
7. Any contact that is contrary to a previously expressed personal desire by the minor athlete for decreased or no physical contact, where such decreased contact is feasible in a competitive training environment.

The above physical contact is prohibited between adult and minor athlete AND between minor athletes.  Coaches and volunteers must model the behavior expected from minor athletes.  The above forms of Prohibited Physical Contact will be immediately reported to a team official, a league official, or other designated Syracuse Challenger Baseball representative.

Some forms of physical contact may constitute physical or sexual abuse that must be reported to appropriate law enforcement authorities.  When appropriate, the Prohibited Physical Contact will be reported to the appropriate law enforcement authority.

BULLYING

Bullying of any kind is unacceptable at any Syracuse Challenger Baseball Activity, and will not be tolerated. Bullying is counterproductive to team spirit and can be devastating to the victim.  Syracuse Challenger Baseball is committed to providing a safe, caring and friendly environment for all participants.  If bullying does occur, incidents will be dealt with promptly and effectively. Any minor athlete who is aware of bullying behavior is expected to tell a coach, team official, league official, or other designated Syracuse Challenger Baseball representative.

Objectives of Syracuse Challenger Baseball’s Bullying Policy and Action Plan:

1. To clearly communicate that Syracuse Challenger Baseball will not tolerate bullying in any form.
2. To define bullying and give minor athletes, coaches, volunteers and parents a suitable understanding of those behaviors that constitute ‘bullying’.
3. To make it known to minor athletes, coaches and volunteers that a policy and protocol exist should bullying issues arise.
4. To clearly communicate how to report bullying behavior.
5. To communicate to minor athletes, coaches, volunteers and parents that Syracuse Challenger Baseball takes bullying seriously, and will immediately investigate and address all reports of bullying.

HARASSMENT

Harassment is the repeated pattern of physical and/or non-physical behaviors that

1. Are intended to cause fear, humiliation or annoyance;
2. Offend or degrade;
3. Create a hostile environment;
4. Reflect discriminatory bias in an attempt to establish dominance, superiority or power over an individual athlete or group based on gender, race, ethnicity, culture, religion or mental or physical disability; or
5. Any act or conduct described as harassment under federal or state law.

Examples of harassment prohibited in Syracuse Challenger Baseball Activities include, without limitation:

Physical offenses. Behaviors that include

1. Hitting, pushing, punching, beating, biting, striking, kicking, choking or slapping a minor athlete or participant;
2. Throwing at or hitting a minor athlete with objects including sporting equipment.

Non-physical offenses. Behaviors that include

1. Making negative or disparaging comments about an athlete’s disability, religion, skin color, or ethnic traits;
2. Displaying offensive materials, gestures, or symbols; and
3. Withholding or reducing playing time to an athlete based on his or her disability, religion, skin color, or ethnic traits.

HAZING

Hazing is defined as coercing, requiring, forcing or willfully tolerating any humiliating, unwelcome or dangerous activity that serves as a condition for

1. An athlete joining a group;
2. An athlete being socially accepted by a group’s members; or
3. Any act or conduct described as hazing under federal or state law.

 Hazing does not include group or team activities that are meant to establish normative team behaviors or promote team cohesion.

 Examples of hazing prohibited in Syracuse Challenger Baseball Activities include, without limitation:

1. Requiring, forcing or otherwise requiring an athlete to consume alcohol or illegal drugs;
2. Tying, taping or otherwise physically restraining an athlete;
3. Sexual simulations or sexual acts of any nature;
4. Sleep deprivation, otherwise unnecessary schedule disruption or the withholding of water and/or food;
5. Social actions (e.g. grossly inappropriate or provocative clothing) or public displays (e.g. public nudity) that are illegal or meant to draw ridicule;
6. Beating, paddling or other forms of physical assault; and
7. Excessive training requirements directed at a particular athlete or a group of athletes.

Activities that fit the definition of hazing are considered to be hazing regardless of an athlete’s willingness to cooperate or participate.

WILLFULLY TOLERATING MISCONDUCT

It is a violation of this Code of Conduct if a coach, volunteer or participant knows of misconduct, but takes no action to intervene on behalf of the minor athlete(s).  All forms of misconduct should be reported to a coach, team official, league official, or other designated Syracuse Challenger Baseball representative.

PEER-TO-PEER SEXUAL ABUSE

Approximately 1/3 of all reported sexual abuse occurs at the hands of other children or minors. Coaches and volunteers have an obligation to report peer-to-peer sexual abuse in accord with state mandatory reporting requirements. Whether sexual interaction between athletes constitutes ‘sexual abuse’ depends on the existence of an aggressor and whether there is an imbalance of power between the parties (e.g., an age difference between the athletes, disparity in size or the existence of a physical or intellectual disability). If you have concern that an interaction between minor athletes may constitute sexual abuse, report the interaction to appropriate law enforcement authorities and a coach, team official, league official or other designated Syracuse Challenger Baseball representative.

Peer-to peer sexual abuse risk is highest:

1. Any location that is less easily seen; or
2. Any time minor athletes are unclothed or changing clothes, for any reason.

