Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policy

THIS POLICY APPLIES TO:

In-Program Contact: Any contact (including communications, interactions, or activities) between an Adult Participant (including Coaches, Officials, and Board Members) and any Minor Athlete(s) related to participation in sport. Examples include but are not limited to competition, practices, camps/clinics, training/instructional sessions, pre/post-event meals or outings, team travel, video review, team- or sport-related team-building activities, celebrations, award ceremonies, banquets, team- or sport-related fundraising or community services, sports education, competition site visits, conventions and/or summits.

Adult Participants: Any adult 18 years of age or older who is a:

  • USA Swimming member, either athlete or non-athlete;

  • Participating non-member (e.g., meet marshals, meet computer operators, timers, etc.);

  • Authorized, approved, or appointed by USA Swimming, Zones, Local Swimming Committees (“LSCs”), or member clubs to have regular contact with (e.g., ongoing interactions during a 12-month period wherein the individual is in a role of active engagement) or authority over Minor Athletes; and/or within the governance or disciplinary jurisdiction of USA Swimming, Zones, LSCs or member clubs.

Click the link to review the full policy: PWAC MAAPP Policy Document

PWAC Electronic Communication Policy

PWAC recognizes the prevalence of social media in today’s world. Many of our swimmers use these means as their primary method of communication. While PWAC acknowledges the value of these methods of communication, PWAC also realizes that there are associated risks that must be considered when adults use these methods to communicate with minors.

All communications between a coach or other adult and an athlete must be professional and to communicate information about team activities. The content and intent of all electronic communications must adhere to the USA Swimming Code of Conduct regarding Athlete Protection.

For example, as with any communication with an athlete, electronic communication should not contain or relate to any of the following:

  • drugs or alcohol use;

  • sexually oriented conversation; sexually explicit language; sexual activity;

  • the adult’s personal life, social activities, relationship or family issues, or personal problems; and

  • inappropriate or sexually explicit pictures

  • Note: Any communication concerning an athlete’s personal life, social activities, relationship or family issues, or personal problems must be transparent, accessible, and professional.

Whether one is an athlete, coach, board member, or parent, the guiding principle to always use in communication is to ask: “Is this communication something that someone else would find appropriate or acceptable in a face---to---face meeting?” or “Is this something you would be comfortable saying out loud to the intended recipient of your communication in front of the intended recipient’s parents, the coaching staff, PWAC board, or other athletes?”

With respect to electronic communications, a simple test that can be used in most cases is whether the electronic communication with swimmers is Transparent, Accessible, and Professional.

Transparent: All electronic communication between coaches and athletes should be transparent. Your communication should be not only clear and direct but also free of hidden meanings, innuendo, and expectations.

Accessible: All electronic communication between coaches and athletes should be considered a matter of record and part of PWAC’s records. Whenever possible, include another coach or parent in the communication so there is no question regarding accessibility.

Professional: All electronic communication between a coach and an athlete should be conducted professionally as a representative of PWAC. This includes word choices, tone, grammar, and subject matter.

Coaches may have personal Facebook (or other social media sites) pages, but they are not permitted to have any athlete member of PWAC join their personal page as a “friend.” A coach should not accept any “friend” request from an athlete. In addition, the coach should remind the athlete that this is not permitted. Coaches and athletes cannot “private message” each other through Facebook. Coaches and athletes cannot “instant message” each other through Facebook chat or other IM methods.

PWAC has an official Facebook page where athletes and their parents can “friend” for information and updates on team---related matters. Coaches are encouraged to set their pages to “private” to prevent athletes from accessing the coach’s personal information.

PWAC has an official Instagram page that coaches, athletes, and parents can follow for information and updates on team---related matters. Coaches and athletes may follow each other on Instagram. Coaches cannot repost an athlete's message. Coaches and athletes cannot “direct message” each other through Instagram.

Subject to the general guidelines mentioned above, texting is allowed between coaches and athletes from 7 a.m. until 9 p.m. Texting only shall be used to communicate information directly related to team activities.

Athletes and coaches may use email to communicate between 5 a.m. and 10 p.m. When communicating with an athlete through email, a parent, another coach, or a board member should also be copied.

