Summerville YMCA Tidalwaves swim team is committed to fostering a safe and healthy environment for its athletes.
USA Swimming member clubs consistently embrace Safe Sport abuse prevention measures and educational resources. The Safe Sport Recognized Club Program (“SSRP”) allows a USA Swimming member club to publicly demonstrate its unwavering commitment to creating an abuse-free, safe, healthy and positive environment for all its members through the implementation of the Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policy, Anti-Bullying measures, Safe Sport Best Practices and Athlete Protection Training. Summerville Family YMCA Tidalwaves swim team is committed to working towards the goal of becoming a Safe Sport Recognized Club during the 2023-2024 swim season. Summerville Family YMCA is committed to fostering a safe and healthy environment for its athletes.
USA Swimming strives to continually improve the programs and services it offers to its members and among these some of the most important relate to the safeguards for protecting young athletes. In an effort to continue to foster safe and positive environments within all member clubs, USA Swimming has provided Summerville Family YMCA Tidalwaves with best practice guidelines that help define elements of appropriate behavior and conduct.
Best Practice policies can be found here
The Tidalwaves's top priority continues to be keeping its athletes safe. No form of abuse, including child sexual abuse, has a place in our sport. Tidalwaves swim team adheres to USA Swimming's Code of Conduct, which is included in the annual USA Swimming Rulebook.
The U.S. Center for SafeSport (“the Center”), the separate, independent, organization that oversees all sexual misconduct reports in the Olympic and Paralympic Movement created the Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policies to set a baseline for acceptable safety standards that limit one-on-one interactions between adults and minor athletes.
Summerville Family YMCA is committed to providing a safe environment for all of its athletes. To that end, the Tidalwaves have appointed a Safe Sport Coordinator, Jessica Drost, and our Athlete Welfare Advocates, Brittany, Melissa, Dennise and Brittney to assist athletes in voicing their concerns. Our Athlete Welfare Advocates are adults who have volunteered to be available to any athlete who is concerned about the conduct of coaches, staff, volunteers, or other athletes and wants to talk about it. Following guidelines set by USA Swimming, practices are viewable from our viewing area outside the fence, only employees and our Athlete Welfare Advocates are on the pool deck. Summerville Family YMCA has also put in place numerous policies and procedures that are meant to foster an environment that is safe for all athletes.
USA Swimming and the U.S. Center for Safe Sport have reporting systems to deal with Safe Sport concerns. Comprehensive information is available HERE.
To deal with a Safe Sport concern, contact USA Swimming at (719) 866-4578. Contact the U.S. Center for Safe Sport to make a report. Call 833-5US-SAFE (587-7233) or use the online reporting form. Text anonymous tips to 888-270-SWIM (7946)
Effective September 1, 2021: Updated Minor Athlete Protection Policy (MAAPP 2.0)
On April 29, 2019, USA Swimming released its Minor Athlete Abuse Protection Policy (MAAPP) addressing one-on-one interactions, social media and electronic communications, travel: local and team, locker rooms and changing areas, and massages, rubdowns and athletic training modalities. All USA Swimming member clubs were required to implement MAAPP in full by June 23, 2019. Summerville Family YMCA implemented this policy. On September 1, 2021, USA Swimming implemented MAAPP 2.0 as such, Summerville Family YMCA also implemented the updated guidelines in this new policy.
USA Swimming has outlined all policies and guidelines on its MAAPP webpage.
Safe Sport requires that all USA Swimming member clubs have the following policies in place:
- Team Travel
- Electronic Communication
- Anti-Bullying Plan
- Photography
- Locker Room Monitoring
- Parent and Athlete Safe Sport Courses
Take the Free Safe Sport Courses; “Safe Sport Training for Parents” OR “Safe Sport Training for Athletes”.Athletes and parents can independently complete the training through their new USA Swimming Account.
Access the course HERE
How to create an account for your athlete that is a minor CLICK HERE
Online education steps for parents CLICK HERE
Please reach out to [email protected] with any questions.
For Full Safe Sport Information go to usaswimming.org
Thank you for your participation
Please see the Safe Sport Policies in place for Summerville YMCA Tidalwaves:
Tidalwaves General Safe Sport Practices HERE
Tidalwaves Photography Policy HERE
Tidalwaves Locker Room Policy HERE
Tidalwaves Bullying Policy HERE
Tidalwaves Electronic Communication Policy HERE
Tidalwaves MAAPP Policy HERE
Tidalwaves Grievance Proceedure HERE
For Full Safe Sport Information go to usaswimming.org
For additional information and questions, or to report a concern, please contact Summerville YMCA Tidalwaves Safe Sport Coordinator, Jessica Drost at [email protected]
