Tournament Safety and Compliance

USA Fencing is committed to creating a safe and positive environment for athletes’ physical, emotional and social development, and to ensuring that it promotes an environment free of misconduct. It takes a team effort to accomplish this mission. Accordingly, USA Fencing has developed procedures to be implemented at all events to ensure a safe environment for our fencers. This procedural document details athlete safety requirements and a checklist to ensure appropriate steps are taken.

1. Education and Training: All event participants who are part of the event and are staff, volunteers, board members or who have regular contact and/or authority over minor athletes must hold a current SafeSport training certification and have passed the background screen process. These individuals can include event officials such as referees, staff, volunteers, vendors, armorers and sports medicine staff. If an individual does not meet the necessary requirements, they will not be allowed to act in that role. E.g. If a coach is not SafeSport trained, they would not be allowed to coach at the event.

Implementation:

_____ All officials working at the event must be entered into the “Tournament Officials” section of the platform. The USA Fencing Tournament Database at member.usafencing.org is set up to ensure that event officials meet the SafeSport requirements and provides oversight at the NGB level.

_____ Any walk-on official must be entered into the USA Fencing Tournament Database or his/her SS status must be confirmed in the SafeSport member list. (Please Note: Minors do not need to be SafeSport trained).

_____ Coaches that are coaching at the event must have a Coach credential that verifies SafeSport status. To be SafeSport compliant, a Coach member that is coaching must have a current NCSI background screen (valid for 2 years) and have completed the required online SafeSport training (annually).

2. Communication and Reporting: Prior to each event, there must be communication for all event participants, officials, and board members that includes information regarding the MAAPP, that is being followed at the event, and protocol for reporting all types of violations. As a reminder, the Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policy (MAAPP) and the USA Fencing Codes of Conduct are in effect and will be fully enforced at the tournament. Concerns regarding sexual misconduct, emotional misconduct, physical misconduct and violations of the MAAPP must be reported to USA Fencing or directly to the US Center for SafeSport. Any violations should be reported to the SafeSport contact at this event or online on the USA Fencing website or the U.S. Center for SafeSport website.

Implementation:

_____ Each sanctioned event has a webpage in the USA Fencing Tournament Database. This webpage contains information pertinent to the event so it is accessed frequently for those attending.

_____ The messaging on the webpage related to the MAAPP and reporting reads as follows:

USA Fencing events follow the SafeSport Code and Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policies, as approved by the U.S. Center for SafeSport. Please carefully read through these policies prior to your attendance at the event.

Additionally, USA Fencing events follow the codes of conduct set by USA Fencing. Please carefully read the codes of conduct; all event participants and spectators are required to abide by these codes of conduct.

Following are links to USA Fencing Reporting forms as these are the means for members to report MAAPP, SafeSport Policy or Code of Conduct violations (US Center for SafeSport Reporting Form and USA Fencing Misconduct and Policy Violation Reporting Form). Reports of sexual misconduct must be reported directly to the U.S. Center for SafeSport.

_____ Each event must display the following SafeSport Reporting Mechanism Poster

which identifies the onsite SafeSport contact and methods for reporting concerns.

_____ Each event must display the following MAAPP Poster which notifies all

Participants at the event that MAAPP is in place and enforceable at the event.

3. Banned/ Suspended: Event organizers will be required to ensure event participants are not currently listed as suspended or banned from USA Fencing.

Implementation:

_____ The USA Fencing Membership Database, which tracks event participants eligibility. Any sanctioned USA Fencing tournament will utilize a registration platform that checks participant eligibility and will prevent any banned or suspended individual from registering for the event as he or she will not have a current membership, which is required to register.

_____ Coaches need credentials to coach at the event and cannot get a credential without a current USA Fencing coach’s membership, current SafeSport training, and background screen.

_____ The USA Fencing Banned/Suspended list can be accessed at any point for additional verification by tournament staff.

_____ Individuals involved in reports that have been placed on a Jurisdictional Hold by the U.S. Center must contact the National Office to renew their USA Fencing membership. Specifically, his/her email is removed from the membership database so he/she is unable to log in and therefore must contact the National Office to renew.

_____ Walk-on officials or Day-of participants will be added to the USA Fencing Tournament Database. This system prevents any banned or suspended individual from registering for the event as he or she will not have a current membership, which is required to register.

4. MAAPP Risk Assessment: Event organizers should proactively complete a risk assessment related to MAAPP criteria and take steps to eliminate vulnerabilities.

Implementation:

_____ Items from the MAAPP Microsite provided to the Event Organizer for review and to

download and post in the venue, including:

• MAAPP Event Signage-Locker Rooms
• MAAPP Event Signage-Poster

_____ Printable posters are provided on our Resources page to the Event Organizer for review

and to download and post in the venue, including:

• How to Report
• One-on-One Interactions
• Locker Room Policies
• Recognizing Signs of Abuse
• Spectator Code of Conduct
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Notice

_____ It is suggested that Event staff do periodic walk-throughs around the perimeter of the venue, including in all restrooms and locker rooms.

MESSAGING

Script for Walk-on or Day of Event Participants

- This USA Fencing event follows the SafeSport Code and Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policies, as approved by the U.S. Center for SafeSport. Please carefully read through these policies prior to working at this event. (Direct them to the QR code that links to the MAAPP).

- Additionally, this USA Fencing event follows the codes of conduct set by USA Fencing. Please carefully read the codes of conduct for spectators, coaches and members as you will be expected to abide by these codes of conduct.

- As a reminder, the Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policy (MAAPP) and the USA Fencing Codes of Conduct are in effect and will be fully enforced at the tournament. Concerns regarding sexual misconduct, emotional misconduct, physical misconduct and violations of the MAAPP must be reported to USA Fencing or directly to the US Center for SafeSport.

- Any violations should be reported to the SafeSport contact at this event or online on the USA Fencing website or the U.S. Center for SafeSport website.

Regional tournaments are required to post applicable signage at their tournaments for the duration of competition. 

• MAAPP Locker Room Signage
• MAAPP One-on-One Interactions Signage 
• How to Report Poster
• Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policy Poster 

File a Report

Banned/Suspended List 

Quality Controls System (Athlete Safety Requirements)

Mandatory Reporting Guide 

SafeSport and Background Checks List 

Minor Officials Medical Treatment Authorization and Consent Form

Minor Officials Travel Authorization Form