Refunds will be granted only when there is a sound reason. A non-refundable processing fee of $5.00 will be applied to all refunds for in-house programs ($10.00 for traveling programs). No refunds will be granted after teams have been established.

Scholarships are available for children whose family incomes are below a certain level. If your family qualifies for the Department of Health and Human Services Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program (welfare) or District 196 Free or Reduced Lunch Program you may qualify for a scholarship.

Rosemount Area Athletic Association 

Adult Volunteer Background Check Policy

As approved by the Board of Directors:

May 9, 2022

In order to preserve the safety and well-being of youth participating in youth sport programs offered by Rosemount Area Athletic Association (RAAA), the Board of Directors hereby adopts the following policy applicable to all adult board members, program directors, program board members, coaches, assistant coaches, team managers, and officials.

1. General Information.

              a. Initial Background Check.

Background checks are mandatory for all adult board members, program directors, program board members, coaches, assistant coaches, team managers, and officials (hereinafter referred to as a “Volunteer” and collectively referred to as “Volunteers”). All Volunteers are covered by the Volunteer Policy regardless of whether they receive compensation. Initially, all Volunteers will be required to undergo a national background check prior to the beginning of the sport, season or activity in which they intend to become involved.  For adult officials contracted through outside vendors, RAAA will strive to work with the outside vendors to ensure that contracted officials meet the same requirements as the Volunteers.

               b. Validity Period.

Volunteers who continue to participate will be required to have a background check conducted every two (2) calendar years. In addition, RAAA reserves the right to conduct random background checks of Volunteers at any time prior to or during the sport, season or activity in which the volunteer is involved.

              c. New Criminal Charges.

If an approved Volunteer subsequently has any criminal charges brought against him/her during the Volunteer’s term of service and such charges are listed in the disqualifications list (Section 3), the Volunteer shall immediately disclose the nature of the charges to the RAAA Board of Directors and the Volunteer may be disqualified until there is a resolution of the charges.

               d. Informed Consent.

All Volunteers will be required to sign, either physically or electronically, an informed consent form allowing RAAA to order an individual criminal background check. Failure to complete the informed consent may disqualify the Volunteer from participation.

               e. Background Check Fees.

RAAA pays for all fees associated with performing the background checks from the general fund.

2. Screening Process and Handling of Information.

               a. Responsibilities.

•      The RAAA Board of Directors will be responsible for selecting a reporting agency or method to conduct the background checks.

•      The Registrar/Finance Manager will administer the process of the background checks.

•      The Program Directors and/or Board Liaisons are responsible for ensuring compliance with this Policy within their respective programs.

•      The RAAA Administrative Committee will be responsible for hearing and deciding any Volunteer Appeals, and will make the final determination on the matter.

               b. Background Check Review.

The Registrar/Finance Manager reviews each released background check to determine if the results include any of the listed disqualifications.

               c. Notification of Disqualification.

Upon a finding of a disqualifying offense, the RAAA Registrar/Finance Manager will notify the Volunteer via email.  In addition to informing the disqualified Volunteer, the Registrar/Finance Manager will inform the Program Director for the program the Volunteer had intended to participate in. 

Until resolution of the matter, the Volunteer will not be allowed to participate in any RAAA program. 

Under no circumstances will a Volunteer be considered if the Volunteer has been found guilty or entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendre (no contest) of a crime that was one against children, involved violence, or was sexual in nature.

               d. Volunteer Privacy.

When individual background checks are being reviewed and discussed with RAAA Administrative Committee, the meeting will be closed to the public. The meeting will be conducted with Minnesota’s open meeting laws as documented here http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/hrd/pubs/openmtg.pdf

Under no circumstances will the contents of any background check be shared with anyone who is not directly involved with reviewing or approving the Volunteer application.

3. Disqualification.

A Volunteer will be disqualified and prohibited from serving if the Volunteer has been found guilty of the offenses listed below. Guilty means the person was found guilty following a trial, entered a guilty plea, or entered a no contest plea, regardless of the adjudication or whether the record has been expunged. This Policy does not apply if the criminal charges resulted in acquittal or dismissal.

a. All felony and misdemeanor sexual offenses, regardless of the amount of time since the offense. Examples include, but are not limited to:

•      Child molestation, rape, sexual assault, sexual battery, statutory rape, prostitution, solicitation of prostitution, and indecent exposure

b. All other felony offenses, including property crimes, drug and alcohol crimes, and crimes against a person or an organization, regardless of the amount of time since the offense. Examples include, but are not limited to:

