4MSC SafeSport: The Grievance Policy

The 4MSC Grievance Policy

for 4MSC Swimmers’, Parents’ and Coaches’

The 4M Swim Club's Grievance Procedure provides swimmers, parents, coaches, club
leaders and employees a system to address and report grievances in a productive, systematic way.
Following these Procedures provides the appropriate parties a means to properly investigate,
intervene, and take disciplinary action when needed.
 

WHERE TO REPORT:
For issues dealing with sexual misconduct, sexual harassment and/or sexually explicit or
inappropriate communication through social media:
U.S. Center for SafeSport: (833) 587-7233 or https://safesport.i-sight.com/portal
USA Swimming Club Portal 

For issues dealing with physical abuse, emotional abuse, criminal charges and the use, sale or
distribution of illegal drugs:
USA Swimming Safe Sport: [email protected] or
https://fs22.formsite.com/usaswimming/form10/index.html
 

For issues dealing with known or suspected child abuse:
Maryland Department of Human Services Baltimore County: Toll Free Child Abuse Number: (Business hours): 410-887-8463 or (After Hours) 410-583-9398 or email at: [email protected]

For issues dealing with peer-to-peer bullying, coach-athlete bullying, parent issues, violations of
the 4M Swim Club Swimmer's Code of Conduct and violations of the Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention
Policy.
These issues are handled at the club level following the procedures outlined below.

Coaches’ responsibilities include:

    1. Assessing behavior of swimmer(s) as dictated by the 4M Swim Club’s Code of

    Conduct and/or all published policies and procedures.

        

    2. Issuing disciplinary action for any swimmer that is determined to have violated the 4M Swim Club’s Code of Conduct or any published policy/procedure.

 

    3. All disciplinary action is at the head coach’s discretion, and will be issued regarding:

        a. Nature of the misconduct

        b. Severity of the misconduct

        c. Prior disciplinary actions against swimmer

        d. Adverse effect of the misconduct on other swimmers

        e. Application of the 4M Swim Club’s Code of Conduct

    

    4. All Coaches are authorized to take immediate disciplinary action, if appropriate and necessary under the circumstances, to ensure the safety of all swimmers.

 

Categories of Complaints:

    1. Conduct of a Parent or Official

 

    2. Conduct of a Swimmer

 

    3. Conduct of the Head Coach

 

    4. Conduct of an Assistant Coach

 

Registering a Grievance:

    1. Conduct of a Parent or Official (Notify the Head Coach) – Should any person feel a parent is acting in an inappropriate way or violates any team policies or procedures, the parent/swimmer should notify the Head Coach of this violation. The complaint should be made in person or in writing. 

 

    2. Conduct of a Swimmer (Notify the Swimmer’s Coach) – Should a parent or swimmer feel another         swimmer’s conduct is inappropriate or violates the 4M Swim Club (4MSC) Code of Conduct, the par        ent/swimmer should discuss these concerns with the swimmer responsible for the violation with the         Responsible Coach. This complaint should be made in person or in writing. Coaches will ensure the 4MSC Head Coach is notified of the complaint and will participate in assesing behavior.

    

    3. Conduct of the Head Coach (4M Swim Club’s Safe Sport Team Representative(s)– Should a parent or swimmer feel the Head Coach’s conduct is inappropriate or violates any 4M Swim Club’s or USA Swimming policies or procedures, the parent/swimmer should first notify the 4M Swim Club’s SafeSport Team Representative(s). This complaint should be made in person and/or in writing and must be signed. If this does not provide apt fix then the parent/swimmer should notify Maryland Swimming and/or USA Swimming with the support of the 4M Swim Club’s Safe Sport Representative.

 
    4. Conduct of an Assistant Coach – Should a parent or swimmer feel and Assistant Coach’s conduct is inappropriate or in violation of any 4M Swim Club’s or USA Swimming policies or procedures, the parent/swimmer should notify the Head Coach of this violation. This complaint should be made in person or in writing. The Head Coach will ensure that the 4MSC Club Owner is notofied of the complaint and will participate in assesing behavior.

 

How Grievances Will Be Handled:

    The Head Coach has the authority to impose penalties for infractions of the 4MSC Athlete, Parent 

and Coach’s Codes of Coanduct 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 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 enforcwment (if applicable) will be contacted 

within 24 hours if a coach, parent or swimmer violates the SafeSport Coade for the U. S. Olympic and Paraolympic Movements, the USA Swimming Code of Conduct, Athlete Protection Policy, or local laws.

 

1. Gathering Information: The appropriate individuals will contct the person who filed the grievance, and the peron 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 4MSC grievance procedure form.

2. Assessing Behavior: The behavior of the person(s) against which the greivance was brought, will be 

assessed using the club policies and faciity rules, USA Swimming Code of Conduct, USA Swimming 

SafeSport policies, as well as applicable local and state laws.

3. Consequences and disciplanry actions will be decided using the following general guidelines:

    a. Nature of the misconduct

    b. Severity of the misconduct

    c. Prior disciplanry actions

    d. Adverse effect of the misconduct