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USA Swimming SWIMS Account

What do I need this account for?

Each family will need to create an account in the USA Swimming SWIMS database to register their athletes and complete any trainings (parent education, Officials’, etc). Additionally, the account allows you to access USA Swimming live streams and more, both online and through the USA Swimming app.

 

How many accounts do I need to have through USA Swimming?

Each family only needs to have one parent account. 

 

How do I create a parent account?

Click here.

 

How does my Shark create their own account?

Only athletes age 16 and older are permitted to create their own account, per USA Swimming. If you have a swimmer that fits this criteria, you can create an account for them, provided you have their USA Swimming Member ID # and they have their own email address - follow these instructions.

 

Is this account the same as the MLAC registration account?

No. SWIMS is a completely separate platform than TeamUnify. You can use the same email address for your login info, but there is no relationship between the two platforms in this regard. 

 

USAS Safe Sport Parent Module

I completed the USAS Safe Sport Parent Module last year. Do I have to do it again?

Technically, no. If you completed the training last year, you do not have to complete the training again and we have noted your completion of this component of the Administrative Family Service Credit. 

 

Should you wish to complete the training again (which would be a course update refresher), you will have to wait until two years from when you completed the initial training. 

 

If one parent in a family has completed the training, another parent could complete it - provided they have their own USA Swimming account and are linked to the main family account. 

 

How do I access the USAS Safe Sport Parent Module?

The module is accessed directly from your USA Swimming account. Once you are logged in, click Education > Course Catalog > Safe Sport > SSRP.

 

The title of the course is “PARENTS GUIDE TO MISCONDUCT IN SPORT.” It takes thirty minutes to complete.

 

How do I submit proof to MLAC?

You did not need to send over any certificate of completion. Provided that you logged into your family account linked to your athlete who is attached to MLAC, we are able to track your completion through the SWIMS reporting functionality.

 

MLAC Family Service

Do all families have to participate? 

Yes. MLAC is a parent-run organization which heavily relies on families, in addition to the professional staff, to help run the day-to-day business and host meets and events throughout the year. Each member family is obligated to contribute to maintain the fiscally sound operations that enable our positive environment for each and every athlete. Families do have the option to fulfill their credit hours in their entirety or be charged a rate of $125 per credit unfulfilled, or, alternatively, request an exemption. 

 

For the full policy, which all families have read and agreed to upon registration each year, visit the Governance page on the MLAC website.

 

What is new this year?

Upon evaluation of operations, MLAC has increased the number of credits for families. Additionally this year, an Administrative Credit is being offered to families who complete the following tasks before 10/31/23:

-registering their swimmers as USA Swimming athletes for the 2024 season 

-completing the Parent Safe Sport Module

-uploading/updating all compliance documents for any workers 

 

I did the Parent Safe Sport training last year. Do I have to do it again? Will I be penalized for doing it last year?

Nope! If you kindly completed it last year, you are grandfathered in and have 1/3 of your Administrative Credit completed.

 

Do I really have to register my swimmers as athletes right now? 

No. If your swimmers were registered as Premium Athletes for the 2023 season with USA Swimming, the registration is technically valid through the end of the calendar year (12/31/23). However, at some point before the end of the calendar year, you will need to register your swimmers for the 2024 season, else they will be suspended from MLAC and you will still continue to be responsible for their tuition and any other financial obligations. MLAC is simply incentivizing families to complete this task early in the season so that there are no athletes prevented from being in the water come January. 

 

What kind of compliance documents do I need to get?

Most of our families will probably have at least one individual in the household who already has these documents from their time volunteering, whether in schools or church or other organizations. 

 

As a blanket, much like in those other organizations, individuals age 18 and older will need three things:

A) PA Criminal Background Check

B) PA Child Abuse Clearance

C) FBI Background Check or MLAC 10-Year Affidavit (for those who have lived in PA for 10 continuous years)

 

Where do I find how to get these compliance documents?

All related compliance information, including direct links to register/process, are available on our Compliance page. 

 

How frequently do I need to update them?

MLAC requires individuals to update their compliance documents every five years. MLAC takes its lead from the volunteer policy and procedures set forth from the Mt Lebanon School District, though MLAC is not affiliated with or a part of the MTLSD. 

 

Do I need a set of compliance documents for both parents in our family?

Yes - if both parents will be working to fulfill Family Service obligations (for example, if both parents are going to time at meet sessions). Compliance documents are not a widespread net of background checks and only provide results for one specific individual.

 

If I have these compliance documents from being involved at my child’s school, do I need to get a new set of them for MLAC?

Not necessarily. If your PA Criminal Background Check and/or PA Child Abuse Clearance and/or FBI Fingerprint Clearance are still within five years, then you do not need to get a new set and can submit your copies of said documents to MLAC.

 

The only document that needs to be completed specifically for MLAC that is not able to be recycled from another organization is the MLAC 10-Year Affidavit. 

 

Where do I submit these documents?

Each individual will need to create an account on our compliance and worker platform, Galaxy. Unfortunately, there is no ability to multi-upload documents for multiple individuals within the same family and each individual will need to have their own account with Galaxy.

 

What does my teenager (swimmer, sibling, or both) need if they “want to” work meet sessions?

Whether their service at a meet session is “forced by parents” or “own their goodwill nature,” having your teen work at MLAC meets/events is a great way to pawn off knocking out credits. Individuals under 18 do not need compliance documents as these records would be sealed. These individuals should request to be added to the listing of workers for each meet session/event by contacting Coach Luke - aka, they do not need to create an account in Galaxy. Don’t forget that MLAC will certainly sign off on volunteer service hours for these!