For coaches and volunteers

We can all help foster safe and positive environments by educating ourselves on the tragic issue of abuse. USA Swimming has just launched its mandatory online educational programming for coaches and volunteers. The education is a REQUIREMENT for all non-athlete members. You can start your online training today!

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Fostering a Safe & Healthy Environment

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 effort to continue to foster safe and positive environments within all our member clubs, we believe it is especially important to provide our member adult leaders with policies and best practice guidelines that help define elements of appropriate behavior and conduct.

 

Here you will find Rules, Policies and Best Practice Guidelines related to Athlete Protection. For questions or suggestions, contact Susan Woessner.

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The responsibility of reporting

Reporting inappropriate behavior is the key to stopping that behavior. USA Swimming encourages any person with credible and specific information regarding suspected abuse to report it to USA Swimming's athlete protection officer. If you or someone you care about has experienced abuse and are unsure how to proceed, please contact Susan Woessner. You may also use the online reporting form. 

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Our 2,800 independent clubs and 59 LSCs across the nation are incredibly important in our work to foster safe and positive environments. Be a leader in this area by using the tools below. Clubs are required to take a number of steps to implement USA Swimming's athlete protection programming in their areas.

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As a condition of membership, all coaches, volunteers and non-athlete members must satisfactorily pass a criminal background check. A background check requirement has been in place for coaches since 2006 and other non-athlete members since 2010. The background checking process is a criminal record search and is not a substitute for clubs conducting appropriate pre-employment screening of applicants. For more on pre-employment screening, click here.

You'll find more information and resources including program details and deadlines, as well as a link to initiate your background check by clicking below.

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