Pasadena Rugby Football Club Youth/Junior
Child Protection Program

Purpose 

The safety and well-being of all participants in the Youth/Juniors Program is paramount. Pasadena Rugby Football Club promotes a program where young people grow up happy, healthy, and, above all, safe. We do not tolerate any type of abuse against a minor, including, but not limited to, sexual, physical, mental, and emotional (as well as any type of bullying, hazing, or harassment). Pasadena Rugby Football Club is committed to creating a safe and supportive environment with a goal to prevent child abuse from occurring through required background checks, training and education, and mandated reporting of abuse.

The Youth/Juniors Program establishes a zero-tolerance culture that does not allow any type of activity that promotes or allows any form of misconduct or abuse (mental, physical, emotional, or sexual) between players, coaches, parents/guardians/caretakers, spectators, volunteers, and/or any other individual. We have the right to remove any individual who is exhibiting any type of mental, physical, emotional, or sexual misconduct and report the individual to the authorities immediately.

Program Requirements

1. Background Checks

All volunteers (admins, coaches, team managers, referees, parent volunteers) who spend time with children MUST have a one-time background check requiring live scan fingerprinting, in accordance with California Law AB 506. In addition, USA Rugby requires online background checks sanctioned and/or overseen by USA Rugby. More information on USA Rugby Background Screening. 

2. Training and Education

   • Volunteer Training: All admins, coaches, team managers, referees, and parent volunteers who spend time with children must complete SafeSport Code training to recognize and prevent harassment, physical and sexual abuse, and the procedures for reporting it.

Pasadena Rugby Football Club Youth Executive Committee is responsible for ensuring all volunteers have completed the training. Upon completion of the training, volunteers should print out a copy of the certification of completion for their records and provide a copy to the Pasadena Rugby Football Club Youth Executive Committee.  Pasadena Rugby Football Club Youth Executive Committee will also have access to a list of those who have completed the SafeSport Training through Rugby Explorer. The training must be completed before the start of practice of each year to be considered valid for the upcoming season.

3. Reporting

• Mandatory reporting requirements related to Child Abuse (including Child Sexual Abuse and Sexual Misconduct)

  1. All admins, coaches, team managers, referees, parent volunteers, and parents and/or caregivers who learn of information or reasonably suspect that a child has suffered an incident of child abuse, including sexual abuse, must immediately:

     • Make a report to local law enforcement; AND 

     • Make a report to the U.S. Center for SafeSport; AND 

     • Comply with any other applicable reporting requirements under California Law.

  2. Incident(s) of Sexual Misconduct must be reported directly to the U.S. Center for SafeSport immediately, but no later than 24 hours.

  3. Reports must be made to both the U.S. Center for SafeSport and to local law enforcement and comply with any other applicable state or federal laws. 

  4. Child Abuse includes incidents that involve a victim who is a minor at the time of the alleged incident, even if the victim is now an Adult.  

  5. Pasadena Rugby Football Club officials should not attempt to investigate suspected abuse. Let law enforcement and child services professionals conduct the investigation.

• Emotional and Physical Misconduct and Proactive Policies 

  1. All admins, coaches, team managers, referees, parent volunteers, and parents and/or caregivers who learn of information or reasonably suspect that an incident(s) of Emotional or Physical Misconduct prohibited under the SafeSport Code (examples not limited to bullying behavior, verbal taunting, punching, beating, slapping) has occurred must report it to the SCYR Director of Discipline and/or the U.S. Center for SafeSport.   

  2. All admins, coaches, team managers, referees, parent volunteers, and parents and/or caregivers who learn of information or reasonably suspect a violation of the Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policies or other proactive policies must report it to the SCYR Director of Discipline and/or the U.S. Center for SafeSport.   

• Confidentiality of Reporters: Unless necessary to the investigation or resolution of a matter, the reporting party’s identity will not be disclosed. When such disclosure is necessary, the reporter will be contacted, if possible. 

• Non-Retaliation for Reporting

All individuals who make a good-faith report of suspected abuse will not be retaliated against, even if the allegation is later determined to be unsubstantiated. Reporters of abuse cannot be afraid to come forward in cases where he/she either has firsthand knowledge of or a good faith belief that abuse has occurred, even if there is a possibility that the report is wrong. We encourage all individuals to be vigilant and observant regarding the safety and protection of the children in the Youth/Juniors Program.

4. Additional Measures

• Suspension: If a volunteer (admins, coaches, team managers, referees, parent volunteers) is suspected of child abuse (including child sexual abuse and sexual misconduct), emotional, and physical misconduct, they will be suspended from their duties pending the outcome of the investigation. If a parent is suspected, they and their child will be suspended from all club activities pending the outcome of the investigation.

• Dismissal:

  1. Anyone that is reported and then determined by the local law enforcement to be guilty of abusive behavior will be banned from participating in or attending any Pasadena Rugby Football Club events, indefinitely.

  2. If someone is reported for inappropriate behavior, regardless of whether it is abusive, the Pasadena Rugby Football Club reserves the right to ban them from participating in or attending any Pasadena Rugby Football Club events, indefinitely.

5. Policy Review: This policy will be reviewed and updated as necessary to reflect the latest best practices in child protection.