Frequently Asked Questions

The USGA Safeguarding Program is a framework of policies, rules of conduct and guidelines aimed at protecting athletes, including minor athletes, involved in the U.S. National Development Program (USNDP) and other USGA Teams from physical, emotional and sexual abuse or misconduct.  The Safeguarding Program sets standards of behavior for all participants involved in the USNDP and USGA Teams, as well as information and resources about how to prevent, detect, report incidents of abuse or misconduct.  USGA Safeguarding Program is based on the policies developed by the U.S. Center for SafeSport.

The U.S. National Development Program, including the National Teams, State Teams and Grant program, and all USGA Teams, including Walker Cup, Curtis Cup and World Amateur Teams, are covered by the USGA Safeguarding Program. This means all participants of these programs and teams, including Adult Participants, must comply with the Safeguarding Program and Policies.

An Adult Participant is anyone who is 18 years old or older who is (a) an employee or Executive Committee member of the USGA, (b) authorized, approved, or appointed by the USGA in connection with a USGA Team or the U.S. National Development Program (USNDP) to have regular contact with or authority over a minor athlete, or (b) within the governance or disciplinary jurisdiction of the USGA in connection with a USGA Team or the USNDP.

At this time, USGA Championships are not currently subject to the USGA Safeguarding Program.  However, USGA reserves the right to implement certain Safeguarding Program policies or procedures in connection with USGA Championships or other USGA events at any time, in its sole discretion.  

The U.S. Center for SafeSport (Center) is an independent, nonprofit organization established in 2017 by Congress, created under the law “Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse and Safe Sport Authorization Act of 2017”.  The Center has authority to prevent and respond to abuse and misconduct within the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Movement.  It has exclusive authority to receive, investigate and responds to reports of abuse or misconduct involving individuals affiliated with the National Governing Bodies of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Movement.  

The SafeSport Code (Code) is issued by the Center and establishes consistent standards of response and resolution to abuse and misconduct claims across the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Movement.  All National Governing Bodies, as well as the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee, must comply with the policies and procedures as defined by the Code. 

The USGA is not subject to the Center’s authority and is not required to implement the Code since it is not part of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Movement.   

While USGA is not required to implement the SafeSport Code (Code), the USGA Safeguarding Program is based on the policies and procedures set forth within the Code, including the Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policies (MAAPP).  Access to training and education offered by the U.S. Center for SafeSport is part of the USGA Safeguarding Program.  

No. The USGA is not part of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Movement and is outside of the scope of the U.S. Center for SafeSport’s authority.

All Adult Participants are required to take SafeSport Core Training and required refresher courses on annual basis. USGA will provide you with access to the SafeSport training through its SportsEngine platform, which integrates with the training.  Please make sure to take the training through your USGA SportsEngine account to receive credit.   

If you’ve taken the SafeSport Core training through your participation with another program o sport, and your training is current, USGA will accept this training and you do not need to take it again. To associate your current account with the USGA account, please log into your SafeSport account and request to be associated with the USGA SportsEngine account. Please note that the same e-mail address is required for linked accounts.  

All adults who have regular contact or authority over minor athletes who are part of USNDP or USGA Teams must go through the required background screening set forth in the Background Check Policy. Background screens are conducted by USGA’s third party vendor, NCSI.   You will need to register for the background screening through your USGA SportsEngine account.     

USGA provides a SportsEngine account to individuals who are required to go through a background check and/or SafeSport training in order to comply with the USGA Safeguarding Program and Policies.   USGA will provide you with a link to register your SportsEngine account and information on how to complete the required background check and/or training. 

Reports may be submitted through an online form or by phone at 855-874-2744.  USGA uses Navex, a third party reporting platform to receive all reports.  Reports may be made anonymously and have no cost. For more information about when and how to report, please see our Reporting & Responding Resources page or our Reporting & Responding Policy.