APPENDIX B - U . S . ALL STAR FEDERATION SAFESPORT CODE
BULLYING , THREATS & HARASSMENT POLICY
The U . S . All Star Federation supports an environment that is free from threats , harassment , and any type of bullying behavior . The purpose of this Policy is to promote consistency of approach and to help create a climate in which all types of bullying , harassing or threatening behavior are regarded as unacceptable .
Bullying Bullying is the use of coercion to obtain control over another person or to be habitually cruel to another person . Bullying involves an intentional , persistent or repeated pattern of committing or willfully tolerating physical and non-physical behaviors that are intended to cause fear , humiliation , or physical harm in an attempt to socially exclude , diminish , or isolate another person . Bullying can occur through written , verbal or electronically transmitted expression or by means of a physical act or gesture . Bullying behavior is prohibited in any manner in connection with any U . S . All Star Federation sanctioned activities or events .
Examples of bullying prohibited by this Policy include , without limitation : physical behaviors , including punching , kicking or choking ; and verbal and emotional behaviors , including , the use of electronic communications ( i . e . , “ cyber bullying ”), to harass , frighten , degrade , intimidate or humiliate .
Bullying does not include group or team behaviors that are reasonably designed to establish normative team behaviors or promote team cohesion .
Threats A threat to harm others is defined as any written , verbal , physical or electronically transmitted expression of intent to physically injure or harm someone else . A threat may be communicated directly to the intended victim or communicated to a third party . Threatening behavior is prohibited in any manner in connection with any U . S . All Star Federation sanctioned activities or events .
Any U . S . All Star Federation participant or parent of a participant who engages in any act of threatening or harassing behavior is subject to appropriate disciplinary action including but not limited to suspension , permanent suspension , and / or referral to law enforcement authorities . The severity and pattern , if any , of the threatening behavior and / or result shall be taken into consideration when disciplinary decisions are made .
Harassment Harassment includes any pattern of physical and / or nonphysical behaviors that : a . are intended to cause fear , humiliation , or annoyance ; b . offend or degrade ; c . create a hostile environment ; or d . reflect discriminatory bias in an attempt to establish dominance , superiority , or power over an individual participant or group based on gender , race , ethnicity , culture , religion , sexual orientation , gender expression , mental disability or physical disability .
Examples of harassment prohibited by this Policy include , without limitation such non-physical offenses as : a . making negative or disparaging comments about a participant ’ s gender , sexual orientation , gender expression , mental or physical disability , race , religion , skin color , ethnic traits or other legally protected grounds ; b . displaying offensive materials , gestures , or symbols ; and c . withholding or reducing practice or playing time to a participant based on his / her sexual orientation , gender expression ( not to include prohibitions on participation when eligibility is based on gender ), disability , religion , skin color , ethnic traits or any legally protected grounds .
Sexual harassment is a type of harassment covered under the USCSS Policies & Procedures .
While other team members are often the perpetrators of harassment , it is a violation of this policy if a coach or other responsible adult knows or should know of the harassment but takes no action to intervene on behalf of the targeted participant ( s ).
A U . S . All Star Federation participant or parent of a participant who engages in any act of harassing behavior is subject to appropriate disciplinary action , including but not limited to , suspension , permanent suspension , and / or referral to law enforcement authorities . The severity and pattern , if any , of the harassing behavior and / or result shall be taken into consideration when disciplinary decisions are made .
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