Safe Sport
Program Director - Safe Sport - Liz Hahn 719-866-3542
ehahn@usaswimming.org
Safe Sport Coordinator for our team: Cari Rack 941-273-4933
seadragon.aquatics@gmail.com
https://www.usaswimming.org/Home/safe-sport
USA Swimming's Best Practices
Best Practice Guidelines The following Best Practice Guidelines are strongly recommended for all USA Swimming members.
1. Parents should be encouraged to appropriately support their children’s swimming experience.
2. All swimming practices should be open to observation by parents.
3. Coaches should not initiate contact with or accept supervisory responsibility for athletes outside club programs and activities.
4. When only one athlete and one coach travel to a competition, at the competition the coach and athlete should attempt to establish a “buddy” club to associate with during the competition and when away from the venue.
5. Relationships of a peer-to-peer nature with any athletes should be avoided. For example, coaches should avoid sharing their own personal problems with athletes.
6. Coaches and other non-athlete adult members should avoid horseplay and roughhousing with athletes.
7. When a coach touches an athlete as part of instruction, the coach should do so in direct view of others and inform the athlete of what he/she is doing prior to the initial contact.
Touching athletes should be minimized outside the boundaries of what is considered normal instruction. Appropriate interaction would include high fives, fist bumps, side-to-side hugs and handshakes.
8. Coaches should avoid having athletes as their favorites. They should also avoid creating a situation that could be perceived as them having favorites.
9. Gift-giving, providing special favors or showing favoritism to individual athletes is strongly discouraged.
Updated: June 23, 2019
DEAL WITH A SAFE SPORT CONCERN
WHERE TO START WITH MY CONCERN
When making the decision to report a concern you have, it can often feel intimidating and overwhelming. Please use these guidelines to help you on the first step “Where do I report?” Please use the provided links which will additionally help you get in touch with the appropriate people.
Please note that this is not an exhaustive list. If you are not sure who to contact with a concern please contact Safe Sport Staff at the National Office and we will be sure to talk through your concern, answer your questions and connect you with the correct people.
If you concern deals with any of the following:
- Sexual Misconduct
- Sexual Harassment
- Sexually Explicit/Inappropriate Communication through Social Media
Please contact the U.S. Center for Safe Sport to make a report. Use the online reporting form, call (833)587-7233, or find more information at www.safesport.org.
If your concern deals with any of the following:
- Criminal Charges
- Use, Sale, or Distribution of illegal drugs
- Physical Abuse
- Inappropriate Touching
- Lap Sitting
- Coaches sharing hotel rooms with Athletes
- Rubdown or Massage performed by coaches
- Pictures or video taken in locker rooms or changing areas
Please contact Liz Hahn ehahn@usaswimming.org at the National Office or complete the online reporting form.
If your concern deals with any of the following:
- Fraud
- Deception
- Recruiting
Please make a report through your Zone Board of Review by referencing our Zone Directors List
If your concern deals with any of the following:
- Peer to Peer Bullying
- Adult to Athlete Bullying
- Parent Issues
- Violations of team rules and team code of conduct
Please make a report to your team. We have provided a proposed letter of correspondence to assist you in beginning this process.
MANDATORY REPORTING RULE
Pursuant to federal law, all adults authorized to interact with minor or amateur athletes who learn of facts that give reason to suspect that a child has suffered an incident of child abuse, including sexual abuse, shall make a report of the suspected abuse to law enforcement and/or your state’s designated agency within 24 hours.
ARTICLE 306
SEXUAL MISCONDUCT REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
.1 It is every member’s responsibility to promptly report any incident regarding sexual misconduct by a member as described in Article 304.3.8 to USA Swimming’s Director of Safe Sport. Reporting must occur when an individual has firsthand knowledge of misconduct or where specific and credible information has been received from a victim or knowledgeable third party. Various state laws may also require reporting to law enforcement or to a designated child protection agency.
.2 No member shall retaliate against any individual who has made a good faith report under 306.1.
.3 False reporting of sexual misconduct made in bad faith is prohibited.
.4 Neither civil nor criminal statutes of limitation apply to reports of cases of sexual abuse.”
KEEPING ATHLETES SAFE IN SWIMMING
USA Swimming's top priority continues to be keeping our athletes safe. No form of abuse, including child sexual abuse, has a place in our sport. USA Swimming is committed to reducing the risk of abuse in swimming and increasing awareness of red flag behavior through its Safe Sport program. All adults working with athletes are responsible for creating an abuse-free environment.
