Q: I’ve been told I violated the Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policies. What are these rules?
A: The Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policies (MAAPP) are mandatory SafeSport policies that apply to all adults interacting with minor athletes in Olympic and Paralympic sport. Violations can result in sanctions even when no abuse actually occurred.
What MAAPP Requires
MAAPP establishes strict rules governing adult-minor interactions in sport, including one-on-one interaction policies (in-person meetings, electronic communications, and travel), social media and electronic communications restrictions, physical contact rules, and transportation and lodging requirements.
Common MAAPP Violations
Many MAAPP violations involve coaches or trainers who had no bad intent but failed to follow technical requirements. Examples include sending a private text or social media message to a minor athlete without copying a parent, being alone with a minor athlete without another adult present, providing individual transportation to a minor athlete, and sharing lodging with a minor athlete during travel.
The Stakes
A MAAPP violation can result in a SafeSport investigation and sanctions, even if the underlying conduct was completely innocent. MAAPP is a preventive framework — the policies exist to prevent situations where abuse could occur, not just situations where abuse did occur.
Defending MAAPP Violations
An experienced SafeSport attorney can help distinguish between technical violations and substantive misconduct, present mitigating circumstances, and advocate for proportionate outcomes.
Related Practice Areas
SafeSport Defense | The Chetson Firm
This post is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Contact The Chetson Firm at (919) 352-9411 for a confidential consultation.