•      Murder, manslaughter, assault and battery, child endangerment or neglect, kidnapping, robbery, arson, burglary, felony drug possession and/or distribution, felony DUI, theft, fraud, and embezzlement

c. All misdemeanors that constitute offenses against a person or an organization within the past ten (10) years. Examples include, but are not limited to:

•      Assault and battery, child endangerment or neglect, domestic violence, theft, fraud, and embezzlement.

d. All misdemeanors that constitute offenses against a person within the past seven (7) years. Examples include, but are not limited to:

• Simple assault and hit and run

e. All misdemeanor drug and alcohol offenses within the past five (5) years or multiple of such offenses in the past ten (10) years. Examples include, but are not limited to:

• Driving under the influence, simple drug possession, disorderly conduct, public intoxication and possession of drug paraphernalia

f. Any other offense within the past five (5) years that could be considered a potential danger to children or demonstrates a propensity for violence.

Nothing in this policy shall be construed as a waiver or limitation of the discretion of the RAAA Board of Directors to disqualify a Volunteer where, in the sole opinion of RAAA, such is the interest of the youth participants.

4. Correcting Errors and Appealing Disqualification

The Volunteer is responsible for contacting the reporting agency and taking appropriate action to have the result of the background check report corrected if he or she believes information as reported is erroneous. RAAA, its volunteers, its employees and its Service Providers are not responsible for errors or omissions that may be reported on background checks.

Any Volunteer applicant who is disqualified may appeal the disqualification to the Administrative Committee of the RAAA Board of Directors, which has the sole authority to overturn the disqualification, if in the Committee’s complete discretion the Committee finds that, based upon demonstrable proof, under the circumstances, the offense resulting in disqualification does not, at the time of appeal, justify disqualification on the basis that the applicant would pose a risk of harm to children or others. The vote of the Committee regarding the appeal will be final. The Committee will meet to consider the appeal within forty-five (45) days of receipt of the appeal at which time the Volunteer applicant will have an opportunity to appear before the Committee along with the applicant’s representative.

The Committee shall render its decision on the appeal within five (5) business days of the hearing.

5. Appeal Process

If a Volunteer would like to appeal a disqualification determination, the Volunteer must submit an appeal request to the RAAA Registrar/Finance Manager via email within two (2) weeks of the Registrar/Finance Manager’s original email.

The appeal request must contain:

a. The full name and address of the Volunteer 

b. The name and address of the person, if any, making the request for an appeal on behalf of the Volunteer (e.g. lawyer)

c. The grounds for the appeal (provide a detailed explanation of the Volunteer’s objections to the decision; describe additional factors or factual errors in the decision). 

d. The particulars relevant to the appeal (describe any background facts that relate to the appeal including how you are affected by the decision). 

Rosemount Area Athletic Association Concussion Certification Policy

Approved January 2014

In order to preserve the safety and well-being of youth participating in youth sport programs offered by Rosemount Area Athletic Association (RAAA), the Board of Directors hereby adopts the following policy applicable to all board members, program directors, program board members, coaches, assistant coaches, and officials.

1. General Information.

a. Background

Awareness of concussion and effects of concussion on players, especially youth players, has increased over the past decade. Medically, a concussion is a form of traumatic brain injury.  Because it is a brain injury, a concussion is not a visible injury, such as a broken arm. It requires time to heal properly, involving both physical and mental rest. Consequences may include loss of coordination or memory, vision problems, learning issues and changes in emotions and behavior.  A concussion may result from a direct blow to the head or from an indirect blow to the body that causes various forces to affect the brain within the skull. Signs and symptoms may appear immediately or may be noticed hours or days (or longer) later. There are a wide variety of symptoms which are possible. Loss of consciousness is not required to be diagnosed with a concussion. Adolescents require more time to recover from concussions than adults.

b. State law requirement.

The Minnesota Legislature passed legislation (MN Statute 121A.37 and 121A.38) in 2011 regarding youth athletes, concussions and return to play. The US Center for Disease Control and Prevention has established the HEADS UP:  Concussion in Youth Sports program and tool kit to provide training to coaches, athletes and parents regarding concussions. The Minnesota statute requires any nonprofit organization that organizes a youth athletic activity for which a fee is charged to meet the requirements of the statute.  The statute specifically applies to participating coaches and officials. RAAA’s policy is that all volunteers and officials take the free online CDC training course.  The course takes approximately 30 minutes.  Alternative concussion training may be approved by RAAA’s Administrative Committee.

c. Validity Period.

Volunteers who continue to participate will be required to take the concussion training once every three (3) calendar years. Training for one program is applicable for all RAAA programs.

