USA SWIMMING SAFE SPORT PAGE
Valley Swim Team Phoenix is committed to protecting your swimmers by following the MAAPP Safe Sport Policies defined by USA Swimming. To further create a safe environment for our club, VSTP has created some additional policies. If there is ever an overlap of VSTP policy and USA swimming policy, USA swimming policy will prevail. All VSTP members and parents need to read and understand all information on this page.
It is required that all adult employees and the board of directors of VSTP are non-athlete members of USA Swimming in good standing.
• Adult employees of USA Swimming, Local Swimming Committees (LSCs) and member clubs;
• Adults serving on the board of directors of USA Swimming, LSCs and member clubs;
• Individuals in a position of oversight over the operations of a member club;
• Adults with an ownership interest in a member club;
• Referees, starters, administrative officials, chief judges, stroke and turn judges; and
• Other volunteers who interact directly and frequently with or have authority over athletes (as defined in the SafeSport Code for the Olympic and Paralympic Movement) as a regular part of their duties.
USA Swimming is committed to fostering a fun, healthy and safe environment for all of its members. For that reason, USA Swimming has in place a detailed Code of Conduct . The following rules, policies, reporting structure, education and tools are intended to serve our members as we work together to maintain this environment.
First Line of Defense
Background checks and pre-employment screens are critical tools to selecting the best possible people for staff and volunteer positions by USA Swimming clubs. All VSTP coaches, officials, and volunteers must satisfactorily pass a criminal background check in order to become non-athlete members of USA Swimming. Additionally, all USA Swimming clubs must perform three required pre-employment screens on any new employee.
Parent Education
The USA Swimming Safe Sport Program is proud to offer free athlete protection training to the parents of our member athletes. Parents are a critical component to our overall goal to protecting children from sexual abuse. The comprehensive online programming includes information about how offenders operate; how to recognize and respond to boundary violations, myths and facts about child sexual abuse and USA Swimming’s Athlete Protection Policies and Procedures. SAFE SPORT FOR SWIM PARENTS
Recognizing and Reporting
Mandatory reporting laws: "Pursuant to federal law, all adults authorized to interact with minor or amateur athletes who learn of facts that give reason to suspect that a child has suffered an incident of child abuse, including sexual abuse, shall make a report of the suspected abuse to law enforcement and/or your state's designated agency within 24 hours."
USA Swimming and U.S. Center for SafeSport Contact and reporting information call USA Swimming (719) 866-4578 CLICK HERE to deal with a Safe Sport Concern.
If you have questions or concerns regarding...
*Sexual harrassment or misconduct, contact the US Center for SafeSport 833-5US-SAFE (587-7233) Online Report Form
* Report anonymously. Text anonymous tips to 888-270-SWIM (7946)
*Bullying, parent issues, violations of team rules/policies, contact VSTP Board President Dave Sims, 540-974-9444, [email protected]
USA Swimming's Safe Sport Director Elizabeth Hahn [email protected]
VSI Safe Sport Rep Maureen Tolliver [email protected] 540-288-3180
VSTP Safe Sport Coordinator Caitlin McKay, [email protected]
Safe Sport Best Practices Guide
Valley Swim Team Phoenix Photography Policy
VSTP Mission Statement
We are committed to providing a competitive swimming opportunity to guide young swimmers in realizing personal and team excellence in a motivational, challenging, safe and healthy environment. We strive to foster a passion for swimming and build great character and integrity for life.
