REPORTING MISCONDUCT POLICY OF TEAM VORTEX SWIM CLUB
Athlete Protection Policy
Team Vortex Swim Club is dedicated to providing a safe and positive environment for our swimmers’ physical, social, and emotional development, as well as providing an environment that is free of misconduct. In the event that any Vortex Swim Club coach, club member, or volunteer observes any kind of inappropriate behavior, such as policy violations, or other kinds of misconduct or suspects physical or sexual abuse, it is the personal responsibility of that person to immediately report their observations to any Vortex Swim Club Coach or Vortex Swim Club Board Member.
At no time should any Vortex Swim Club coach, swimmer, or volunteers try to evaluate the credibility or validity of child physical or sexual abuse allegations as a condition of reporting to the appropriate law enforcement authorities. It is the responsibility of every Vortex Swim Club coach, swimmer, or volunteer to immediately report any suspicions or allegations of physical or sexual abuse as outlined in our reporting procedure that is listed below. All complaints and allegations will be addressed under the Vortex Swim Club’s By-Laws.
The Athlete Protection Policy applies to all Vortex Swim Club coaches, swimmers, and volunteers.
All Vortex Swim Club coaches, swimmers, and volunteers will refrain from any form of misconduct, which includes bullying, hazing, harassment, emotional, sexual, or physical misconduct.
Examples of misconduct can include, but are not limited to:
- Verbal behavior patterns that attack an athlete personally.
- Excessive or repeated yelling at a specific person that does not serve a motivational purpose or provides no productive training.
- Behavior or conduct that threatens to or physically causes harm to a swimmer.
- Behaviors that include teasing, ridiculing, spreading rumors, making false statements, or using social media as a means to harass, frighten, or humiliate.
- Any act or conduct that is described as physical abuse or misconduct under state and federal law.
It is a direct violation of the Athlete Protection Policy if a Vortex Swim Club coach, swimmer, or volunteer knows about any misconduct taking place, but takes no action to intervene. Our policy is designed to reduce child sexual abuse and other types of misconduct, but it can still occur. If any Vortex Swim Club coach, swimmer, or volunteer sees it or suspects it of happening they need to follow the reporting procedures below.
Response to Abuse, Misconduct, and Policy Violations
Every Vortex Swim Club coach must report:
- Violations of the Vortex Swim Club Handbook, including the Vortex Swim Club Safe Swim Policy
- Misconduct defined in the Vortex Swim Club Athlete Protection Policy, and
- Allegations or suspicions of physical or sexual misconduct.
Allegations of abuse will be reported to the appropriate law enforcement authorities. Vortex Swim Club does not evaluate or investigate the credibility or validity of child physical or sexual abuse allegations as a condition of reporting to the appropriate law enforcement authorities.
Vortex Swim Club coaches and volunteers are required to report any suspicions or allegations of abuse by a co-worker or colleague. If the allegation received is not reportable to the appropriate law enforcement authorities, the coach or volunteer needs to report their observations to a member of the Vortex Swim Club Board or their immediate supervisor. The Vortex Swim Club also encourages any parents and swimmers to report any violations or allegations of child physical or sexual abuse to the appropriate law enforcement agency or any member of the Vortex Swim Club Board.
Reporting Procedure
Vortex Swim Club coaches, swimmers, or volunteers can report to any administrator that they feel comfortable sharing their concerns with. Administrators would include any Vortex Swim Club Coach or Vortex Swim Club Board member. Reports of Code of Conduct Violations will also need to be made with a staff member of the USA Swimming Safe Sport Program either by telephone, email, letter, or an online report.
USA Swimming Safe Sport Program Staff
Director of Safe Sport
Susan Woessner [email protected] 719-866-3589 719-332-0184
Safe Sport Program Coordinator
Liz Hoendervoogt [email protected] 719-866-3542 719-237-2705
Team Vortex Swim Club will take a report in a way that is comfortable for the person making the report including
- Allowing the person reporting to remain anonymous
- An in-person report
The report can be communicated verbally or in written form. No matter how the report is received individuals are asked to provide at a minimum;
- Name of the complainant
- Type of misconduct
- Name of the person to have allegedly committed the misconduct.
When reporting misconduct, you can complete an Incident Report Form. Team Vortex Swim Club will withhold the complainant’s name upon request, but only to the extent permitted by law.
