USA Hockey’s Safe Sport Program

The safety of its participants is of paramount importance to USA Hockey.  This includes not only on-ice safety, but also off-ice safety in any part of USA Hockey’s programs.  
 

USA Hockey has long had systems in place to protect its participants from physical abuse, sexual abuse and other types of abuse and misconduct that can be harmful to youth hockey players.  These include Physical Abuse, Sexual Abuse, Screening, Locker Room Supervision and Hazing Policies, in addition to Codes of Conduct applicable to administrators, coaches, officials, parents, players and spectators.  USA Hockey’s Safe Sport Program has updated and collected all USA Hockey’s various policies into its Safe Sport Handbook to protect its youth participants from all types of misconduct and abuse.  
 

In addition to USA Hockey’s Zero Tolerance Policy regarding abuse of officials and inappropriate spectator behavior described above, USA Hockey has also adopted a zero tolerance policy towards player abuse, misconduct, and bullying.  As such, the Safe Sport Program has compiled various Policies that apply to all USA Hockey Member Programs’ conduct.  These Policies address:

• • Sexual Abuse
  • Physical Abuse
  • Emotional Abuse
  • Bullying, Threats and Harassment
  • Hazing  

These Policies also address areas where misconduct can occur and are intended to reduce the risk of potential abuse, including:

• • Locker Room Policy
  • Social Media, Mobile and Electronic Communications Policy
  • Travel Policy
  • Billeting Policy

In addition to these Policies, the Safe Sport Handbook includes the available and required Training of USA Hockey’s and its Member Programs’ employees, volunteers, administrators, coaches, parents and players on recognizing and reducing circumstances for potential abuse to occur; information on USA Hockey’s Screening and Background Check Program; the availability and procedures for any person to Report suspected abuse or misconduct (including protections from any retaliation or repercussions for such reporting); the procedures and means by which USA Hockey and its Member Programs should Respond to allegations of abuse and misconduct; and how USA Hockey and its Member Programs will Monitor and Supervise the Safe Sport Program to help ensure its effectiveness. 
 

By combining all of these elements into a comprehensive Safe Sport Program, USA Hockey intends to create the safest possible environment for participation in hockey.  As a member program of USA Hockey, the Lawrence Hockey Association (LHA) has adopted USA Hockey’s Safe Sport Program and has identified a Safe Sport Coordinator, who shall be responsible for collecting and addressing any complaints regarding bullying, harassment or any form of abuse within the organization.  Please refer to LHA’s Anti-Bullying Policy below and the LHA Contacts tab on this website for the name and contact information of LHA’s designated Safe Sport Coordinator.