NFL Flag Football and Charm City Athletics are committed to providing a safe environment for every youth athlete. All staff and volunteers are required to understand and uphold this policy.
Background checks are required for all paid and volunteer staff with access to youth. Any background check indicating a potential staff member is unfit to work with youth results in immediate disqualification.
- All prospective staff complete a written application including questions about prior convictions for crimes involving physical violence or sex offenses, and consent to a background check.
- Disqualification criteria are determined in advance.
- Procedures are in place to protect the confidentiality of records.
- All processes comply with applicable state and federal laws.
Grooming is the process by which sexual predators gradually gain the trust of and condition minors, parents, and administrators to pave the way for abuse. Recognizing these steps is the first line of defense.
- Identify a vulnerable child whose needs are not being met — lack of parental attention, spending money, etc.
- Fill the child's unmet needs by providing attention, transportation, homework help, gifts, or money to create a "special bond."
- Gain the trust of the family by spending a disproportionate amount of time with them.
- Isolate the victim to create one-on-one opportunities.
- Gradually introduce boundary violations — inappropriate communications, photo sharing, tickling, wrestling, alcohol, drugs, or pornography — escalating toward nudity and sexual activity.
- Maintain control and silence through threats, fear, and shame.
The following categories of misconduct are strictly prohibited and must be reported immediately. All paid and volunteer staff are required to know and uphold these standards.
- Genital contact, clothed or unclothed
- Fondling of breast or buttocks
- Sexual penetration or assault
- Exchanging rewards for sexual favors
- Lingering or repeated inappropriate embrace
- Tickling, wrestling, or massage
- Continued contact that makes a participant uncomfortable
- Sexually oriented comments, jokes, or innuendo
- Discussing personal sex life with a participant
- Asking about a participant's sex life
- Requesting or sending nude or partial-dress photos
- Exposing participants to pornographic material
- Voyeurism or sexting with a participant
- Punching, beating, biting, striking, choking, or slapping
- Intentionally hitting with objects or equipment
- Providing alcohol to anyone under legal drinking age
- Providing illegal drugs or non-prescribed medications
- Allowing return to play after injury without medical clearance
- Dieting or weight control for humiliation purposes
- Isolating a participant in a confined space
- Withholding hydration, nutrition, or sleep
- Verbally attacking a participant personally (calling them worthless, fat, disgusting, etc.)
- Throwing or hitting objects in an aggressive manner
- Ignoring or excluding a participant for extended periods
- Intentional, persistent, or repeated physical, non-physical, or cyber bullying
- Behaviors intended to cause fear, humiliation, or physical harm
- Socially excluding, diminishing, or isolating another person
- Staff failure to intervene when aware of bullying — also a violation
- Any contact that is intimidating, humiliating, offensive, or physically harmful
- Activities used as conditions for joining a team or being socially accepted by teammates
- Two-deep leadership required: Two adults must be present at all times so a minor cannot be isolated with a single unrelated adult, except in emergencies.
- Electronic communications between staff and minor participants must be limited strictly to legitimate organizational activities.
- Overnight travel: Adults may not share a room with an unrelated minor participant. Participants must be grouped by same sex and age with an appropriate same-sex chaperone.
- Drop-off and pick-up of athletes by staff is strongly discouraged due to the difficulty of limiting one-on-one contact.
- Any form of grooming behavior is prohibited.
Federal or state law may require any adult staff member who suspects child sexual or physical abuse to report that suspicion directly to law enforcement within 24 hours. Failure to report may be a punishable criminal offense.
In addition, the staff member must also report the suspicion to the appropriate CCA organization official within 24 hours. That official must also independently report to law enforcement if there is suspicion of child sexual or physical abuse.
- Allow law enforcement to handle the investigation without interference.
- The suspected staff member must be immediately suspended or reassigned to duties without youth access, pending the outcome of the investigation.
- Organization officials must not comment on the allegation or investigation until it has been concluded.
- Staff members should report prohibited misconduct other than child sexual and physical abuse to the appropriate CCA organization official.
- CCA will investigate and determine appropriate sanctions.
Reach out and we'll be happy to help.
chris@charmcityathletics.com
If you suspect abuse, contact law enforcement immediately.
