Safe Sport

Report a Concern

USA Swimming and Center for Safe Sport contact & reporting information:

USA Swimming (719) 866-4578 Deal with a Safe Sport Concern

U.S. Center for Safe Sport to make a report. Use the online reporting form, call, or find more information at www.uscenterforsafesport.org

Text anonymous tips to 888-270-SWIM (7946)

USA Swimming’s top priority continues to be keeping our athletes safe. No form of abuse, including child sexual abuse, has a place in our sport. As a part of our continued commitment to safeguarding our athletes, USA Swimming has enacted enhancements to our Safe Sport policy and education requirements.

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.

The Center urged all National Governing Bodies (NGBs) to add restrictions tailored to fit the sport. On April 29, 2019, USA Swimming released its Minor Athlete 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.

Please read the policy below along with the educational resources, to assist you in implementing MAAPP.

Training our members in abuse prevention and mandatory reporting is just as important as creating policies. USA Swimming is required to provide regular and consistent training for all adults who interact with and have direct contact with minor athletes, including adult athletes. Starting June 23, 2019, as a condition of membership, all athlete members ages 18 and over must complete Athlete Protection Training.

Below you will find educational resources to assist you in understanding and implementing these requirements. Join us in our commitment to do more to keep our athletes safe and abuse out of our sport.

DEAL WITH A SAFE SPORT CONCERN

WHERE TO START WITH MY CONCERN

When making the decision to report a concern you have, it can often feel intimidating and overwhelming. Please use these guidelines to help you on the first step “Where do I report?” Please use the provided links which will additionally help you get in touch with the appropriate people.

Please note that this is not an exhaustive list. If you are not sure who to contact with a concern please contact Safe Sport Staff at the National Office and we will be sure to talk through your concern, answer your questions and connect you with the correct people.

If you concern deals with any of the following:

• Sexual Misconduct
• Sexual Harassment
• Sexually Explicit/Inappropriate Communication through Social Media

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 or find more information at http://www.uscenterforsafesport.org/

If your concern deals with any of the following:

• Criminal Charges
• Use, Sale, or Distribution of illegal drugs
• Physical Abuse
• Inappropriate Touching
• Lap Sitting
• Coaches sharing hotel rooms with Athletes
• Rubdown or Massage performed by coaches
• Pictures or video taken in locker rooms or changing areas

Please contact safesport@usaswimming.org at the National Office or complete the online reporting form.

If your concern deals with any of the following:

• Peer to Peer Bullying
• Adult to Athlete Bullying
• Parent Issues
• Violations of team rules and team code of conduct

Please make a report to your team. We have provided a proposed letter of correspondence to assist you in beginning this process. Our SafeSport Coordinator is Lewis Timberman ltimberman@gmail.com

MANDATORY REPORTING RULE

ARTICLE 306

SEXUAL MISCONDUCT REPORTING REQUIREMENTS

.1 It is every member’s responsibility to promptly report any incident regarding sexual misconduct by a member as described in Article 304.3.8 to USA Swimming’s Director of Safe Sport. Reporting must occur when an individual has firsthand knowledge of misconduct or where specific and credible information has been received from a victim or knowledgeable third party. Various state laws may also require reporting to law enforcement or to a designated child protection agency.

.2 No member shall retaliate against anyone who has made a good faith report under 306.1.

.3 False reporting of sexual misconduct made in bad faith is prohibited.

.4 Neither civil nor criminal statutes of limitation apply to reports of cases of sexual abuse.”

USA SWIMMING CODE OF CONDUCT

Learn More

USA Swimming is committed to fostering a fun, healthy and safe environment for all of its members. For that reason, there is a detailed Code of Conduct in place. The rules, policies, reporting structure, education and tools are intended to serve the membership to help maintain a safe environment.

Ohio Swimming Safe Sport Page

Buckeye Swim Team Safe Sport Coordinator
Lewis Timberman
l.timberman@gmail.com