Club Best Practices & Toolkit

The best practices were crafted using scientifically based guidance developed by and for other youth-serving communities, such as youth sports, summer camps, afterschool programs, and childcare.

They are categorized into seven areas of focus:

1. People/Human Resource Practices
2. Athlete Wellness, Injury Prevention, and Injury Response
3. Communication
4. Diversity and Inclusion
5. Environmental Safety
6. Prevention of Abuse and Misconduct
7. Reporting and Responding

To help guide club owners through the best practices, the toolkit includes an overview of each best practice, providing additional support resources to help implement the best practices.

Clubs are encouraged to explore the guide and utilize the accompanying self-assessment.

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Human Resources:

Hiring (H):

• What Would You Do” Scenarios for Interviews and Staff Meetings
• Sample Screening Checklist for Employees and High-Access Volunteers
• Sample Application for Employees and High-Access Volunteers
• Sample Behaviorally Based Interview Questions for Screening Applicants for the Potential to Abuse
• Sample Reference Check Questions to Assess Abuse Risk
• Sample Policy Requiring Notification of Arrest or Conviction
• Sample Policy Requiring Repeat Background Checks
• Sample Procedures for Pre-Employment Criminal History Review
• Sample Policy Requiring Sex Offender Registry Screening for Employees and Volunteers
• Sample Pre-Employment Affidavit for Applicants
• Sample Policy for Classification of Volunteers
• Sample Abuse Risk Management Items for Job Descriptions and Performance Evaluations
• Sample Policies and Procedures for Teen Leadership Programs
• Sample Guidelines for Working with Minor Employees
• Sample Interview Question for Staff Who Work with Children
• Sample Items to Include in Job Descriptions and Performance Evaluations for Minor Employees

Personnel Polices (PP):

• Sample Employee and Volunteer Survey Questions

Professional Development (PP):

• Procedures for Monitoring Employees Volunteers at OFF site programs
• Procedures for Monitoring Employees Volunteers at on site programs
• Sample Content Points for Training on Effective Supervision Practices
• Sample Content Points for Training on Screening and Selection

Athlete Wellness and Injury Response:

• USA Gymnastics Member Club Sample Concussion Policy Template
• Sample Incident Report
• Sample Injury and Illness Policy
• Sample Club Emergency Action Plan
• Sample Policy Promoting a Healthy Lifestyle
• Sample Injury Reporting Policy
• Sample Injury Tracker Spreadsheet

Environmental Safety Resources:

• Sample Facility Monitoring Policy
• Sample Guidelines Regarding Video Surveillance Equipment
• Sample Monitoring Guidelines when Consumers Enter and Exit Programs

Prevention of Abuse and Misconduct Resources:

• Sample Policy Defining Appropriate and Inappropriate Interactions with Minors
• Sample Policy Defining Physical Contact with Minors
• Sample Policy Supervising Personal Care Assistance
• Sample Progressive Discipline Policy
• Sample Guidelines for Monitoring Children and Youth in Facilities
• Sample Employee Grievance Policy
• Sample Policy Requiring Annual Safe Sport Training
• Sample Policy for Follow-Up with Individuals Who Report Concerns or Complaints
• Sample Procedure for Responding to Consumer-to-Consumer Sexual Activity
• Supervisor Response to Consumer-to-Consumer Sexual Activity

Communication:

• Sample Athlete and Participant Code of Conduct
• Sample Grievance Policy for Parents and Consumers
• Sample Behavior Modification Plan