Staying compliant with state and federal laws is a big responsibility for youth sports administrators. After all, compliance isn’t just another buzzword — it’s a crucial ingredient in the success of any youth sports program.
When you have legally compliant policies and procedures in place, you’re not only shielding the organization from liability, you’re also fostering a safe, fun environment where athletes can thrive.
The problem is compliance isn’t the simplest area to navigate. If you feel overwhelmed by trying to understand which laws to adhere to and how, you’re not alone.
That’s why we created this guide. In it, we’ll take you through:
You can read the blog or download the full guide as a PDF to read any time.
Put simply, compliance is adhering to any rules and laws that apply to your organization. That includes the policies of any governing bodies as well as local and federal laws.
Compliance should be more than a box-ticking exercise; it should help establish the ground rules for how your organization operates, so that you’re acting within the law and doing what’s best for your athletes.
Young athletes are particularly vulnerable to injury, abuse and misconduct. In a 2019 survey of 473 elite athletes, conducted by CHILD USA, 3.8% reported being sexually abused as a minor by a sports official or peer athlete. Nearly 1 in 5 reported physical abuse of some kind.
Working to achieve compliance:
In response to sexual abuse cases in sports, Congress passed the Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse and Safe Sport Authorization Act of 2017. This act:
While youth recreation organizations aren't always "covered entities" under HIPAA, any organization collecting sensitive health information—like allergy forms, vaccination records, or medication forms—should follow its standards.
HIPAA compliance is broken down into the Privacy Rule (how info is accessed and shared) and the Security Rule (technical safeguards like encryption and password protection).
Some states mandate state-specific background checks in addition to national ones. You can check ChildCare.gov to find out your specific state's requirements.
All 50 states have youth concussion legislation. These laws typically require:
Many states require coaches to be certified in CPR and basic first aid. Check your local regulations to see if this applies to non-school-affiliated leagues in your area.
Compliance is about providing the best standard of care. Check as many boxes as possible to protect your athletes and your staff.
Using a compliance management solution like Ankored helps you manage background checks, abuse prevention training, and secure document storage in one place.
Disclaimer: This post is for information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Always check with your legal counsel for specific advice.