MCDA Policies on Electronic Communications and Bullying

Last month, the USA Swimming House of Delegates approved important legislation enhancing existing safeguards for the Safe Sport Program. Two of these pieces, Articles 305.3.6 and 305.3.7, require clubs to implement (1) an action plan to address bullying and (2) a policy guiding electronic communication between adults and athletes, respectively.

The Safe Sport Committee was charged with developing models to satisfy the requirements of 305.3.6 and 305.3.7, which clubs could adopt in their entirety or adapt based on the needs of the club. Both Model Policy documents may be found in the Safe Sport > Policies & Guidelines section of the USA Swimming website (www.usaswimming.org/protect ).

As part of this legislation, the House of Delegates approved a deadline for implementation of these policies of 90 days after USA Swimming’s models are published. Based on today’s date, clubs will be required to adopt policies to satisfy Article 305.3.6 and 305.3.7 by Monday, January 14, 2013. If a club chooses not to, or is unable to, create its own policies, the model documents will become the default for that club, and the club will be expected to implement these. Once a customized policy is developed a club, the default will no longer apply. Each member club has the responsibility to approve and implement its own policies.

As a result of this USA Swimming requirement, Miami Country Day Aquatics has developed an adopted the following policies.  All coaches, parents and athletes must review these policies and act accordingly.

MIAMI COUNTRY DAY AQUATICS:  SAFE SPORT POLICIES

MCDA Action Plan to Address Bullying

MCDA Electronic Communication Policy

Please let us know if you have any questions.

Thank you,
Coach Pittman