What is SafeSport?

The U.S. Center for SafeSport is a nonprofit organization committed to ending all forms of abuse in sport. This includes bullying, harassment, hazing, physical abuse, emotional abuse, and sexual misconduct and abuse. Their mission is to make athlete well-being the centerpiece of our culture, and to ensure every athlete is safe, supported, and strengthened through sport.

USA Swimming is committed to providing a healthy and positive environment free from abuse for all its members.  USA Swimming’s Safe Sport program, a comprehensive abuse prevention program, consists of a multi-layered approach to keep kids safe, including required policies and best practice guidelines; mandatory screening, including criminal background checks and employment screening; training and education; monitoring, supervision, and mandatory reporting.  These measures are informed by experts in the field of child safety and are among the strongest safeguards found in youth-serving organizations.

SafeSport is an important partner of USA Swimming and Indiana Swim Club. Indiana Swim Club uses these important guidelines and training resources to prevent abuse in all forms. 

USA Swimming offers free training for both parents and minor athletes which can be accessed through the USA Swimming University. In addition, there are free monthly virtual trainings available to both parents and minor athletes via Zoom. The monthly virtual Zoom training schedule is located here.

Electronic communication is woven into daily life—texts, emails, group chats, and DMs help teams stay organized. Even so, to keep athletes safe we follow the U.S. Center for SafeSport’s Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policies (MAAPP). Here’s what that means for your family and what you can expect from Indiana Swim Club.

Our Commitment to You

  • No one-on-one electronic messages with minors. Coaches and any club representative will not contact a minor athlete directly without including a parent or guardian.

  • This applies to all platforms: text, email, phone calls, social media DMs, and team apps.

  • Team messages will include parents/guardians.

  • Any communication will stay professional and coach/club-appropriate—focused on schedules, logistics, safety, and performance. Coaches are adult leaders, not peers, so no personal conversations, or one-on-one DMs.

  • If your athlete reaches out to a coach directly, the coach will add you or move the conversation into a group that includes you.

How You Can Help

  • When season starts, please create a group text or email with your athlete and the coach so the parent/guardian is always included.
    Example text to start a thread:
    “Hi Coach, here’s a group message with me and [Athlete’s Name] so all future messages include a parent. Thanks!”

  • Let us know if you prefer a specific email address or phone number for team communication.

  • If you’d like communication to stop (outside of emergencies), tell us—we will honor your request.

Social Media & Apps

  • Coaches and club reps do not use one-on-one DMs with minor athletes.

  • Avoid platforms that use disappearing messages or don’t allow adding a parent/guardian.

Reporting Concerns

As a Safe Sport–certified club, we are required to report any electronic communication we see, receive, or are told about that might not comply with MAAPP—even a brief or “minor” text.

​

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. Information is available at the USA Swimming website under Deal with a Safe Sport Concern. Please use the guidelines under REPORTING AN ISSUE to help you on the first step. Staff members will talk through your concern, answer your questions and connect you with the correct people.

Stephanie Gray is the current ISC Safe Sport Coordinator. She can be reached at [email protected].

To report a concern directly to USA Swimming, please contact  (719) 866-4578 or visit Deal with a Safe Sport Concern.

To report a concern directly to the U.S. Center for Safe Sport to make a report, use the online reporting form, call 833-5US-SAFE (587-7233), or find more information at safesporthelpline.org

To report anonymously, text anonymous tips to 888-270-SWIM(7946).

Safe Sport Policies:

Safe Sport General Information:

 

Safe Sport Education:

 

Code of Conduct Forms:

 

Consent Forms: