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What is SafeSport

Required

Who Completes It:

How To Report a Concern

Safesport is a comprehensive program of policies and processes through education and training to help participants detect and report abuse, respond to it, and prevent future occurrences. Information on

To make a report, either fill and submit the form below, or call the US Soccer Integrity Hotline at (312) 528-7004 to leave a voicemail Please provide as much detail in your report as possible, including contact information, should you wish to be contacted concerning your report U S Soccer does not retaliate and does not tolerate retaliation against any individual who makes a report in good faith Please see below for more information

Participants

knowing the rules, reporting referee abuse, and embodying behaviors that represent the best of us.

PENALTYOVERVIEW

NON-PHYSICALOFFENSES

The Penalties Matrix defines consequences associated with physical and non-physical offenses against Referees. PHYSICALOFFENSES

Insulting, Belittling, Insinuating or Taunting Behavior Undermining Referee Authority

Harassment, Intimidation, Retaliation, Abusive, or Threatening (Non Physical) Language

Aggression, Attacking, Derogatory, Cyberbullying, Doxing or Threatening (Physical / Violence) Language

Offensive or Discriminatory Act

of gross misconduct, abuse, and / or assault of gross misconduct, abuse, and / or assault

Minor or Slight Deliberate Touching

Pushing, Grabbing, Pulling, Squeezing, Pinching, Lightly Slapping, Use of Object in Non Striking Manner, or Physical Property Damage Hitting, Punching, Elbowing, Kicking, Biting, Spiting, Choking, Tackling, Throwing or Use of Object or Any Part of Body (Forearm, Knee, Head) in a Striking Manner

KEYPENALTYFACTORS

• Single offenses are at minimum the

prescribed game penalty or time penalty for non red zone offenses

• Penalties can be both game and time depending on severity / circumstances

• Second time offenders receive double punishment

• Third time offenders receive a lifetime ban

• More than one offense at the same time is at least the punishment for the most serious offense

• Offenses against minors are automatically subject to a “minor multiplier” resulting in triple punishment

• One offense warning per league to be managed by states and leagues collaboratively

• Game consequences are inclusive of 1 game penalty for any red cards given

• Optionality for 50% penalty for first offense from a minor

Coming together for the win.

Publix is a proud sponsor of youth soccer.

VYSA & ALEXANDRIA SOCCER ASSOCIATION

‘SOCCER IN SCHOOL’

INITIATIVE IS SELECTED

BY U.S. SOCCER

Virginia Youth Soccer Association (VYSA) and Alexandria Soccer Association (ASA), in partnership with Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS), were recently awarded an Innovate to Grow grant from US Soccer Funded for three years and beginning this fall, ASA and VYSA will launch “Soccer IN School” the program will bring a two week soccer unit to every second grade physical education (PE) class in the ACPS district For the coming year, all 1,360 second grade students will participate in this groundbreaking program which includes:

Soccer training with professional U.S. Soccer licensed coaches

Introduction to referees and rules of the game by U.S. soccer referees

Professional player appearances

PE Teacher training by US Soccer coaching educators

A “Soccer Skills Challenge” take home packet including a soccer ball and jersey

ASA’s Outreach & School Programs Manager Johnatan Nunez partnered with the ACPS Health & PE Instructional Specialist, Kristin Donley, to develop the program Soccer IN School integrates U.S. Soccer curriculum with the Physical Education Standards of Learning for second grade students in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The goals are to improve school day attendance and test scores, foster a love for the game, and get kids involved in soccer outside of school. Donley notes, “This partnership will be a valuable asset, supporting skill-focused instruction in the PE setting where both teachers and students reap benefits. Anytime you can enhance a unit of instruction by bringing in experts it increases student engagement and makes learning the unit more fun Additionally, this program will foster a social emotional perspective as students learn how to show good sportsmanship and work as a team”

AWARDS GALA 2025

Congratulations to all of the 2023-2024 VYSA ‘of the Year’ Award Winners and 2025 VA-DC Hall of Fame inductees!

