MAHA District 4

     Many of the SafeSport incidents reported have to deal with behaviors in the locker room. It is the requirement of the MAHA and USA Hockey that there be two screened (completed SafeSport training and completed the USA Hockey background screen) monitors in the locker room at all times.
     A minimum of two locker room monitors are to be identified on the team certified roster. It is recommended that a team have at least four locker room monitors on their roster to ensure there are two in the locker room at all times.
     Another high incident rate of reports concerns cell phones in the locker rooms. With most kids having cell phones with cameras, there is a risk of inappropriate photos being taken and possibly being posted on the web. Hopefully, by keeping the phones out of the locker rooms or at least controlled, this can be avoided. It is suggested that Associations prohibit any device that has a camera in the locker room.
Suggestions - 1) leave cell phones with their parents, 2) assign a parent to collect any phones that are brought into the rink and hold them until the end of game/practice, 3) get a small bag and collect the phones as players enter locker room, 4) use an over the door shoe organizer for collection at the entrance to the locker room. 
Cell phones can be locked in locker room and returned as players leave the locker room.

More information on Safesport can be found at https://www.usahockey.com/safesportprogram 

All relevant individuals who need to be SafeSport certified or are seeking recertification will need to complete the SafeSport training, which features updated content. SafeSport training must be completed every year.

Once you have completed the Core SafeSport Course, there will be two Refresher Courses available for individuals who have previously completed the Core SafeSport Course and need to recertify. Users completing the SafeSport Refresher Course will be certified for an additional season. After completion of the refresher courses the core course must be retaken.

Please note that you will need your own USA Hockey Confirmation Number or Referee Number and your own email address to access the training.  

Effective September 1, 2025 the MAHA will begin outsourcing all SafeSport complaint intake and investigations. The process will be managed by Metro Legal Services, Inc, which is located in Minnesota. Associations do not investigate Safesport complaints on their own. 

Safesport complaints can be filed directly with Safesport through the link included on this page. MAHA recommends that if a SafeSport complaint is made, please contact District Coordinator (Henrik Impola) or Affiliate Coordinator (Jason Reynolds), so that MAHA is also aware of the complaint. 

Coaches, managers, and associations, are all mandatory reporters of sexual misconduct and/or child abuse. Mandatory reporting should be to a local law enforcement agency and/or Child Protective Services. A followup report should be immediately made to the Center for SafeSport.

To view the USA Hockey Coaches Ethics Code in full go to usahockey.com and the Coaches Code of Conduct in the "USA Hockey 2025-29 Official Rules of Ice Hockey" pages xxii and xxiii.

For Apparent violations of the USA Hockey Coaching Ethics Code:
1) Informal Resolution of Alleged Ethical Violations
When a USA Hockey participant* believes that there may have been an ethical violation by a coach, they attempt to resolve the issue(s) by bringing it to the attention of the individual in an informal manner.

2) Formal Resolution of Alleged Ethical Violations
If an apparent ethical violation is not appropriate for the informal resolution as mentioned above, or is not properly resolved in that fashion, participants and the local hockey association take further action by:
Participant

1. Contacting the coach’s Association President or their designee (i.e.: SafeSport Coordinator, Coaching Director, Board Member).

2. Confirming with the coach’s Association President if there was an attempt at an informal resolution.

Association

1. Review the apparent violation using a due process procedure, as outlined in USA Hockey’s Annual Guide, Bylaw #10- Resolution of Disputes, Arbitration, Suspensions.  Failure to follow due process may nullify any suspension or other actions taken on appeal.

2. Gives a copy of the completed Violation Form to the coach in question, seven days prior to the Association’s formal review.

3. Keeps written reports on all reviews and actions taken.

*Participants: those taking part in hockey (athletes and their family members, coaches, officials, volunteers, administrators, and spectators).