Until things do return to normal, we know that many of you have made use of technology to stay in touch with your students. In order to get the most out of your virtual sessions, please take note of the U.S. Figure Skating/SafeSport policy for virtual instruction. The two-deep leadership policy (see below), with regards to contact with minor students, also applies to virtual sessions. If you are using virtual tools to have phone or video sessions with minors, you should have another adult attend these sessions. It can be a parent, another coach, adult skater, etc. as long as the other person is an adult.  

From the SafeSport Handbook

Two-Deep Leadership is one of the cornerstones of U.S. Figure Skating’s Athlete Protection Policies. Two-Deep Leadership is a mandatory policy that requires at least one other person, preferably an Adult, be present at all times with an Adult Participant and a Minor Athlete when the interaction between the Adult Participant and Minor Athlete is not within a public viewing area where interactions can be easily observed and at an interruptible distance from another Adult (i.e., “rule of 3”). Two-Deep Leadership helps prevent emotional and physical abuse by making it difficult for an Adult to isolate a Minor Athlete and avoid detection. For example, Two-Deep Leadership requirements are met when there is a Minor Athlete and at least two Participants or when there is a Minor Athlete and one Participant and at least one other Adult. Two-Deep Leadership is a policy that is intended to limit one-on-one interactions not only to help with the protection of Minor Athletes but also to help protect Adult Participants from false or unsubstantiated accusations.

An official SafeSport document on this topic is attached for your convenience. 

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Vicki Busch, LAFSC SafeSport Officer, vicki_busch@sbcglobal.net.

Sincerely,

Los Angeles Figure Skating Club