April is Child Abuse Prevention Month so it's a good time to look at ways we as parents, family members, coaches and volunteers can be alert and vigilant to abuse in its many forms. 

In accordance with U.S. Soccer directives and guidelines, Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer has developed policies to create a foundation from which all participants in the soccer community, be they athletes, coaches, referees, administrators or volunteers, play an active role in creating an environment free from emotional, physical or sexual abuse.

This Safe Soccer program is a comprehensive program of screening, education and training, reporting, monitoring and enforcement designed to help participants detect and report abuse, respond to it and prevent future occurrences.

The U.S. Center for SafeSport is the organization that U.S. Soccer and Eastern Pennsylvania Youth Soccer utilizes to inform, educate and monitor compliance within our organizations.

SafeSport has guidelines and other resources to help prevent abuse and create the best experiences possible for young athletes.