Background Checks
Minnesota State Law and MYSA Policy requires that all adult participants must complete an approved annual background check before participation.
SafeSport
SafeSport Training is mandatory for every adult participant within MYSA, including coaches, managers, and administrators.
Concussion Training
We require registered adults to complete concussion training every three years. Click below to learn more about MYSA’s policy and complete training.
All adults must pass a background check
CLICK HERE to start a background check.
Background check registration is open for 2025.
Minnesota State Law and MYSA Policy requires that all participants including member club officials, coaches, team managers, and administrators who are at least 18 years old must have an approved annual background check before they participate in an MYSA activity.
Merely completing a background check is not sufficient to meet the requirement to participate, the background check must be approved before any activity starts.
Annual Background Checks
Background checks are valid on a calendar year basis (January 1 through December 31).
All adults must complete a background check on or after November 1, 2024 in order to be eligible for participation in the Spring 2025 or Fall 2025 season. Adults must pass the background check before participating in any activities.
Background Standards
An applicant will be eligible if the background check reveals:
- “No Records Found” (i.e. no convictions of a criminal nature)
- Traffic offenses only (i.e. speeding ticket | except as provided below)
- Petty Misdemeanors only (i.e. littering)
An applicant may be eligible if the background check reveals:
- A Misdemeanor conviction or pending case related to financial crimes
- A Misdemeanor conviction or pending case of Driving Under the Influence, Driving While Intoxicated or a similar offense.
- A Misdemeanor conviction or pending case of a non-serious nature, which for purposes herein shall specifically exclude crimes involving violence, crimes involving the use of weapons, crimes committed against a minor and crimes of a sexual nature
In these cases, MYSA will investigate the offenses outlined above and render a determination as to the applicant’s eligibility. If an applicant is deemed ineligible, the applicant may appeal to MYSA.
An applicant will be ineligible (unable to participate in an MYSA activities) if the background check reveals:
- Any conviction or similar disposition (i.e. no contest or plea agreement, including a plea to a lesser offense) or a Gross Misdemeanor or Felony
- Any pending case involving charges for a Gross Misdemeanor or Felony
Questions?
If you have technical difficulties completing your background check, use the reference guide or call the technical support hotline at 855-703-2578.
Helpful Links
SAFESPORT
Training center aiming to educate adults on emotional, physical, sexual misconduct, and mandatory reporting.
CDC’s heads up
Information from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention to help you recognize, respond, and minimize the risk of concussions.
SafeSport Training
ALL ADULTS MUST COMPLETE THE SAFESPORT TRAINING
SafeSport training is mandatory for every adult participant within MYSA, including coaches, managers and administrators. The training covers three topics: mandatory reporting, sexual misconduct awareness education, and emotional and physical misconduct.
All registered MYSA members receive the training free of charge through a link that is provided after completion of a background check. Adults should complete this training before beginning any sanctioned activity with their club.
SafeSport Training Cycle:
Year 1: SafeSport Trained Core Training
Year 2: Refresher 1
Year 3: Refresher 2
Year 4: Refresher 3
Year 5: Restart process with the SafeSport Trained Core Training
SafeSport Training for Parents
The U.S. Center for SafeSport also offers training and resources for parents of athletes. Parents are encouraged to use the resources to familiarize themselves with SafeSport’s philosophy and policies.
Parents can also check out US Soccer’s Safe Soccer Framework HERE
History
In 2018, Congress passed The Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse and Safe Sport Authorization Act of 2017 (the SafeSport Act). The legislation is aimed at preventing and reporting child abuse in youth sports by expanding the categories of “mandatory reporters” and requiring organizations to provide enhanced training. MYSA requires all of its adult members to complete the training and follow the reporting guidelines of SafeSport.
SafeSport Reporting
In addition to requiring training, the SafeSport Act also expands the definition of mandatory reporter to include any “adult who is authorized, by a national governing body, a member of the national governing body…to interact with a minor or amateur athlete at an amateur sports organization facility or at any event sanctioned by a national governing body, a member of a national governing body, or such an amateur sports organization.” MYSA urges all adults to understand their reporting obligations outlined below.
Under the SafeSport Act, the reporting obligation is triggered when a mandatory reporter becomes aware of “facts that give reason to suspect” a child has suffered an incident of child abuse. Mandatory reporters should refrain from judging or evaluating the credibility of such allegations, and instead immediately report these incidents to law enforcement and to SafeSport. Failure to promptly (within 24 hours of becoming aware) report suspected child abuse to law enforcement may constitute a violation of federal law, state law and U.S. Soccer’s SafeSport Policy. Click on the “report a concern” if you have suspicions that must be reported.
Helpful Links
US Center for SAFESPORT
Learn how you can keep children safe at the official SafeSport website.
Report a concern
Mandatory reporters are required to report a concern when given “facts that give reason to suspect” a child has suffered an incident of child abuse.
CDC’s Heads up
Information from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention to help you recognize, respond, and minimize the risk of concussions.
Concussion Training
We require registered adults to complete concussion training every three years. While there are various online concussion trainings available, we endorse CDC’s HEADS UP training.
Parents are also encouraged to complete the free trainings on the website as concussion consequences don’t stay on the field.
Heading Rules
Per Rule XX, we have heading restrictions based on age groups.
U11 and younger: prohibit ALL headers including in trainings and games
12U-14U: limit to 30 minutes per week in training. No more than 15-20 headers per player, per week in training. All headers in games are permitted.
15U and older: no restrictions
Additional Resources
HEADS UP
Developed by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention:
Coaches | Parents | Athletes
Get aHEAD Safely in Soccer
A free online training developed by United Soccer Coaches
Other Related Resources:
- Minnesota State Law
- U.S. Soccer Concussion Guidelines
- U.S. Soccer’s Athlete Concussion Guidelines
- U.S. Soccer’s Coaches Concussion Guidelines
Helpful Links
CDC’s Heads up
Information from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention to help you recognize, respond, and minimize the risk of concussions.
US Center for SAFESPORT
Learn how you can keep children safe at the official SafeSport website.
Background checks
All MYSA adults must complete a background check