The Foundation of Athletes 1st
Athletes 1st champions the care, development, safety, inclusivity and diversity of All Star athletes. The foundation of Athletes 1st is an all-encompassing focus on the athlete that includes sport safety, safety while training, minor athlete abuse and misconduct prevention, and the personal development and well being of the athlete. By developing programs and resources that rely on each of these pillars, the USASF strives to keep athletes protected and able to discover life skills within themselves that last beyond cheer and dance.
Sport Safety
The USASF develops and maintains through committee rules based on progression and age-appropriate development in order to protect athletes and provide uniform safety considerations.
Explore the following resources to support efforts toward sport safety:
Resources
Safety While Training
Athlete safety during practice is a pillar of the Athlete’s 1st initiative, and the USASF underscores the importance of member clubs employing qualified coaches. To offer the best standard of care, it is imperative that coaches continually seek out educational opportunities to enhance their teaching skills and expand their expertise in the physical development, conditioning and injury prevention of the athlete. The USASF offers a credentialing program for cheer coaches that examines, tests and certifies their proficiency to safely teach building and/or tumbling skills for each level.
Coach Development
US All Star Federation member clubs should encourage their coaches to continually seek out learning and development opportunities. Athletes 1st and Coaches Corner both provide resources to help coaches grow.
Resources
- Identify. Understand. Respond.
- Positive Coach Alliance- After Injuries, It’s Not About When Kids Return To Play, But How
- Mental Health Education|Raising awareness of the unique mental health and substance use challenges facing minorities and improving access to mental health treatments and services
- Positive Coaching Alliance|Key Actions for Youth Leaders Role in Athlete Sexual Abuse Prevention
- Positive Coaching Alliance|Protecting Youth Athletes from Sexual Abuse|Parents and Coaches
Abuse and Misconduct Prevention
By working together with experts on child abuse prevention and developing proactive policies which aim to protect minor athletes, the USASF places the safety of their athletes above all else. Please explore the following resources to help support athlete safety in All Star.
Resources
- LGBTQ Youth Sexual Abuse Prevention
- The Trevor Project
- Transgender Law Center – Youth
- Online Safety During Covid
- Our Role in Athlete Protection
- Athletes 1st Empowerment
- Know the Facts
- Safety Matters
- The 5 MBF Safety Rules for Child Abuse Prevention
- Discussing Sensitive Topics (Child Abuse Prevention)
- Prevention is Possible
- Monique Burr Foundation |Trainings and Resources
- Reporting Concerns of Abuse
- Stewards of Children: Ensuring a Safe Environment for Children
- Darkness to Light | FAQ’s about Mandated Reporting
- Darkness to Light | Reporting Child Sex Abuse
- Child Welfare Information Gateway|State Reporting Laws
- Positive Coaching Alliance | Protecting Athletes from Sexual Abuse
- Positive Coaching Alliance | Key Actions for Youth Leaders Role in Athlete Sexual Abuse Prevention
- Positive Coaching Alliance | Protecting Youth Athletes from Sexual Abuse|Parents and Coaches
- Child Welfare Information Gateway- Resources for Families of LGBTQ Youth
- Suicide Prevention 1 (800) 273 TALK / Suicide Alertness for Everyone (safeTALK)
- National Center for Missing and Exploited Children- Internet Safety Resources
- RAINN- Sexual Abuse Prevention
Athlete Health and Well Being
Athletes 1st provides resources to help All Star Clubs and coaches better ensure the health and well being of their athletes, which the U.S. All Star Federation believes is its first and foremost responsibility to members.
Resources
- Ways Parents Can Influence the Health of Their LGB Youth
- LGBTQ Youth Resources
- Child Welfare Information Gateway- Resources for Families of LGBTQ Youth
- Suicide Prevention 1 (800) 273 TALK / Suicide Alertness for Everyone (safeTALK)
- National Center for Missing and Exploited Children- Internet Safety Resources
- Understanding Athlete Burnout
- Tips for Distance Learning
Athlete Growth and Personal Development
In All Star, athletes develop tenacity, a positive work ethic, an understanding of the importance of teamwork and so much more. But off the practice or performance floors the USASF strives to bring athletes leadership training and enrichment opportunities that will reach all facets of their lives — even after they finish their All Star journey.
Resources
- USASF Athlete Leadership and Personal Growth Development Program (BOLT/MARCH)
- RISE – A national nonprofit that educates and empowers the sports community to eliminate racial discrimination, champion social justice and improve race relations.