2. Process

   1. To access the concussion video, log onto the athletechs registration website at https://app.athletechs.com/myAccount

      1. Log onto your account with your user name and password

      2. Select your person profile under My Account

      3. Select Take Concussion Certification

      4. Select Launch Training Now

   2. Save a copy of the certificate for your records.  In order to save the certificate to your computer, you may need to print and re-scan the document so that it properly saves

   3. Enter evidence of your certification as indicated on the athletechs registration website

The provider has not defined their Positive Coaching Alliance policy. You should ask that they do.

Code of Conduct

As approved by the Board of Directors:

May 9, 2022

The philosophy of the Rosemount Area Athletic Association (RAAA) is that all sponsored activities should be a fun and rewarding experience for all participants. We expect our youth and adult participants to act with a high degree of sportsmanship among their friends, teammates, competitors, officials and spectators.    

Definitions 

Unacceptable Conduct 

Unacceptable conduct includes a variety of behaviors, including but not limited to:    

• Offensive, obscene or abusive conduct that would reasonably alarm or provoke resentment from others. 

• Harassment of coaches, referees, players, opponent’s players (belittling or derogatory comments).

• Causing damage to property or equipment used at any sports facility, both home and away.

• Any form of taunting which is intended or designed to embarrass, ridicule, or demean others under any circumstances including on the basis of race, religion, gender, or national origin.

• Aggressive behavior including threats, attempted violence, fighting, brawling and other physical violence.  

• Any form of sexual misconduct.

• Interference of or entering the field of play by a spectator during an athletic event.

• Willful failure to follow the directions of a referee, tournament official, or coach during the athletic event.

• Any form of intoxication or impairment at any RAAA event.

• Bullying or Cyberbullying.

Unacceptable conduct that continues over a prolonged period of time will be considered a pattern of unacceptable behavior. Examples of behavior patterns may include: 

• a youth athlete who is repeatedly called for technical fouls, red cards or other higher-order penalties of their particular sport. 

• a parent or spectator who is ejected from community sporting events more than once. 

Bullying and Cyberbullying

See the Rosemount Area Athletic Association Anti-Bullying Policy for these definitions. 

Policy

Policy Statement 

Unacceptable Conduct is prohibited at all RAAA-sponsored activities. This includes practices, games, tournaments, clinics and team-level events organized by any member of the team. 

Reporting Procedure

If at any time a participant (player, coach, referee, parent, or spectator) observes unacceptable conduct, they should notify the appropriate sport’s Program Director and Board Liaison. These individuals’ contact information can be found at https://rosemount-aaa.org/directory. 

The Program Director and Board Liaison will conduct an investigation of the reported conduct. The Board Liaison will notify the Administration Committee of the Board of Directors that the investigation is occurring.  

If the investigation uncovers a potential violation of the RAAA Anti-Bullying Policy, including Bullying or Cyberbullying, the Program Director will refer the matter to the RAAA President and Administration Committee. 

Disciplinary Process

The Program Director and the sports program’s Board will conduct the first line of investigation. The participant who engages in Unacceptable Conduct may be subject to discipline by program board in accordance with this policy and other relevant policies and codes of conduct. The program board may take into account the following factors:

1. The developmental and maturity level of the parties involved; 

2. The levels of harm, surrounding circumstances, and nature of the behavior; 

3. Past incidences or past or continuing patterns of behavior; 

4. The impact to Rosemount’s and RAAA’s reputation as a result of the behavior; 

5. The context in which the alleged incidents occurred. 

Consequences for all participants who engaged in unacceptable conduct may range from behavioral interventions up to and including immediate removal from participation in a RAAA sports program or team. This action could include, but is not limited to the following:

• Verbal or written 

• Written warning 

• Removal from practice or game

• Game suspension

• Season suspension

That these actions may not be necessarily taken in an escalated manner, and RAAA reserves the right to select and apply any penalty dependent on the situation.

The Program Board may recommend termination of membership to the Board of Directors. The Board would follow the process laid out in RAAA Bylaws. 

The disciplined party may dispute their disciplinary action through the Grievance Process if they wish. 

RAAA (and the Irish Dome) have developed Preparedness Plans in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and has instituted safety measures consistent with CDC guidelines, including following social distancing protocols and asking coaches to visually screen players for symptoms upon arrival. As part of the cooperative effort to provide a safe and healthy environment for sports opportunities for our children, we are asking parents to acknowledge the RAAA COVID-19 Preparedness Plan guidelines including, but not limited to the following:

I acknowledge that I will be responsible for monitoring the health and symptoms of my participant before all practices or games. If my participant has a temperature over 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit, I will notify the head coach and keep my participant home from practice until they are fever free for 24 hours without any fever reducing medicine or what the current CDC guidelines state based on all symptoms.