The parents or guardians of an athlete may request in writing that their child not be contacted by coaches through any form of electronic communication.

PWAC Photography Policy

There has been much talk about whether it is safe to have images taken of children participating in sports. While the great majority of images are appropriate and are taken in good faith, it is a fact that images can be misused, and children can be put at risk if common-sense procedures are not observed.

The publishing of a photograph of a swimmer under 18 either on a notice board or in a published article or video recording (including video streaming) of swimming competitions (“publication”) will only be done with parents’ consent.

A parent or guardian has a right to refuse to have children photographed. The exercise of this right of refusal cannot be used as grounds for refusing entry into a swimming competition. Therefore, any photo that may go to press or on a notice board, whether through a club member or an official photographer, will receive parental consent before publishing/displaying the photo, preferably in writing.

In the case of open meets and other competitions where the host club has an official photographer present, all parents attending will be informed of this in the meet information. If photos are to be published anywhere, the individual parent can withhold their consent. Their right to do so will be specifically drawn to their attention.

All photographs must observe generally accepted standards of decency, in particular:

Action shots should celebrate the sporting activity and not a sexualized image in a sporting context.

Action shots should not be taken or retained where the photograph reveals a torn or displaced swimsuit.

Photographs should not be taken from behind swimming blocks at the start of a race or exhibit a child climbing out of the swimming pool.

Photographs should not be taken in locker rooms or bathrooms.

To opt out of PWAC's photograph policies for your swimmer, please fill out the Photo Opt-Out form and give it to a board member directly or by email.  

 

PWAC Locker Rooms Policy

Use of Locker Room or Changing Area Required!

The designated locker room or changing area must be used when an athlete or Applicable Adult changes, in whole or in part, into or out of a swimsuit when wearing just one suit (e.g., deck changing is prohibited).

Use of Recording Devices

Use of any device’s (including a cell phone’s) recording capabilities, including voice recording, still cameras, and video cameras in locker rooms, changing areas, or similar spaces by a minor athlete or an Applicable Adult, is prohibited.

Observable and Interruptible

All In-Program Contact between Adult Participants and Minor Athletes in a locker room, changing area or similar space must be observable and interruptible, except:

a. In emergency circumstances;

b. A Dual Relationship exists; and/or

c. The Close-In-Age exception applies.

Private or Semi-Private Space for Minor Athletes

Organization must provide a private or semi-private place for Minor Athletes that need to change clothes or undress at Events or Facilities Under Partial or Full Jurisdiction of Organization.

Use of Recording Devices

Use of any device’s (including a cell phone’s) recording capabilities, including voice recording, still cameras and video cameras in locker rooms, changing areas, or similar spaces by a Minor Athlete or an Adult Participant is prohibited. 

Undress

Adult Participants must not remove their clothes or behave in a manner that intentionally or recklessly exposes his or her breasts, buttocks, groin or genitals to a Minor Athlete under any circumstance. An Adult Participant must not request a Minor Athlete to expose the Minor Athlete’s breasts, buttocks, groin or genitals to the Adult Participant under any circumstance. Nothing in this section shall be construed to apply to areas of the body exposed while wearing swimwear which conforms to the current concept of the appropriate for the individual’s competition category. 

Showers

a. Adult Participants must not shower with Minor Athletes unless:

i. The Adult Participant meets the Close-in-Age Exception; and/or

ii. The shower is part of a pre- or post-activity rinse while wearing swimwear.

b. Parents/legal guardians may request in writing that their Minor Athlete(s) not change or shower with Adult Participants during In-Program Contact. Organization must abide by such a request. 

Monitoring

PWAC will regularly and randomly monitor the use of locker rooms and changing areas to ensure compliance with this Policy. Locker rooms and changing areas may be monitored by use of the following methods:

a. Conducting a sweep of the locker room or changing area before athletes arrive;

b. Posting staff directly outside the locker room or changing area during periods of use;

c. Leaving the doors open when adequate privacy is still possible; and/or

d. Making occasional sweeps of the locker rooms or changing areas with women checking on female locker rooms and men checking on male locker rooms.

