West Hartford Soccer upholds the highest standards for participant safety by ensuring all adults engaged in West Hartford Youth Soccer's registered and affiliated programs comply with the most rigorous standards for background checks and abuse training.

We do this not just because it's the law, but because it's the right thing to do. Abuse prevention is now an integral part of our roles as youth soccer administrators, coaches, referees, volunteers and parents.

We understand these new requirements will necessitate additional steps for all involved, but our kids are worth the effort. Abuse in youth sports is more prevalent than most of us think - and it can happen in any town. We all need to "go the extra mile" to ensure our kids can enjoy the game in a healthy and non-threatening environment.

Therefore, every adult who may have the opportunity to have direct and monitored access to children must complete:

• A comprehensive background check and screening process; and
• A certified abuse prevention training course and an annual refresher course.

• Every adult (over the age of 18 years old) involved with West Hartford Youth Soccer or West Hartford Girls Soccer League (WHYSA & WHGSL) in any capacity, is required to complete SafeSport. This is an online mini-course for all Coaches, assistant coaches, team manager, adult referees, club players and club Board of Directors.
• For NEW certifications the course includes three 30 min topics / video training. Sexual Misconduct Awareness, Mandatory Reporting & Emotional & Physical Misconduct.  For returning coaches you need to take a 30 minute refresher course..
• SafeSports certification requirement is being done - across the board with all levels of soccer.  And it will soon be required for all youth sports.  EVERYONE is required to have this certification.  This includes teachers or HS coaches etc.  There are no exception.
  
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• IMPORTANT: In order for the process to be successful, legal name and email address must match on both ends.   Meaning: SafeSport email address and legal name must match the email address and legal name you use in our website (Blue Sombrero).  Ex: Frank and Franklin, different in both websites will not transfer successfully.  if you legal name is Franklin, then use Franklin on both sides.
  

 
Quick Guide: How to complete a SafeSport certification

All West Hartford recreation league coaches (per WH Leisure Services and the WHASC) are also required to take and submit a completed
https://www.cdc.gov/headsup/youthsports/training/index.html

https://www.train.org/cdctrain/course/1089818/

Club registrars:
WHYSA Boys / Co-ed RECREATIONAL registrar: [email protected]
WHYSA Boys Travel Registrar: [email protected]

WHGSL Girls RECREATIONAL registrar: [email protected]
WHGSL Girls travel registrar: [email protected]

Consistent with new laws and our renewed focus on fighting child abuse, West Hartford Soccer is committed to an expanded background check and screening process. Our new policy requires every adult associated with all organizations who may have the opportunity to have direct and unmonitored access to children to have background screening.

West Harford Youth Soccer will also screen against all necessary external databases, disqualification lists and disciplinary records.

The following individuals are required to register:

• Coaches (all types)
• Team Managers, including designated team parents assigned team management responsibilities
• Board members (Officers, Directors, Administrators, Committee Chairs, Appointees, etc.)
• Adult Referees
• Trainers (Permanent or Temporary)
• Volunteers
• Organization Employees
• Concession Workers
• Tournament Organizers, Employees, Volunteers
• Any other person age 18 or older who may have the opportunity to have direct and unmonitored access to children.