player Health and SAfety

The U.S. Center for SafeSport is an independent nonprofit committed to building a sport community where participants can work and learn together free of emotional, physical and sexual abuse and misconduct. 

The US Center for SafeSport provides training resources, help and best practices for coaches, parents, athletes, youth and amateur sports organizations to create a safe playing environment for youth athletes.

The Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse and Safe Sport Authorization Act of 2017 codified the U.S. Center for SafeSport, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, as the nation’s safe sport organization. It gave us the scope and authority to resolve abuse and misconduct reports for more than 11 million individuals throughout the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Movement—from whom we are fully independent.

The Act also charged the U.S. Center for SafeSport with developing and enforcing policies, procedures, and training to prevent abuse and misconduct. The Center’s SafeSport Code governs all participants in the Movement, and their oversight authority helps  ensure all Olympic & Paralympic national governing bodies (NGBs) adhere to Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policies (MAAPP) that support athlete safety.

The Morris United Soccer Club maintains specific policies to address the expected behaviors, of parents, players, volunteers and coaches to maintain a safe playing environment for our athletes which is free from abuse and misconduct. 

Morris United set these policies under the guidance of NJ Youth Soccer and the U.S. Center for SafeSport, and to meet the requirements set forth by Public Law 115-126 Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse and Safe Sport Authorization Act (the "SafeSport Act").     

The Morris United Soccer Club has zero-tolerance for abuse and misconduct.  All participants in the soccer community must play an active role in creating an environment safe from emotional, physical, or sexual abuse.  In  that regard the below policies are set forth to help all participants detect and report abuse, respond to abuse and to prevent abuse.  

Morris United "SafeSport" policies include:

• Policy X:  Policy to Prevent, Recognize and Respond to Misconduct in Youth Sport
• Policy XI:  Policy on Adult Supervision of Youth Participants
• Policy XII:  SafeSport Training Policy
• Policy XIII:  Social Media and Electronic Communications Policy
• Policy XIV:  Participant Travel Policy
• Policy XV:  Background Check Policy
• Policy XVI:  Locker Room and Changing Area Policy

IF YOU SUSPECT CHILD ABUSE OR NEGLECT REPORT IT TO YOUR LOCAL AUTHORITIES, IN ADDITION TO (AND BEFORE) REPORTING IT TO THE MORRIS UNITED SOCCER CLUB, THE NJ YOUTH SOCCER ASSOCIATION, US SOCCER AND/OR THE U.S. CENTER FOR SAFESPORT. 

Mandatory Reporting Requirement

The Safe Sport Authorization Act of 2017 makes it a mandatory obligation for covered individuals (e.g. coaches, administrators, and officers of the Morris United Soccer Club) who become aware of information that gives reason to suspect a child has suffered an incident of child abuse.  

Child abuse includes physical or mental injury, sexual abuse or exploitation, or negligent treatment of a child. Sexual Abuse is defined to include the employment, use, persuasion, inducement, enticement, or coercion of a child to engage in, or assist another person to engage in, sexually explicit conduct or the rape, molestation, prostitution, or other form of sexual exploitation of children or incest with children. Mental Injury means harm to a child's psychological or intellectual functioning which may be exhibited by severe anxiety, depression, withdrawal or outward aggressive behavior, or a combination of those behaviors, which may be demonstrated by a change in behavior, emotional response or cognition. 

In the event that the reporting obligation is triggered, a report must be made, within 24 hours, to appropriate law enforcement authorities, as governed by applicable federal and NJ state law.  

The following resources are available to assist with reporting.

1) Local Law Enforcement

i. If the child is in immediate danger reports should be made to 911, or

ii. Morris Township Police Department: (973) 539-0777, or 

iii. Morristown Police Department: (973) 292-6614, or 

iv. Morris Plains Police Department: (973) 538-2284, or

2) State of New Jersey Department of Children and Families (DCF)

3) NJ State Central Registry (SCR): (877) 652-2873

4) NJ Mandatory Reporting Guidelines: https://www.nj.gov/dcf/reporting/how/index.html

1) Any executive officer of the Morris United Soccer Club may be contacted regarding a report of child abuse, but it is preferred that initial reports to MUSC be made to the President. 

2) Reports should be supported by completing a MUSC misconduct report. 

3) Individuals who are not comfortable making a report to the Morris United Soccer Club may make a direct report to the NJ Youth Soccer Association. 

1) Email to: communications@njyouthsoccer.com, or

2) Online report at: https://playershealthprotect.com/50370437-9ea8-4fca-b9e4-53a6ee8a392b

3) Individuals who are not comfortable making a report to the NJ Youth Soccer Association may make a direct report to the US Soccer Federation at: https://www.ussoccer.com/report-a-concern. 

4) Individuals who are not comfortable making a report to the US Soccer Federation may make a direct report the U.S Center for Safeport at: https://uscenterforsafesport.org/ngb-services/

Policy 18.02 "Lightning Safety" covers Morris United Soccer Club's polices on adverse weather conditions which include the possible presence of lightning.  The focus of the policy is to keep participants safe.

In summary:

• Morris United programs may not continue when even the threat of lightning is present. 
• Lightning is considered present when it can be observed, thunder can be heard, or a lightning sensor has indicated the presence of lightning. 
• Once lightning is considered to be present, all Morris United activities must cease and participants are to seek shelter immediately. 
• Play may only resume 30 minutes after the last lightning is observed, the last thunder is heard, or a lightning sensor has provided the all clear. 

Extreme heat can impact players' health and safe play. Proper hydration and knowing when you need to drink are critical, to help prevent many injuries and illnesses, from muscle cramps to heat stroke. Players should drink water before, during and after a game or practice, which means coaches should make sure there is adequate water available. 

U.S. Soccer’s Recognize to Recover program gives players, parents, coaches and referees information and guidelines to make sure the desire to play does not cloud the decision-making process when it comes to evaluating environmental conditions to ensure the safety of those on the field.

Please refer to US Soccer's Heat Guidelines for details. 

Injury prevention is central to safe play. U.S. Soccer’s "Recognize to Recover" program provides resources and guidance to help players fight off injury so they can stay on the field. Not all injuries can be avoided, but the severity and probability of injury can be reduced through proper conditioning, training routines and good sportsmanship, making the game of soccer safer for all who participate.

Please refer to the U.S. Soccer "Recognize to Recover" program to learn more.