The USA Swimming Safe Sport program is USA Swimming’s comprehensive abuse prevention program dedicated to creating a healthy and positive environment free from abuse for all its members. Components of the program include, but are not limited to, providing education and training, enforcing policies (such as the Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policy), rules and best practice guidelines, promoting healthy boundaries and mandatory reporting of violations.
The Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policy prohibits Adult Participants (as defined) from having one-on-one interactions with minor athletes which are not within an observable and interruptible distance from another adult. Adult Participants are required to abide by this policy in full during this meet.
Pursuant to USA Swimming Rules and Regulations and federal law, it is every member’s responsibility to immediately (i.e., within 24 hours) report any incident of child abuse, including physical or sexual abuse, to law enforcement and the U.S. Center for SafeSport. Reporting must occur when an individual has firsthand knowledge of misconduct or where specific and credible information has been received from a victim or knowledgeable third party. A report to the U.S. Center for SafeSport may be made via telephone at 833-5US-SAFE (833-587-7233) or online at www.uscenterforsafesport.org/report-a-concern. Various state laws may also require reporting to law enforcement or to a designated child protection agency.
For information on how to report other alleged violations, including without limitation, the USA Swimming Code of Conduct and the Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policy, please visit www.usaswimming.org/report.
All athletes age 18 and older must complete Athlete Protection Training in order to be a USA Swimming registered member in good standing. Any athlete who turns 18 on or after 30 days prior to the first date of competition, who has not completed Athlete Protection Training by the first day of competition, will be prohibited from participating in the competition until such time as all membership requirements are completed. Times achieved by an athlete who turns age 18 on or after the first date of competition, who competes in this USA Swimming sanctioned event without completing this membership requirement, will NOT count for qualification or recognition. This includes participation as a member of a relay.
Implement a Safe Sport environment at a meet can be simple using the above guide. Meet 360 is designed for meet hosts, meet directors, meet referees and meet organizers. This guide is intended to assist in creating a safe environment for all who attend, and will aid in implementing preventative Safe Sport measures before, during and after a meet, addressing Safe Sport concerns, and complying with the Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policy.
