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Player Safeguarding
Commitment to Athlete Safety and Prevention of Abuse
Charlotte Soccer Academy (CSA) is committed to maintaining a safe, secure, and respectful environment in which all players may participate in soccer free from abuse, harassment, exploitation, intimidation, and other forms of misconduct. CSA maintains a zero-tolerance policy for abuse and abusive conduct in connection with all age groups, programs, teams, training sessions, competitions, events, travel, and other club-related activities.
The protection and well-being of CSA athletes is a shared responsibility. All coaches, staff members, volunteers, parents, guardians, players, and other individuals participating in or affiliated with CSA are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that promotes athlete safety and complies with applicable laws, regulations, club policies, and established safeguarding standards.
CSA is committed to preventing abuse through education, awareness, appropriate supervision, risk-management practices, and the implementation of recognized safeguarding and prevention strategies. Individuals involved with CSA are expected to remain alert to conduct, circumstances, or interactions that may place an athlete at risk or otherwise raise concerns regarding the safety or well-being of a player.
Any individual who observes, receives information concerning, or has reasonable cause to suspect abuse, inappropriate conduct, or other behavior that may jeopardize the safety or welfare of an athlete is expected to report the concern promptly through the appropriate reporting channels and, where required by applicable law, to the appropriate governmental or law-enforcement authority.
CSA will review and respond to reported concerns in accordance with applicable law and established club policies and procedures. Retaliation against any individual who, in good faith, reports a concern or participates in a related review or investigation is prohibited.
Through these standards, CSA seeks to establish a culture of accountability, vigilance, and respect and to ensure that the safety and well-being of every athlete remain a fundamental priority in all aspects of the club’s activities.
Prevention and Education
Charlotte Soccer Academy (CSA) has implemented comprehensive policies and procedures designed to promote athlete safety and reduce the risk of inappropriate conduct or interactions within the environments in which our athletes participate.
CSA’s Athlete and Participant Safety Policies establish standards and safeguards addressing a number of areas in which coaches, staff, volunteers, parents, guardians, and athletes can help prevent inappropriate interactions and promote a safe and professional environment. These policies include, but are not limited to:
- Reporting Requirements
- One-on-One Interactions and Meetings
- Social Media and Electronic Communications
- Team Travel
- Massages and Rubdowns
- Locker Rooms, Restrooms, and Changing Areas
All Charlotte Soccer Academy (CSA) coaches and team managers are required to complete the SafeSport Trained Core Course, which provides education and training in key areas of athlete protection, including sexual misconduct awareness, mandatory reporting obligations, and the prevention of physical and emotional misconduct.
To ensure that coaches and team managers remain informed of current standards and best practices, required personnel must complete the applicable SafeSport Refresher Course annually. This ongoing education is intended to reinforce CSA’s commitment to preventing misconduct, recognizing potential concerns, fulfilling reporting obligations, and maintaining a safe, positive, and supportive environment for all athletes.
SafeSport also provides educational resources, courses, and toolkits for parents, guardians, and athletes. These resources are designed to help members of the soccer community understand their role in creating a welcoming and respectful sporting environment, recognize inappropriate or potentially harmful conduct, and understand how to take appropriate action to protect athletes.
Free Parent Toolkit
Reporting
In accordance with Charlotte Soccer Academy’s (CSA) zero-tolerance policy for abuse, CSA is committed to fostering a culture of transparency, communication, and accountability regarding any conduct or circumstances that may place an athlete or member of the CSA community at risk.
All coaches, staff members, volunteers, parents, guardians, players, and other members of the CSA community are expected to promptly report suspected abuse, sexual misconduct, inappropriate conduct, or other behavior that may compromise the safety or well-being of an athlete through CSA’s designated Abuse Report Form or other appropriate reporting channels.
All reports of suspected abuse, misconduct, or inappropriate behavior will be reviewed in accordance with CSA’s established policies and procedures. Where appropriate, reports may be referred to the applicable authorities, governing organizations, or other entities with jurisdiction to investigate and address the matter. CSA will take appropriate action consistent with applicable federal, state, and local law, as well as applicable SafeSport requirements and organizational policies.
Any suspected child abuse or child sexual abuse must be reported to the appropriate law enforcement agency or Child Protective Services (“CPS”) as required by applicable law. Individuals should not delay making a report while attempting to determine whether conduct meets a particular legal or policy definition of abuse.
When there is uncertainty as to whether conduct or circumstances warrant a report, individuals are strongly encouraged to report the concern. Reporting a concern allows the appropriate individuals or authorities to evaluate the circumstances and determine the appropriate course of action.
Reports may be addressed at the appropriate level depending on the nature and circumstances of the concern. While some reports may be referred to the applicable soccer program or CSA personnel for review and follow-up, other matters may require referral to or involvement from local law enforcement, Child Protective Services, the U.S. Center for SafeSport, or applicable soccer governing bodies.
CSA is committed to ensuring that concerns are taken seriously, appropriately evaluated, and addressed in a manner consistent with athlete safety, applicable reporting obligations, and established safeguarding standards.
To file a report please use the Child Misconduct Form or email information to safeguarding@charlottesocceracademy.com