Every effort must be made to recognize when a minor athlete goes to the locker room or changing area during practice and competition, and, if the minor athlete does not return in a timely fashion, to check on the minor athlete’s whereabouts.

Media and Championship Celebrations in Locker Rooms

Organization may permit recording or photography in locker rooms to highlight a sport or athletic accomplishment if:

a. Parent/legal guardian consent has been obtained, when possible; and

b. Organization approves the specific instance of recording or photography; and 12

c. Two or more Adult Participants are present; and

d. Everyone is fully clothed.

If a parent/legal guardian enters a locker room or changing area, it must only be a parent/legal guardian of the same competition category and the parent/legal guardian should notify a coach or administrator in advance. 

 

PWAC Team Travel Policy

  1. Regardless of gender, a coach shall not share a hotel room or other sleeping arrangements with an athlete unless the coach is the parent, guardian, sibling, or spouse of that particular athlete.

  2. Team managers and chaperones must be members of USA Swimming and have successfully passed a USA Swimming-required criminal background check.

  3. When only one athlete and one coach attend a competition, the coach and athlete should attempt to establish a “buddy” club to associate with during the competition and when away from the venue.

  4. If only one athlete and one coach attend a competition, the athlete must have his/her parent’s (or legal guardian’s) written permission in advance to attend.  

  5. In connection with team travel, additional guidelines will be provided to team members.

PWAC Anti-Bullying Policy

PWAC is committed to providing a safe, caring, and friendly environment for all our coaches and athletes and, consistent with being a USA Swimming club, adopts this anti-bullying policy.

Bullying by or against our coaches and/or swimmers divers is unacceptable at PWAC and will not be tolerated. If bullying does occur, all swimmers and parents should know that incidents will be dealt with promptly and effectively. Anyone who knows that bullying is happening must tell a coach or a PWAC board member.

What is Bullying?

Generally, bullying is the severe or repeated use of oral, written, electronic, or other technological expressions, images, sound, data, or intelligence of any nature (regardless of the method of transmission), or a physical act or gesture, or any combination thereof, directed at an athlete that to a reasonably objective person has the effect of:

  • causing physical or emotional harm to an athlete or damage to an athlete’s property

  • placing the athlete in reasonable fear of harm to himself/herself or of damage to his/her property

  • creating a hostile environment for an athlete at any practice, SAL, USA Swimming, or PWAC activity

  • Materially and substantially disrupting the training process or the orderly operation of any SAL, USA Swimming or PWAC activity (which for this section shall include, without limitation, practices, workouts, and other events of a SAL and/or USA Swimming club)

Misconduct

The Board of Directors have the authority to impose penalties for infractions of the PWAC Athlete, Parent, and Coach Codes of Conduct or any behavior(s) they deem not conducive to the best interests of the Club or other swimmers. Consequences are at the sole discretion of the coaches and/or PWAC Board of Directors and may include, but aren’t limited to, verbal warnings, dismissal from practice, contacting parents, temporary suspension from club activities, and expulsion. Involved parties will be informed of the processes and range of potential consequences. The U.S. Center for SafeSport, USA Swimming, and local law enforcement (if applicable) will be contacted within 24 hours if a coach, parent, or swimmer violates the SafeSport Code for the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Movements, the USA Swimming Code of Conduct, Athlete Protection Policy, or local laws.

  1. Gathering Information: The appropriate individuals will contact the person who filed the grievance, and the person against whom the grievance is being filed, to ask questions about what happened. In addition, other witnesses may be contacted for more information.  All information will be recorded on the PWAC grievance procedure form. 

  2. Assessing Behavior: The behavior of the person(s) against which the grievance was brought will be assessed using club policies and facility rules, the USA Swimming Code of Conduct, USA Swimming Safe Sport policies, and applicable local and state laws.

  3. Consequences will be given, and disciplinary action will be taken if appropriate. These consequences and disciplinary actions will be decided using the following general guidelines: 

    1. Nature of the misconduct

    2. Severity of the misconduct

    3. Prior disciplinary actions

    4. Adverse effect of the misconduct

    5. Application of the Code of Conduct

 

PWAC Safe Sport Coordinator:  Corey Babka