Club Development & Responsibilities
Becoming a USASF member club demonstrates a program’s commitment to Athletes 1st and empowers each athlete to reach their full potential in All Star. With a focus on the long-term development of the athlete, Athletes 1st provides the foundation for clubs to create the safest and best-possible experience for athletes on and off the floor.
USASF Membership requires that all programs and coaches uphold the:
- Professional Responsibility Code
- Athlete Sexual Abuse Prevention Policy
- Electronic Communication Policy
- Addressing Bullying Policy
- Travel Policy
- Billet Policy
- One-On-One Interactions Policy
- Locker Rooms, Rest Rooms, and Changing Areas Policy
Clubs can also utilize the following resources for club development :
Resources
- Identify. Understand. Respond.
- Creating A Welcoming Environment for the LGBTQ Community
- Mental Health Education|Raising awareness of the unique mental health and substance use challenges facing minorities and improving access to mental health treatments and services.
- LGBTQ Youth Sexual Abuse Prevention
Parent Development & Engagement
The support of parents is paramount to the positive athlete experience in All Star. By providing resources to parents, such as the parent newsletter and follow up materials to our leadership offerings, Athletes 1st provides a framework for parents to begin to understand how to value their child’s All Star experience, replacing the reliance on winning with the understanding of the life skills All Star provides. The following resources provide parents tips and tools they need to help support All Star athletes.
Resources
- Road Map to Being A Supportive All Star Parent
- 10 Injury Safety Tips For Parents
- The Parents Role with Competition and Travel Safety
- The Parents Role in Supporting the All Star Athlete
- On the Horizon| Webinar Series offered for Parents and Athletes to discover the opportunities available for athletes to grow and develop as they prepare for the next chapter beyond All Star.
- Creating A Welcoming Environment for the LGBTQ Community
- RAINN- Sexual Abuse Prevention
- Parent Tips
- Know the Facts
- Darkness to Light | A parents guide to selecting a Youth Serving Organization
- Darkness to Light|Talking To Kids About Digital Safety
- Athletes 1st | Social Media Best Practices
- Child Welfare Information Gateway- Resources for Families of LGBTQ Youth
- Suicide Prevention 1 (800) 273 TALK / Suicide Alertness for Everyone (safeTALK)
- National Center for Missing and Exploited Children- Internet Safety Resources
- Understanding Athlete Burnout
- Tips for Distance Learning
Healthy Athletes
Athletes 1st provides a framework for parents to begin to understand how to value their child’s All Star experience, replacing the reliance on competition outcomes with focus on proper athletic model development, including proper nutrition.
TIPS FOR PARENTS
As part of the Athletes 1st initiative, the USASF leadership team put together a simple, one-page “tip sheet” for coaches and parents summarizing some of the most important advice that organizations like Darkness 2 Light recommend for safely and thoughtfully posting pictures and video of young athletes.
ATHLETES 1ST CAMPAIGN
Our Role
Our Role in Athlete Protection
Know the Facts about Athlete Protection
Safety Matters
Share this video with your kids about athlete protection
Steps for Athlete Protection
Discussing Sensitive Topics
Prevention IS Possible
Reporting Concerns
What next if I suspect?
Empowerment and Prevention in All Star
Equip yourselves, each other, and your athletes
usasfATHLETES1st
RESOURCES PROVIDED FROM OUR OFFICIAL PARTNERS
FOR PROGRAM OWNERS
Safe Environment
Stewards of Children
MANDATED REPORTING – KNOWING THE LAW
Mandated Reporting
Darkness to Light
Reporting Tips
Darkness to Light
State Reporting Laws
Child Welfare Information Gateway
FOR PARENTS AND EVERYONE
Facts
Stewards of Children
Step Up & Speak Out
Darkness to Light
Digital Safety
Protecting Youth Athletes
Safety First
In March, the Connection Leaders, alongside our partners in athlete protection, Monique Burr Foundation and Darkness to Light, collaborated to gather safety tips for All Star Coaches and Owners and tweeted them daily for the duration of the month.
The following documents are a collection of those tips and were intended to be released prior to the COVID-19 outbreak. The USASF elected to hold their release as we shifted focus to crisis-response resources and tips geared toward the ‘new normal’ we were experiencing. Now that states are beginning to reopen and many of you have returned to the gym or studio, or are putting together plans to return, we encourage you to review these safety tips and include them in your forward-thinking plans.
We’d like to say thank you again to your Connection leaders, Monique Burr Foundation and Darkness to Light for their continued efforts toward protecting our athletes.
