SPARKS, Md. — In an effort to help keep youth players as safe as possible, all new and renewing coach members of USA Lacrosse will be required to complete an online course as part of the organization's abuse prevention training program. The new requirement goes into effect on July 1, 2022. Criminal background checks, completed every two years, have already been a requirement for USA Lacrosse coach members since 2018.
“Player safety is a priority for USA Lacrosse,” said Jason Vescovi, director of the Center for Sports Science at USA Lacrosse. “These courses are designed to provide the training necessary to help coaches spot, report and ultimately prevent abuse in youth sports.”
USA Lacrosse’s commitment to player safety is evidenced by funding both the background checks and the online abuse prevention course at no additional charge to members.
The online course was developed by Abuse Prevention Systems and takes roughly 90 minutes to complete. The course includes a series of videos followed by an assessment test.
Coaches do not need to wait until July 1 to complete the training. It is available by using the My Account feature on usalacrosse.com. Interested individuals in other USA Lacrosse member groups can also take this training, free of charge. The training is available to any USA Lacrosse member, age 18 and older.
More information about the USA Lacrosse abuse prevention training program can be found at https://www.usalacrosse.com/abuse-prevention
About USA Lacrosse
USA Lacrosse, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, is the governing body of men’s and women’s lacrosse in the United States, leads the U.S. National Teams Program and establishes universal standards. With nearly 400,000 members across the country, USA Lacrosse unites the community of players, coaches, officials, parents, and program leaders. Working together, we inspire participation, enrich the athlete experience, and support the growth of the sport.
