The majority of child sexual abuse is perpetrated in isolated, one-on-one situations. USA Hockey requires that Applicable Adults shall not engage in any prohibited one-on-one interactions with any minor Participants.

By reducing such interactions between minors and adults, USA Hockey seeks to reduce the risk of child sexual abuse in its programs.

a. Observable and Interruptible. Unless an exception applies (see below), one-on-one In-Program Contact between a Minor Athlete and an Adult Participant, including meetings and individual training sessions, are permitted only if they occur at an Observable and Interruptible distance by another adult and the other adult is made aware of the interaction.

—  If a one-on-one In-Program meeting takes place in an office, along with being Observable and Interruptible, the door to the office must remain unlocked and open. If available, it will occur in an office that has windows, with the windows, blinds, and/or curtains remaining open during the meeting.

—  Written consent for individual training sessions between an Adult Participant and a Minor Athlete must be obtained from the Minor Athlete’s parent or guardian at least prior to the first training session and annually thereafter. Parents, guardians, and/or other caretakers must be allowed to observe the training session, and consent can be withdrawn at any time.

b. Out-of-program contacts.

—  Coaches are prohibited from interacting one-on-one with unrelated Minor Athletes in settings outside of the program that are not Observable and Interruptible (including, but not limited to, one’s home and individual transportation).

—  All other Adult Participants (other than Coaches) may interact one-on-one with unrelated Minor Athletes in settings outside of the program that are not Observable and Interruptible (including, but not limited to, one’s home and individual transportation) only if parent/legal guardian consent is provided in advance. Nonetheless, such arrangements may raise risks of actual or perceived misconduct, and are strongly discouraged.

c. Exceptions. The prohibitions on one-on-one interactions between an Adult Participant and a minor Athlete do not restrict such actions if any of the following exceptions apply:

—  Circumstances where a one-on-one interaction is due to an emergency (such emergency circumstances should be documented and kept with the Member Program);

—  Parent/guardian consent as described above;

—  A Dual Relationship exists;

—  The Close-in-Age exception applies;

—  The Minor Athlete needs an Adult Personal Care Assistant who has the parent’s written consent and has met the requirements of the SafeSport Training and Background Check policies; and/ or

—  If a licensed mental health care professional or licensed health care provider (other than athletic trainers) meets one-on-one with a Minor Athlete at a sanctioned event, the meeting must be observable and interruptible except (1) if the door remains unlocked; (2) another adult is present at the facility and notified that a meeting is occurring (although the Minor Athlete’s identity needs not be disclosed); (3) the Member Program is notified that the provider will be meeting with a Minor Athlete; and (4) the provider obtains consent consistent with applicable laws and ethical standards, which can be withdrawn at any time.