Am I allowed to be alone with one of my players?
Rule- USA
- U.S. Center for SafeSport
- 2026 SafeSport Code
- 2025 MAAPP
- Olympic and Paralympic Movement
- Youth sports
- Under 18 athletes
- 2026 rules
- Coaches
- Volunteers
Not unless it's observable and interruptible. Under the 2025 MAAPP, all one-on-one in-program contact between an adult participant and a minor athlete must happen where others can see it and interrupt it. That includes meetings and conversations as well as training. The only exceptions are an emergency or one of these documented exceptions:
- Close-in-age: you have no authority over the athlete and are not more than 4 years older, by birth date. For example, a 19-year-old teammate and a 16-year-old.
- Dual relationship: you have a relationship with the athlete outside sport, such as a sibling, grandparent, other relative or family friend, and the parent/guardian has given written consent at least once a year saying which policies it covers.
- Personal care assistant: you help the athlete with activities of daily living and getting ready to take part, the parent/guardian has given the organization written consent, and you've met the organization's training and screening requirements.
- Emergency: use this only when a genuine emergency forces it, and document what happened.
Licensed health care or mental health providers (other than athletic trainers) may meet one-on-one at a facility or event if the door stays unlocked, another adult at the facility knows a meeting is happening, the organization has been told, and the provider obtains proper consent.
Updated 21 Oct 2026