Coach of the Year Boys Competitive - Milos Draca, FFC

Coach of the Year Boys Recreational - Daniel Velasquez, First Touch Soccer

Coach of the Year Girls Competitive - Tim Lenzo, Alexandria Soccer Association

Coach of the Year Girls Recreational - Kris Newman, Richmond Kickers

John Short Memorial ODP Coaching Award - Carl Gray, Culpepper Soccer

YOUNG REFEREE OF THE YEAR AWARD WINNERS

PRESIDENT’S AWARD

AWARD WINNER CARL GRAY WITH TINA RINCON AND GORDON MILLER

Administrator of the Year - Chris Hudler, Gunston Soccer Volunteer of the Year - Alan Paez, NCSL

Young Female Referee of the Year - Audrey Atwell

Young Male Referee of the Year - Ben Schlenz

TOPSoccer Buddy of the Year - Olivia Fant, Culpepper Soccer Club

TOPSoccer Coach of the Year - Fiona Kunkel, Alexandria Soccer Association

Dave Williams TOPSoccer Award - Boutia Pourhashemi, Vienna Youth Soccer

Dave Williams TOPSoccer Award - Betsy Fry, Culpepper Soccer

Manager of the Year - Kim Capp, FFC

Adele Dolansky Service Award - John Schlenker

VA-DC Soccer Hall of Fame Class of 2025

Player - Ali Krieger

Player - Danny Kardassiyoon

Meritorious Service - Mark Dolansky

Meritorious Service - Bill Lanza Sr.

Meritorious Service - George Lidster

Meritorious Service - Osman Orlando

HALL OF FAME CLASS OF 2025

VYSA hosted the U.S. Soccer National “B” License course in Fredericksburg, VA on March 5-9th! Thank you to the 24 participating coaches!

RECENTCOACHING COURSES

LEARN MORE ABOUT COACHING EDUCATION

Featured Program: Charlottesville TOPSoccer

John Schlenker, VYSA TOPSoccer Chair piedmonttopsoccer@gmail.com

All children can beneﬁt from the exercise, energy release, and pure enjoyment of playing sports. Participating in sports can help boost self-conﬁdence, manage weight, and improve skills in relationship building and working as part of a team.

However, there were absolutely no opportunities for children with cognitive and physical disabilities to play soccer in Charlottesville, so in March of 2024, Katie Kenny, Zayan Meah, and, Tyler Rynne decided to tackle this problem

Together, they founded Charlottesville TOPSoccer. In partnership with USYS TOPS and CASC, the program is designed to bring the opportunity of learning and playing soccer to any boy or girl in Charlottesville who has special needs.

Now entering their third season, Charlottesville TOPSoccer continues to grow, with 12 registered players and over 15 dedicated Buddies. Their goal is to involve as many people as possible, thus providing volunteers with rewarding service experiences while increasing access to inclusive sports for children in Charlottesville.

“[My son] had the opportunity to play with TOPSoccer this past fall and had the most fantastic experience As a parent of a child with special needs and former coach and educator myself, I was impressed with the coaches' and buddies' positive attitudes, organization of every practice, individual approach to every child, and communication throughout. It is our goal to give our son every experience a child should have regardless of their abilities and TOPSoccer provided a better experience than we could have ever imagined !” – Stacey Gearhart, a Charlottesville TOPSoccer Parent

PROMOTING SOCCER IN SCHOOLS

A Partnership with VYSA and Sterling Soccer Club

Encouraging Health, Fighting Obesity, Drugs, and Violence, and Fostering Community Building and Engagement.

Sterling Soccer Festival held to Promote Soccer in Schools

The Vision and Mission

The Virginia Youth Soccer Association (VYSA) has long been a stalwart in promoting the beautiful game of soccer among the community's youth VYSA’s mission goes beyond merely teaching the skills and techniques of the game; it extends to nurturing a healthy and robust community spirit This year, VYSA is thrilled to partner with Sterling Soccer Club (SC) in an initiative to reach out to the schools and community's young boys and girls

Soccer, Combatting Obesity, Drugs, and Violence

One of the primary goals of this partnership is to address significant societal issues such as obesity, drug abuse, and violence. Students engaging in sports like soccer are less likely to fall into the traps of unhealthy behaviors. The structured environment of a soccer team provides them with a sense of belonging and purpose, steering them away from negative influences We all know Studies have shown that kids engaging in sports do well in school

Furthermore, soccer instills a sense of discipline and respect for the rules These values are critical in combating drug abuse, violence, and school attendance The camaraderie and support system within a soccer team can often serve as a buffer against peer pressure and other negative influences

Working together creates an environment where young people thrive, not just as athletes and students but as responsible, healthy, and engaged members of society.