TOP RESOURCES
Safe Sport - Stand Together
REPORTING AN ISSUE
U.S. CENTER FOR SAFESPORT
The Center has exclusive jurisdiction for all issues dealing with:
- Sexual Misconduct
- Sexual Harassment
- Sexually Explicit/Inappropriate Communication through Social Media
You can also report issues dealing with:
- Physical or Emotional Misconduct
- Violation of the Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policy
Report your concern to U.S. Center for SafeSport using the following:
Call: 833-5US-SAFE (587-7233)
USA SWIMMING
For all issues dealing with:
- Criminal Charges
- Physical or Emotional Misconduct
- USA Swimming Code of Conduct Violations
- Violations of USA Swimming Safe Sport Policies including USA Swimming's Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policy
Report your concern to USA Swimming using the following:
Email USA Swimming: safesport@usaswimming.org
Your Club
For all issues dealing with:
- Peer-to-Peer Bullying
- Adult-to-Athlete Bullying
- Parent Issues/Parent Complaints
- Violations of team rules and team code of conduct
- Violations of the team policies including the team's Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policy
Please make a report to your team. You can use the provided letter to assist you in beginning this process.
Parent/Athlete Education
Education is one of the most important tools for combating misconduct. There are resources that can help you understand how abuse occurs and what you can do about it. You should be able to recognize signs of grooming behavior and boundary violations and what to do when you suspect a child's safety is at risk.
Bullying
Bullying is more than simply rude or mean actions, it is unwanted behavior among peers that involves real or perceived power imbalance. The behavior is repeated and occurs over time. Bullying and harassment should never be tolerated and goes against the core values of USA Swimming. We encourage parents, athletes and coaches to work together to find solutions to problems between teammates so a swift resolution can be found if at all possible.
QUESTIONS TO CONSIDER:
- Has this occurred over the course of time?
- Is there a power imbalance between the athletes? For example, is one athlete older, been on the team longer or have higher social status?
- Are there examples of humiliation, degradation, discriminatory language, or deliberate isolation from teammates?
- Has there been any harassment via social media or electronic communication such as text or email?
- Have there been any photographs taken or altered?
- Has the issue been addressed with the club owner or head coach?
EMOTIONALLY ABUSIVE COACHING
If you believe that emotional or verbal misconduct is happening in your club but are unsure, here are some questions to consider:
- Has this instance occurred more than once?
- Have there been instances of name calling, constant screaming or offhand jokes directed at your child?
- Are basic needs, such as water bathroom breaks or medical care, ignored or denied as a means of punishment?
- Have there been times when items have been thrown at your child or other children in a way that would cause a reasonable person to be fearful?
- Are there humiliating, degrading, body shaming or discriminatory actions?
- Is your child showing signs of fear when going to practice?
- Have you noticed an increased level of sadness, a loss of interest in swimming or extreme anxiety in your child before or after practice?
- Does your child express a sense of "walking on eggshells" while they are around the coach in question?
- Has this situation been brought to the attention of the club or facility management?
NON SAFE SPORT ISSUES
The following issues do not fall within the jurisdiction of the USA Swimming Code of Conduct.
WHAT WE CANNOT HELP WITH:
- Employment matters
- Financial matters such as club fees, meet fees, and other financial arrangements
- Competitive issues
- Team placement
- Family legal issues
SAFE SPORTS FAQS
USA Swimming is committed to fostering a fun, healthy, and safe environment for all its members, and in 2010, it formally implemented a comprehensive Safe Sport program to respond to and prevent instances of abuse and misconduct within the sport of swimming. Since then USA Swimming Safe Sport has worked tirelessly to educate members, put policies in place, and empower LSCs and clubs to create the best possible environments for all members.
All adult athlete non-athlete members are required to complete a USA Swimming-approved criminal background check. All USA Swimming member clubs are required to complete additional pre-employment screening of its employees. Ask your club how employees are screened and hired. All coaches and volunteers must be educated in USA Swimming policies and club policies including Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policies, Anti-bullying policy, and best practice guidelines.
The Safe Sport Club Recognition program allows a member club to demonstrate its commitment to creating a healthy and positive environment free from abuse for all of its members through the development and implementation of club governance measures, Safe Sport policies and reporting mechanisms, Safe Sport best practices and training to athletes and parents. Safe Sport Recognized Clubs earn a badge to display on their website, and these clubs will be designated as Safe Sport Recognized in USA Swimming’s Find-a-Team online search tool. Check with your club leadership on their Safe Sport Recognized program status.
Please visit USA Swimming's website and search for 'Individuals ineligible or suspended.
Starting June 23, 2019, as a condition of membership, all athlete members ages 18 and over must complete Athlete Protection Training. Training is available for minors, but is not mandatory.
The MAAPP is a collection of proactive prevention and training policies for the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Movement. It has three primary components: an Education and Training Policy, Required Prevention Policies, and Recommended Prevention Policies. The Center developed the MAAPP to assist National Governing Bodies, Paralympic Sport Organizations, Local Affiliated Organizations, the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee, and other individuals to whom these policies apply in meeting their obligations under federal law. To see the U.S. Center for SafeSport's information about MAAPP please go here: https://uscenterforsafesport.org/training-and-education/minor-athlete-abuse-prevention-policies/