The GMAS Board of Directors unanimously approved the Athlete Protection Policy at its May Board meeting. The Athlete Protection Policy (APP) is designed to provide clear guidance to all our participants regarding identification and prevention of sexual abuse and related forms of misconduct.
Participation in sports and recreation is central to our mission – providing access to all Vermonters with disabilities to activities that promote physical and mental well-being. Unfortunately, sports can also be a high-risk environment for misconduct, including athlete physical and sexual abuse.
All forms of misconduct are intolerable and in direct conflict with the ideals of GMAS. Misconduct may damage an athlete’s psychological well-being; athletes who have been mistreated experience social embarrassment, emotional turmoil, psychological scars, loss of self-esteem and negative impacts on family, friends, and the sport. Misconduct often hurts an athlete’s performance and may cause him or her to drop out of sport entirely.
GMAS is committed to improving the development and safety of athletes and participants involved in the community we serve. GMAS is publishing the APP Handbook as a resource to guide development, implementation, and internal review of effective athlete safety and misconduct prevention strategies. The Handbook can be downloaded here.