Due to this risk, coaches and volunteers will be aware of locations and facilities that are less easily seen or supervised.  These locations and facilities vary per team and activity, and can include practice and competition locations, restrooms, changing areas, locker rooms, dorms and hotels.  These areas will be supervised regularly by coaches and volunteers, where possible and appropriate.

For some Syracuse Challenger Baseball Activities, travel is a standard aspect a competitive season, and Syracuse Challenger Baseball provides the following policies to reduce the risk of abuse and misconduct. Adherence to these travel guidelines will increase athlete safety and improve the competitive experience while keeping travel a fun and enjoyable experience.

We distinguish between travel to training, practice and local competition (“local travel”), and team travel involving a coordinated overnight stay (“team travel”).  Although we have not had to travel overnight – we are putting these practices in our policy for future reference.

Local Travel

Local travel occurs when the team does not sponsor, coordinate, or arrange for travel.  For local travel, athletes or their parents/guardians are responsible for making all travel arrangements. In these instances, it is the responsibility of the athlete or their parents/guardians to ensure the person transporting the athlete maintains all safety and legal requirements, including, but not limited to, a valid driver’s license, proper insurance, well maintained vehicle, and compliance with all state laws.

In an effort to minimize one-on-one interactions, a coach or volunteer, who is not also acting as a parent, should not drive alone with an unrelated athlete and should drive with at least two other athletes or another adult at all times. In any case where a coach or volunteer is involved in the athlete’s local travel, a parental release is required in advance. Efforts must be made to ensure that a coach or volunteer is not alone with an athlete or participant, by, e.g., picking up athletes in groups.

A coach or volunteer who is also an athlete’s guardian may provide shared transportation for any athlete(s). We encourage guardians to pick up their athlete first and drop off their athlete last in any shared or carpool travel arrangement. We also recommend completing a shared travel declaration form signed by the parent/guardian of any minor athlete who is being transported as part of such a carpool arrangement.

Team Travel

Team travel is overnight travel that occurs when the team sponsors, coordinates or arranges for travel so that the team can compete locally, regionally, nationally or internationally. Because of the greater distances, coaches, volunteers and chaperones will often travel with athletes. However, no coach or volunteer will engage in team travel without the proper safety requirements in place, including a valid driver’s license, proper insurance, well-maintained vehicle and compliance with all state laws.

Team travel requires adequate supervision through coaches, volunteers and other adult chaperones.

For team travel, a team representative will book hotel accommodations and air travel in advance; the team representative will prioritize the choice of hotel accommodations that have rooms accessed from within the building, as opposed to street access (‘hotel’ vs. ‘motel’ access).

Athletes will share rooms, with 2-4 athletes assigned per room depending on accommodations. A team representative will notify hotel management regarding any special arrangements; for example, a team representative will request the hotel to block pay-per-view channels and will request an additional large room or suite such that athletes may socialize as a group. Team meetings do not occur in hotel rooms (of the coach or an athlete); a team representative will reserve a separate space for adults and athletes to socialize.

To ensure the propriety of athletes and to protect coaches and volunteers, there will be no male athletes in the rooms of female athletes, and no female athletes in the rooms of male athletes (unless the athletes are siblings accompanied by a parent/guardian).  A coach shall not share a hotel room or other sleeping arrangement with an athlete, unless the coach is the parent, guardian, sibling or spouse of that particular athlete.

When visiting public places such as shopping malls, movie theaters, etc., athletes will stay in groups of no less than three persons.  Athletes who are 12 years of age and under will be accompanied by an adult chaperone at all times.

Athletes are expected to remain with the team at all times during the trip. Athletes are not to leave the competition venue, the hotel, a restaurant, or any other place at which the team has gathered, without the knowledge and permission of the coach, volunteer or chaperone.

We encourage family members who wish to stay in the team hotel to do so.  If family members do not stay in the team hotel, we encourage all athletes to call parents and guardians regularly. A team representative will allow unscheduled calls to the athlete by a parent/guardian, if requested by either the athlete or the parent/guardian.

TRAVEL NOTIFICATION

A team representative will provide reasonable advance notice before any team travel. Notice will include the dates, location and duration of competition. Travel notice will also include designated team hotels for overnight stays.  A team representative will designate a contact person for team travel to help with travel details and provide information to parents.

A team representative will post specific travel itineraries when they become available. These will include a more detailed, hour-by-hour itinerary as well as contact information for coaches and team travel chaperones.

COACH AND VOLUNTEER RESPONSIBILITIES

During team travel, coaches and volunteers will help athletes, fellow coaches and volunteers adhere to policy guidelines, including the travel policies and reporting policies.

