Safe Sport Act - Protecting Young Victims from Abuse

Any form of child abuse is contemptible and goes against the mission of the Babe Ruth League program.  The safety, well-being and protection of our participants is paramount to Babe Ruth League, Inc.  For over a decade Babe Ruth League has had several programs in place to encourage safe interaction between volunteers and youth, as well to create a safe, educational and enjoyable environment for all.  These include mandatory Coaches Education and Certification, Risk Management disclosures, and mandatory background screening (including a check of the applicable government sex offender registry) on all managers, coaches, board members, as well as any other persons/volunteers, who provide regular service to the league, and/or have repetitive access to, or contact with, players or teams. 

Babe Ruth League calls to your attention the  Safe Sport Authorization Act of 2017, which is now federal legislation signed into law effective February 14, 2018.  Babe Ruth League, Inc. will continue to implement rule changes and other initiatives to abide by the policies and procedures of this law.

U.S. Federal Law
The Safe Sport Act creates a new standard of care that affects all youth-serving organizations around the country, not just Babe Ruth League, Inc. or just the sports of youth baseball and softball.  This law mandates that all amateur sports organizations, which participate in an interstate or international amateur athletic competition and whose membership includes any adult who is in regular contact with an amateur athlete who is a minor, must report suspected child abuse, including sexual abuse, within 24 hours to law enforcement. According to federal law:

• Child abuse is defined as physical or mental injury, sexual abuse or exploitation, or negligent treatment of a child. 
• What about Babe Ruth leagues that don’t compete against international or out-of-state teams, does the Safe Sport Authorization Act still apply to them?  It does.  The law is written broadly, but since you have adults working with youth and the requirement says that they need to follow the Safe Sport Act requirements, all adult Babe Ruth volunteers that are in repetitive contact with minor athletes will need to be in compliance. 
• As such, all adult Babe Ruth League volunteers MUST comply with Babe Ruth League mandates – Coaches Certification and Background Screening - as well as comply with the Safe Sport Act requirements - Abuse Awareness and Prevention Training and the Mandatory reporting of Child Abuse. 
• According to the Safe Sport Act, if any individual suspects, has reason to believe, has knowledge of, or observes a child being subjected to, conditions that would reasonably result in harm to the child, the individual is required to report that abuse within a 24-hour period to appropriate law enforcement agencies, as determined by state or federal law. 
• An individual who is required, but fails to report suspected child sexual abuse, is subject to criminal  and civil penalties.
• If you make a report of child abuse, please also communicate this report to Babe Ruth League, Inc.  Any volunteer involved will be suspended, and if convicted of inappropriate acts with a child, will be barred from participating in Babe Ruth League.  Such individuals may also be entered into a national database for banned volunteers and coaches.  Reporting to Babe Ruth League is not a substitute for reporting to the appropriate law enforcement.
• The federal obligations are in addition to any State law requirements that an individual may have in a particular jurisdiction.

State Law
Fifty (50) states and the District of Columbia have enacted laws which address mandatory reporting of child abuse to protect the health and safety of children.

In order to be in compliance with the Safe Sports Act and meet the specifications of Babe Ruth League’s mandatory background screening, Maplewood Independent Youth Baseball League requires all volunteers to complete Babe Ruth's League's NCSI/SSCI background screening as well as their Abuse Awareness and Prevention Training / Mandatory reporting of Child Abuse through the SportsEngine platform. MIYBL volunteers must complete Background Screening and Abuse Prevention Training offered by SportsEngine for a nominal fee of $25 per person that is valid for two years.

Please complete the Background Screening and Abuse Prevention Training through SportsEngine by following this Link: https://baberuthsafety.sportngin.com/register/form/277089265

This requirement is in addition to, not a replacement for, our Massachusetts CORI background check that all MIYBL volunteers must complete  through the league Secretary or President every season. The Mass CORI check is done complimentary through MIYBL. Volunteers are responsible for the $25 fee through SportsEngine. Please complete all 3 requirements as soon as possible so the league can authorize your volunteer participation status for the upcoming season.