2026 Midlakes Safety in Sport Requirements

Midlakes Swim & Dive is committed to ensuring a fun and safe environment for our youth athletes as they enhance and test their skills in our league's various water sports of Swim, Dive, and Water Polo.

In an effort to prevent the emotional, physical, and sexual abuse of athletes, and in compliance with our insurance requirements, Midlakes has implemented both prevention training and prevention policies through the U.S. Center for SafeSport training courses. The goal of all trainings is to equip participants in our league with knowledge on how to Prevent, Recognize, and Respond to abuse and misconduct and keep our league safe and fun for all participants.

To be eligible to participate in the 2026 Midlakes Swim, Dive, and Water Polo season: All athletes, coaches, and team parent reps, and all on-deck volunteers must take athlete safety training. 

Free, age-appropriate trainings are available online for youth and parents through the U.S. Center for SafeSport.  Each club has a club-specific link and enrollment key to access these SafeSport training courses.  Training must take place before the first practice of the season**.

Club Managers and Team Parent Reps:
Please review our full Athlete Safety Training requirements to find out details about the requirements for each role and the penalties for non-compliance. 

ALL participants in Midlakes sports agree to the following terms:

  • Physical, mental, and verbal abuse of any of the participants, coaches, managers, employees, parents, and volunteers involved in our sponsored activities is not permitted.
  • Inappropriate touching of any kind is forbidden.
  • There will be more than one adult working at or overseeing every activity. If a child needs special attention (one-on-one training or an individual meeting), it will be handled with the assistance or presence of another adult.
  • Coaches/trainers should not ride alone with a child or participant in the car. Procedures will be established by each club for coaches to follow in the event a participant is stranded at an activity.
  • Photographs from behind swimming blocks or that exhibit a child climbing out of the swimming pool are not permitted
  • (Note: smartphone apps may be used for timing purposes only when photo capabilities are disabled).
  • Phones and photography are prohibited in locker‐rooms and/or bathrooms.
  • Action shots are to be a celebration of the sporting activity and not a sexualized image in a sporting context.
  • Action shots cannot be taken or retained where the photograph reveals a torn or displaced swimsuit.
  • All coaches, athletes, and on-deck volunteers agree to take athlete safety training offered by the U.S. Center for SafeSport in order to be eligible for the Midlakes summer season.

 

**Detailed Athlete Safety Training Requirements

Each club and meet officials (during meets) will be responsible for ensuring appropriate conduct in accordance with the Midlakes Athlete Safety Requirements is followed.  

Participant safety is our priority and this agreement serves as a proactive measure to protect all participants from inappropriate behaviors. 

If you are:
  • An athlete - your club will provide you with access to the FREE SafeSport training appropriate for your age.
  • A parent/guardian - your club will provide you with access to the FREE SafeSport training for your role as a parent and volunteer.
  • A board member or parent rep - your club will provide you with access to the SafeSport volunteer training.  This is a PAID training that your club might be able to reimburse.
  • A coach - your club will provide you with access to the SafeSport training for your role as coach.  This is a PAID training that is required for all head coaches and your club might be able to reimburse.
If you are an Admin:
  • a club-level administrator for the SafeSport training courses - your job is to track your the SafeSport training for your club's participants.  Please go to the Athlete Safety Information for Club Admins page.
  • a league-level administrator for the SafeSport training courses - your job is to verify that all 26 Midlakes clubs have turned in Athlete Safety verification reports for all sports - Swim, Dive, and Water Polo - by the agreed-on reporting due dates.  You will work with Midlakes leadership to decide on those due dates, usually June 1 for Swim, June 15 for Dive (or by season start), and July 30 for Water Polo (dates are subject to change each season but must be before the first set of matches in each sport).
 
Please send questions to  [email protected].
 
 


Which training should you take?



 

Administration of Athlete Safety Training Courses for Midlakes Clubs

Are you a designated administrator for athlete safety training compliance at your club?  If yes, read on.  If not, then you're done on this page.

Each of our Midlakes clubs, plus Dive and Water Polo, should have one administrator account that can log into the SafeSport Absorb reporting system to check training course activity for their club's members.  If you do not know your club's administrator email for the reporting system, please ask your club manager, and if still uncertain you can email [email protected].  

More information on administration of SafeSport training courses for our Midlakes Clubs