Safe Place is Tampa Bay United’s comprehensive safeguarding program to prevent
abusive behavior within the TB community. It is designed to inform our community about
safeguarding programs and provide clear procedures for reporting and responding to
allegations of abuse, harassment, discrimination, and other misconduct.
Tampa Bay United is a culture of safety and respect. We encourage open
communication in which all athletes, coaches, staff members, and families feel
empowered to report concerns, whether the concerns involve suspected abuse,
misconduct, or violations of the Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policy (“MAAPP”).
**Note TBU will be referencing the USL Safeguarding policy when addressing any
incident.
Click here for more information about the USL Safeguarding Policy:
(English | Français | Español).
Tampa Bay United prohibits retaliatory action being taken against anyone who reports
concerns in good faith.
If you have an immediate concern regarding imminent risk of harm to someone,
please contact 911 or local law enforcement.
REPORTING CONCERNS
Tampa Bay United safeguard reporting channels are operated by a 3rd party and
submissions are available to report 24/7. You can submit a report online at this link.
If you are unsure whether you should report a concern or want to talk about your
concern before making a report, please contact our third party at:
gw2investigations@gmail.com.
Sexual Misconduct or SafeSport Prohibitive Conduct Violations must be reported to the
U.S Center for SafeSport via secure online form or by contacting 835-587-7233.
To make a report to U.S. Soccer, contact their Integrity Hotline 312-528-7008 or
by secure online form.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Safeguarding is the set of policies, procedures, and practices a sports organization
implements to protect players, coaches, staff, and others within the organization’s
environment from abuse (sexual and otherwise), harassment, discrimination, and other
misconduct.
Tampa Bay United “Safe Place” program is designed to reduce the risk of misconduct,
inform the TBU community about safeguarding, and provide clear procedures for
reporting and responding to allegations of abusive behavior and misconduct. The
program centers on two pillars: Prevention and Response.
Prevention
- Policies that align with the SafeSport Act and U.S. Soccer’s “Safe SoccerFramework”
- Mandatory “SafeSport Training” and “Preventing Harassment and Discrimination Training” for all adults, including players, in Tampa Bay United Soccer Club
- Recommended youth-designed SafeSport Training for minor athletes
- Reporting tools, web-based referral system, and a dedicated email
Response
- Commitment to responding to all concerns and acting upon them in a timely manner
- Commitment to taking appropriate and proportionate action when there is a safeguarding breach
- Partnership with U.S. Soccer and the U.S. Center for SafeSport to ensure appropriate safeguarding measures are in place as needed
- Streamlined tools for efficient and effective case management
- Anyone involved in Tampa Bay United activities and may have been harmed or treated in a manner that violates the Tampa Bay United Safeguarding and/or Anti-Harassment Policy can make a report (policies available online).
- Anyone concerned that someone else involved in TBU activities may have been harmed or treated in a manner that violates the TBU’s Safeguarding and/or Anti-Harassment Policy can make a report.
Tampa Bay United has set up multiple ways for people to report a safeguarding issue. All reports can be made anonymously, if so chosen.
- Web-based reporting system here
- Email: gw2investigations@gmail.com
If you are unsure whether you should report a concern or want to talk about your
concern before making a report, please contact the Tampa Bay United’s third party
Safeguarding Team at: gw2investigations@gmail.com.
Tampa Bay United takes all reports seriously. TBU third party will review the concerns
and consider whether they violate either the TBU’s Safeguarding Policy or Anti-
Harassment Policy. Depending on the circumstances and level and type of misconduct
involved, TBU may be required to share concerns with U.S Center for SafeSport and
with U.S Soccer.
Yes. You can make a report anonymously through the web-based reporting system or
the phone hotline. However, TBU may need to contact you for further information, and
an anonymous report can sometimes limit TBU’s ability to investigate a complaint fully.
Tampa Bay United prohibits any form of discipline, reprisal, intimidation, or retaliation for
good faith reporting of incidents of abuse and harassment or for cooperating in a related
investigation. Anyone who believes that they have been retaliated against for making or
assisting in the investigation of a complaint should contact the TBU third party
Safeguarding Team at gw2investigations@gmail.com.
If you are concerned that someone has acted in an abusive manner and may have
violated either the TB Safeguarding Policy or Anti -Harassment Policy, you can report
your concerns directly to the U.S. Center for SafeSport or U.S. Soccer:
U.S. Center for SafeSport
Website
Phone: (720) 531-0340
U.S. Soccer
Website
Integrity Hotline: (312) 528-7004