I acknowledge that if my participant has the following symptoms: cough, shortness of breath, or sore throat, I will keep them home from practice until they are symptom free.

I acknowledge that if my participant or anyone in the participant's household tests positive for COVID-19 or has been told to self-quarantine, that I will keep my participant home.

I acknowledge that if a member of the participant’s team coaching staff suspects any potential COVID-19 symptoms they will isolate the participant and notify the parents or legal guardian to pick up the participant immediately.

I acknowledge that if my participant tests positive for COVID-19, it is my responsibility to notify the Program Director immediately. The Program Director will then notify the team that a team member has tested positive for COVID-19, but they will not identify the individual.

I acknowledge that if I or my participant violate any part of the RAAA COVID-19 Preparedness Plan that my participant will be removed from participating on the participant's team.

IN CONSIDERATION for myself and/or my children listed above being permitted to utilize the services, utilize the facilities and/or participate in the programs of Rosemount Area Athletic Association (the “Organization”), but not limited to, observation or use of facilities or equipment, or participation in or acting as a spectator during any program affiliated with the Organization, by checking the box below I, on behalf of myself and such participating children and any personal representatives, heirs, and next of kin (hereinafter referred to as "the undersigned") hereby acknowledges, agrees and represents that he or she has inspected and carefully considered such premises, equipment, and facilities and has considered the Organization’s programs and that the undersigned finds and accepts same as being safe and reasonably suited for the use or participation by the undersigned and such participating children.

In addition, the undersigned acknowledges that novel coronavirus (''COVID-19") infections have been confirmed throughout the United States, including several cases in the undersigned’s own State and locality.  In accordance with the most recent guidance and recommendations issued by the World Health Organization (WHO), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), undersigned’s own State’s Department of Health (DOH) for slowing the transmission of COVID-19, the undersigned hereby agrees, represents, and warrants that neither the undersigned nor such participating children shall visit or utilize the facilities, services, and/or programs of the Organization (other than any exclusively online services and programs) within 14 days after (i) returning from highly impacted areas subject to a CDC Level 3 Travel Health Notice, (ii) exposure to any person returning from areas subject to a CDC Level 3 Travel Health Notice, or (iii) exposure to any person who has a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19. The CDC Travel Health Network is continuously updating this list and the undersigned agrees that they are aware of this list and the countries listed. The undersigned agrees to check on a daily basis the CDC Travel Health Notices list (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019- ncov/travelers/index.html) prior to participating in or utilizing the facilities, services, and programs of the Organization. The undersigned hereby agrees, represents, and warrants that neither the undersigned nor such participating children shall participate in, visit or utilize the facilities, services, and/or programs of the Organization if he or she (i) experiences symptoms of COVID-19, including, without limitation, fever, cough, loss of sense of taste or smell, or shortness of breath, or (ii) has a suspected or diagnosed/confirmed case of COVID-19. The undersigned agrees to notify the Organization immediately if he or she believes that any of the foregoing access/use restrictions may apply.

The Organization has taken certain steps to implement certain recommended guidance and recommendations issued by public health agencies for slowing the transmission of COVID-19, including, without limitation, the access/use restrictions set forth above. The undersigned acknowledges and agrees that the Organization may revise its procedures at any time based on updated recommended guidance and recommendations issued by public health agencies and further agrees to comply with the Organization’s revised procedures prior to utilizing the facilities, services, and/or prior to participating in the programs of the Organization. The undersigned further acknowledges and agrees that, due to the nature of the facilities, services, and programs offered by the Organization, social distancing of 6 feet per person among children and their fellow participants or others is not always possible. The undersigned fully understands and appreciates both the known and potential dangers of participating in the programs and/or utilizing the facilities and services of the Organization and acknowledges that use thereof by the undersigned and/or such participating children may, despite the Organization’s reasonable efforts to mitigate such dangers, result in exposure to COVID-19, which could result in quarantine requirements, serious illness, disability, and/or death.