When not practicing, training, competing, or preparing for competition, coaches and volunteers will monitor the activities of athletes, fellow coaches and volunteers during team travel. Coaches and coaches will:

1. Prepare athletes for team travel and make athletes aware of all expectations. Supplemental information will be given to parents/guardians of athletes who are considered inexperienced travelers, new or relatively new to team travel, or who are under the age of 14;
2. Familiarize themselves with all travel itineraries and schedules before the initiation of team travel;
3. Conform to, and monitor for others’ adherence, the policies of the Code of Conduct and all other team policies during team travel;
4. Encourage minor athletes to participate in regular communication with their parents/guardians;
5. Help athletes be on time for all team commitments (as possible);
6. Assist with team travel logistical needs (as possible);
7. Support chaperones and/or participate in the monitoring of athletes for adherence to curfew restrictions based on age and competition schedule, as listed in travel itinerary;
8. Ensure athletes are complying with hotel room restrictions based on gender or age requirements;
9. Make certain that athletes are not alone in a hotel rooms with any adult apart from a family member, including coaches, volunteers and chaperones;
10. Refrain from using drugs or alcohol in the presence of minors or be under the influence of alcohol or drugs while performing any program or coaching duty;
11. Immediately report any concerns about physical or sexual abuse, misconduct, or policy violations;
12. Notify parents before taking any significant disciplinary action against a minor athlete if the athlete is traveling without his or her parents.

CHAPERONE RESPONSIBILITIES

Chaperones accompany team travel to ensure that the athletes, coaches and volunteers adhere to schedules and guidelines, including the travel policy and all other relevant policies contained in the Code of Conduct.  Each chaperone must undergo a background check screening and follow all Syracuse Challenger Baseball Bylaws, Rules & Policies. (e.g. including Code of Conduct).

All electronic communications between a coach and minor athlete must be professional in nature and for the purpose of communicating information about program activities.

As with any communication, the content of any electronic communication should be readily available to share with the athlete’s family.  At the request of a parent or guardian, any email, electronic text, social media or similar communication will copy or include the athlete’s parents or guardians.

 FACEBOOK, MYSPACE, BLOGS AND SIMILAR SITES

Coaches or volunteers can communicate with minor athletes through sites like Facebook, but all communication needs to be in group form and public (no private communication).  If a Facebook page is used, all coaches and parents must be included.  Coaches may not have athletes join a personal social media page.  All posts, messages, texts, or media of any kind shared among athletes or between coach and athlete must be professional in nature and for the purpose of communicating information about team activities or for team-oriented motivational purposes.

 TWITTER, INSTANT MESSAGING AND SIMILAR MEDIA

All communication is to be public in nature.  Coaches and minor athletes may “follow” each other. Coaches cannot “re-tweet” athlete message posts.  Coaches and volunteers are not permitted to “direct message” minor athletes through Twitter (or similar media). Coaches and volunteers are not permitted to post inappropriate off-color content or comment on inappropriate off-color posts.  If there is doubt, treat the content as inappropriate.

EMAIL AND SIMILAR ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS

Athletes and coaches may use email to communicate if the athlete is at least 14 years of age. All email content between coach and athlete must be professional in nature and for the purpose of communicating information about program activities. Where possible, the minor athlete’s parent should be copied on e-mail communications.  Email communication between coaches and minor athletes is allowed during the hours of 7am and 10pm.

TEXTING AND SIMILAR ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS

Texting is allowed between coaches and a minor athlete if the athlete is at least 14 years of age. Where possible, texts between a coach and an athlete must be a group text – the text should include another athlete, volunteer, a parent, or another coach/assistant. All texts between a coach and an athlete must be professional and for the purpose of communicating information about team activities.  No texting is allowed between a coach and an athlete before 7am or after 10pm, unless there is a specific soccer activity that requires a text communication.

The use of Snapchat (and similar apps) with minor athletes is not permitted.

ELECTRONIC IMAGERY

From time to time, digital photos, videos of practice or competition, and other publicly obtainable images of the minor athlete – individually or in groups – may be taken. These photos and/or videos may be used for athlete instruction (i.e. practice and game films), team videos, team websites, or offered to the athletes’ families.  The use of photos/videos is permissible as long as the athlete or athletes are in public view and such imagery is both appropriate and in the best interest of the athlete and the program. Photo or video imagery must not be contrary to any rules or guidance outlined in this Code of Conduct.

REQUEST TO DISCONTINUE

The parent or guardian of a minor athlete may request in writing that their athlete not be contacted by coaches through any electronic communication; that request must be honored.  Additionally, a parent or guardian of a minor athlete may request in writing that photographs or videography of their athlete not be posted on program or team websites, understanding that group photography or videography may render this impracticable; to the extent this request is practicable, it should be honored.

MISCONDUCT

Social media and electronic communication can be used inappropriately. (e.g., emotional abuse, sexual abuse, bullying, harassment, and hazing). Such communication by coaches, volunteers, officials, administrators, parents or other athletes will not be tolerated.

Electronic communication should not contain or relate to any of the following:

1. Drugs or alcohol use;
2. Sexually oriented conversation, sexually explicit language or sexual activity;
3. An adult’s personal life, social activities, relationship or family issues, or personal problems; and
4. Inappropriate or sexually explicit pictures.

Any communication concerning a minor athlete’s personal life, social activities, relationships, family issues or personal problems must be transparent, accessible and professional.

PARENTAL CONTACT

Parents of minor athletes will be contacted if their athlete becomes ill, injured, or has a severe disciplinary problem while participating in a Syracuse Challenger Baseball Activity.