A. Filing a Grievance

To file a grievance, the parent/parent submits a written statement summarizing the issue to the Risk Manager of the MN Revolution.  Because it is more difficult to resolve outdated issues, grievances must be submitted to the Risk Manager in a timely manner, normally within one month of the failure to resolve the issue through informal channels. The following information should be included:

• Grievance Statement - A description of the issue, including the policy or guideline that the player/parent alleges was violated, if applicable, and the name of the respondent. (Information about MN Revolution policies and guidelines is available from a number of sources, including this guide,)
• Background - A statement of the relevant facts supporting the player/parent position, including information about the impact the issue has had or is having on the player/parent.
• Requested Resolution - A statement of what the player/parent is requesting as a satisfactory resolution to the grievance.

Player’s/parent’s cannot modify or expand a grievance once it has been submitted for consideration. If a player/parent who has already filed a grievance wishes to pursue new issues, a new grievance must be filed. Player’s/parent’s can, however, supplement their initial grievance statement with additional information in order to clarify the issues further. The player/parent can stop the grievance process at any time by giving written notice to the Risk Manager of the MN Revolution.

B. Steps in the Grievance Procedure

Step 1

The Risk Manager schedules a meeting with the player/parent and the respondent (Coach/Adult) named in the players/parents grievance statement within five business days of receiving the written statement from the player/parent. The purpose of this meeting is to discuss the issues raised by the player/parent and consider possible solutions.

Prior to this meeting, the Risk Manager for the MN Revolution arranges for the respondent (Coach/Adult) named in the grievance to receive a copy of the player/parent grievance statement. In addition, the Risk Manager notifies the executive board of the MN Revolution of both the grievant (player/parent) and the respondent (coach/adult) that a grievance has been filed.

The respondent (coach/adult) named in the grievance is required to respond in writing to the player/parent within five business days following the meeting with the respondent (coach/adult), player/parent and the Risk Manager. The respondent (coach/adult) also gives a copy of this communication to the Risk Manager.

If the respondent (coach/adult) named in the grievance refuses to attend the meeting or does not respond to the player/parent’s grievance in writing within five business days following the meeting with the player/parent and the Risk Manager, the player/parent can orally request that the Risk Manager refer the grievance to the executive board of the MN Revolution.

If the grievant (player/parent) does not agree that the grievance has been satisfactorily resolved, the grievant (player/parent) can request in writing to the Risk Manager that the grievance be referred to the executive board of the MN Revolution. This request must be submitted to the Risk Manager within 10 business days of the Step 1 meeting, if it occurs, and include the reasons for referring the grievance to the next step. Otherwise, the grievance is considered to be resolved.

Step 2

In response to the player/parent written request, if the problem is not resolved at Step 1, the Risk Manager arranges a meeting with the executive board of the MN Revolution, the respondent (coach/adult) and the grievant (player/parent). The procedures and time limitations contained in Step 1 apply.

If, after consulting with the executive board of the MN Revolution as stated above, the player/parent judges that the grievance has not been resolved satisfactorily, the player/parent can submit a written request that the grievance be referred for final review with the executive board of the MN Revolution. This request must be submitted to the Risk Manager in writing within seven business days after the meeting with the executive board of the MN Revolution and the Risk Manager.

Step 3

The executive board of the MN Revolution is responsible for final review of grievances that cannot be resolved at Step 2 in the grievance procedure. The decision of the executive board of the MN Revolution is reached by a majority vote and is communicated to the player/parent within 20 business days of receiving the grievance from the player/parent.

This decision is final unless additional information is discovered that would cause the case to be reconsidered. If this occurs, the player/parent or the respondent (coach/adult) named in the grievance can request in writing to the Risk Manager that the grievance be referred to the executive board of the MN Revolution again for further consideration.

Note: In certain circumstances, as determined by the Risk Manager, the time limitations imposed at Steps 1, 2 and 3 may need to be revised to accommodate unforeseen situations, such as travel commitments or the illness of the person lodging the grievance, the respondent, or others involved in the grievance process.