IN FURTHER CONSIDERATION OF BEING PERMITTED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE ORGANIZATION’S PROGRAMS, THE UNDERSIGNED HEREBY AGREES TO THE FOLLOWING: THE UNDERSIGNED, ON HIS OR HER BEHALF AND ON BEHALF OF SUCH PARTICIPATING CHILDREN, HEREBY RELEASES, WAIVES, DISCHARGES AND COVENANTS NOT TO SUE the Organization or its national governing body organization, or any of their respective directors, officers, employees, volunteers and agents, or any of the fellow participants or their family members or guests from all liability to the undersigned or such participating children and all personal representatives, assigns, heirs, and next of kin of the undersigned or such participating children for any loss or damage, and any claim or demands on account of any property damage or any injury to, or an illness or the death of, the undersigned or such participating children (or any person who may contract COVID-19, directly or indirectly, from the undersigned or such participating children) whether caused by the negligence, active or passive, of the Organization or otherwise while the undersigned or such participating children are in, upon, or about the premises or any facilities or using any equipment of or participating in any program of or affiliated with the Organization. To the extent such statute applies, the undersigned also expressly and knowingly waives all rights under California Civil Code Section 1542, which provides: "A general release does not extend to claims that the creditor or releasing party does not know or suspect to exist in his or her favor at the time of executing the release and that, if known by him or her, would have materially affected his or her settlement with the debtor or released party."

THE UNDERSIGNED HEREBY AGREES TO INDEMNIFY, DEFEND AND HOLD HARMLESS the Organization or its national governing body organization, or any of their respective directors, officers, employees, volunteers and agents, and each of them, from any loss, liability, damages or costs they may incur, whether caused by the Organization’s negligence, active or passive, or otherwise while the undersigned or any participating child is participating in any program of the Organization or in, upon, or about the premises or any facilities or equipment affiliated with the Organization. The undersigned understands and agrees that the Organization is not required to provide insurance to cover the undersigned or such participating children in the event they suffer illness, injury, death, property loss, theft or damage of any sort upon, or about the premises or any facilities or equipment therein or while participating in any program affiliated with the Organization. The undersigned agrees and acknowledges that use of the Organization facilities and services, and participation in the Organization programs, may involve inherent danger and risk, including, without limitation, the risk of physical illness or injury, death, or property damage.

THE UNDERSIGNED HEREBY ASSUMES FULL RESPONSIBIUTY FOR, AND RISK OF ILLNESS, BODILY INJURY, DEATH OR PROPERTY DAMAGE to the undersigned or such participating children due to negligence, active or passive, or otherwise while in, about or upon the premises of the Organization and/or while using the premises or any facilities or equipment thereon and/or while participating in or observing any program affiliated with the Organization. The undersigned acknowledges that any illness or injuries that the undersigned or such participating children contract or sustain may be compounded by negligent first aid or emergency response of the Releasees and waive any claim in respect thereof. THE UNDERSIGNED further expressly agrees that the foregoing ASSUMPTION OF RISK, RELEASE AND WAIVER OF LIABILITY, AND INDEMNITY AGREEMENT is intended to be as broad and inclusive as is permitted by the laws of the State in which the undersigned resides or participates and that if any portion thereof is held invalid, it is agreed that the balance shall, notwithstanding, continue in full legal force and effect. I HAVE CAREFULLY READ AND VOLUNTARILY SIGN THIS ASSUMPTION OF RISK, RELEASE AND WAIVER OF LIABILITY, AND INDEMNITY AGREEMENT AND FURTHER AGREE THAT NO ORAL REPRESENTATIONS, STATEMENTS, OR INDUCEMENT APART FROM THE FOREGOING WRITTEN AGREEMENT HAVE BEEN MADE. I AM AWARE THAT BY AGREEING TO THIS AGREEMENT I AM GIVING UP VALUABLE LEGAL RIGHTS, INCLUDING THE RIGHT TO RECOVER DAMAGES FROM THE ORGANIZATION IN CASE OF ILLNESS, INJURY, DEATH OR PROPERTY LOSS OR DAMAGE, INCLUDING, FOR THE AVOIDANCE OF DOUBT AND WITHOUT LIMITATION, EXPOSURE TO COVID-19 AT ANY ORGANIZATION FACILITY OR DURING PARTICIPATION IN ANY PROGRAM AND ANY ILLNESS, INJURY OR DEATH RESULTING THEREFROM. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS DOCUMENT IS A PROMISE NOT TO SUE AND A RELEASE OF AND INDEMNIFICATION FOR ALL CLAIMS. IF SIGNING ON BEHALF OF MINOR: I ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS AGREEMENT IS MADE ON BEHALF OF MY MINOR CHILD(REN) AND/OR LEGAL WARDS AND I REPRESENT AND WARRANT TO THE ORGANIZATION THAT I HAVE FULL AUTHORITY TO SIGN THIS AGREEMENT ON BEHALF OF SUCH MINOR(S).

By checking the box below, I have read and understand the terms of this Assumption of Risk, Release and Waiver of Liability, and Indemnity Agreement relating to COVID-19 exposure, COVID-19 liability, AND COVID-19 risks, and agree to its terms.