USA Swimming Safe Sport Athlete Protection Education Policy

Background

Since 2010, USA Swimming has required athlete protection education of all non-athlete members of USA Swimming. Further, the Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse and Safe Sport Authorization Act of 2017 requires USA Swimming, as the National Governing Body for the sport of Swimming, offer and provide consistent training to all adult members who are in regular contact (e.g., ongoing interactions during a 12- month period wherein the individual is in a role of direct and active engagement) with amateur athletes who are minors, and, subject to parental consent, to members who are minors, regarding prevention and reporting of child abuse.

The U.S. Center for SafeSport requires any of the following individuals who has regular contact with or authority over minor athletes to complete athlete protection education:

• USA Swimming members

• Employees or board members of USA Swimming, Zones, LSCs or member clubs

• Individuals within the governance or disciplinary jurisdiction of USA Swimming, Zones, LSCs or member clubs; and

• Individuals who are authorized, approved or appointed by USA Swimming, Zones, LSCs or member clubs to have regular contact with or authority over minor athletes.

Mandatory Training for Adult Members

The mechanism by which USA Swimming requires and tracks athlete protection education is through the privileges and responsibilities of membership. As set forth in Article 2.6.3 of the USA Swimming Corporate Bylaws, all adult members of USA Swimming, including athletes and junior coach members, must have satisfactorily completed athlete protection education as a condition of membership. Membership will not be conferred to an adult member of USA Swimming unless and until athlete protection education is satisfactorily completed. The following are required to be members of USA Swimming:

• Employees of USA Swimming, Zones, LSCs and member clubs;

• Individuals serving on the board of directors of USA Swimming, Zones, LSCs and member clubs;

• Volunteers of USA Swimming, Zones, LSCs and member clubs who interact directly and frequently with* or have authority over athletes as part of their regular duties (note: this does not include timers, meet marshals, computer operators, etc., who only have limited contact with athletes during a meet);

• Personal care assistants hired or appointed by USA Swimming, Zones, LSCs and member clubs, who act in a coaching capacity and/or who have direct and frequent contact with minor athletes other than those to whom they provide care; and

• Individuals with any ownership interest in a member club.

As required by the U.S. Center for SafeSport, individuals subject to this policy must complete athlete protection education on an annual basis. Upon initiating membership with USA Swimming or beginning a new role subjecting the individual to Article 2.6.3 of the USA Swimming Corporate Bylaws, the individual must complete the SafeSportTM Trained Core course before participation. Upon completion, the individual’s member record will update with a training requirement expiration date one year from the date of completion. Individuals can renew the athlete protection education requirement as early as 90 days prior to their expiration date by taking the appropriate refresher course. After completing three refresher courses in successive years, the individual will be required to start the training cycle anew with the SafeSportTM Trained Core course. If an individual permits their athlete protection education to lapse by failing to renew prior to the expiration date or by otherwise allowing membership to lapse, the individual will be required to retake the SafeSportTM Trained Core course again.

USA Swimming members are required to complete the athlete protection education on the USA Swimming LEARN platform accessed at www.usaswimming.org/apt.

Minor Athlete and Parent Training

USA Swimming will, on an annual basis, offer and give training to parents and minor athletes (subject to parental consent) on the prevention and reporting of child abuse. Free online training courses for parents and minor athletes on the prevention and reporting of child abuse are available any time at www.usaswimming.org/learn.

Exemption for Victims/Survivors

Completing the required athlete protection education may be triggering or re-traumatizing for victims/survivors. Exemptions for this requirement may be made on a case-by-case basis. Requests should be sent to [email protected]. Requests may also be made directly to the U.S. Center for SafeSport at [email protected].

Individuals with Limited English Proficiency

The U.S. Center for SafeSport provides the required athlete protection courses in English, Spanish, French. An individual subject to this policy may request an exemption from this Policy as a result of limited English proficiency by contacting [email protected].

*Defined as ongoing interactions during a 12-month period wherein the individual is in a role of direct and active engagement