Tuesday, November 30, 2021
USA Swimming Completes Vieth Report Task Force Recommendations
USA Swimming is proud to announce the full completion of the USA Swimming Vieth Report Task Force recommendations, years ahead of the 10–15-year implementation plan.
In 2013, USA Swimming commissioned Victor Vieth, then Executive Director of the Gundersen National Child Protection Training Center, to conduct a comprehensive assessment of USA Swimming’s Safe Sport Program. In 2014, Vieth delivered a report, which recommended a total of 39 specific recommendations for action by USA Swimming. Former USA Swimming President, Bruce Stratton, quickly formed the Safe Sport Program Review Task Force to evaluate and prioritize the recommendations, as well as produce a plan for implementation.
During the Task Force’s initial review, 15 additional recommendations were made and categorized as “sub-recommendations.” The Task Force combined the 39 Vieth Report recommendations with their 15 sub-recommendations for a total of 54 items to be evaluated. These 54 items were organized into seven areas:
1. Policies and guidelines;
2. Screening and selection;
3. Education and training;
4. Monitoring and supervision;
5. Recognizing, reporting and responding;
6. Grassroots engagement feedback and
7. Other.
Of the 54 items, the Task Force recommended the implementation of 52 items. It was agreed not to implement finger printing as part of USA Swimming’s already existing background check procedure and did not recommend implementation of whistleblower protection since it was already established in USA Swimming’s Code of Conduct and anti-retaliation provision.
At the time of these recommendations, the U.S. Center for SafeSport (the Center), a separate, independent agency focused on ending all forms of abuse in sport, was not a functioning nonprofit organization. Since the Center became operational in 2017, 19 items were identified as best suited for implementation through them. While allowing the Center to fulfill matters which fall under its jurisdiction, USA Swimming staff and the Safe Sport Committee have continued to work diligently to follow the plan set forth by the Task Force.
At USA Swimming’s Annual Business Meeting (ABM) this past September, USA Swimming’s Safe Sport staff was pleased to announce the full implementation of the Task Force recommendations.
Established in 2010 as the first comprehensive program of its kind in the Olympic movement, USA Swimming’s Safe Sport program has created countless resources, programs, safeguards and policies to help prioritize a community free from abuse. To go above and beyond, many of these resources were created in addition to the Vieth Report recommendations.
To help close out the Vieth Report, USA Swimming Safe Sport staff now incorporates emotional misconduct training into its coach and athlete workshops, which includes situational-based case scenarios from past closed cases reported to USA Swimming. In addition, a network of medical, mental health and sex offender treatment experts were developed to provide consulting for cases of physical and emotional abuse reports. Lastly, the USA Swimming Safe Sport staff has a specialized network of consultants for cases of juvenile sex offenses.
The USA Swimming Safe Sport program also continues to strive to have a Safe Sport Coordinator in every club. The organization also remains steadfast in its goal to fully implement Safe Sport Club Recognition (SSRP) Program, which has seen a 60% increase in clubs who have either started or achieved this commitment in the past two and a half years.
As the USA Swimming Safe Sport program continues towards this commitment, we continue to offer Safe Sport training for our athlete members 12-18 years old and incentivize parents to attend Safe Sport trainings through the SSRP Program. Most recently, we have also provided Safe Sport documents in Spanish for additional reach within membership, as well as created and sent a physical copy of the Family Resource Guide to every USA Swimming registered household.
USA Swimming’s Safe Sport staff will continue to provide free trainings each month for athletes, parents and coaches. These trainings help people to become stronger advocates against physical, emotional and sexual abuse, earn Safe Sport Club Recognition as well as incorporate Safe Sport into the culture of their clubs.
In addition to the longstanding opportunity to attend free monthly trainings, USA Swimming’s Safe Sport staff has provided numerous supplementary educational opportunities throughout the year. This includes training regarding the implementation of the updated Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policy, as well as the USA Swimming Safe Sport Leadership Conference, which provided training from experts on the topics of Adverse Childhood Experiences, Cultivating Resiliency, Trauma Informed Sport as well as Suicide Awareness and Prevention. Throughout 2021 alone, USA Swimming Safe Sport staff has trained over 4,000 individuals.
Although the Vieth Report recommendations have been completed, USA Swimming knows there is still work to be done. There is no complacency when it comes to child protection and USA Swimming will continue the work of making our sport safer in and out of the pool.
The USA Swimming Safe Sport team is always available. To reach out to a Safe Sport staff member, please email safesport@usaswimming.org.
In 2013, USA Swimming commissioned Victor Vieth, then Executive Director of the Gundersen National Child Protection Training Center, to conduct a comprehensive assessment of USA Swimming’s Safe Sport Program. In 2014, Vieth delivered a report, which recommended a total of 39 specific recommendations for action by USA Swimming. Former USA Swimming President, Bruce Stratton, quickly formed the Safe Sport Program Review Task Force to evaluate and prioritize the recommendations, as well as produce a plan for implementation.
During the Task Force’s initial review, 15 additional recommendations were made and categorized as “sub-recommendations.” The Task Force combined the 39 Vieth Report recommendations with their 15 sub-recommendations for a total of 54 items to be evaluated. These 54 items were organized into seven areas:
1. Policies and guidelines;
2. Screening and selection;
3. Education and training;
4. Monitoring and supervision;
5. Recognizing, reporting and responding;
6. Grassroots engagement feedback and
7. Other.
Of the 54 items, the Task Force recommended the implementation of 52 items. It was agreed not to implement finger printing as part of USA Swimming’s already existing background check procedure and did not recommend implementation of whistleblower protection since it was already established in USA Swimming’s Code of Conduct and anti-retaliation provision.
At the time of these recommendations, the U.S. Center for SafeSport (the Center), a separate, independent agency focused on ending all forms of abuse in sport, was not a functioning nonprofit organization. Since the Center became operational in 2017, 19 items were identified as best suited for implementation through them. While allowing the Center to fulfill matters which fall under its jurisdiction, USA Swimming staff and the Safe Sport Committee have continued to work diligently to follow the plan set forth by the Task Force.
At USA Swimming’s Annual Business Meeting (ABM) this past September, USA Swimming’s Safe Sport staff was pleased to announce the full implementation of the Task Force recommendations.
Established in 2010 as the first comprehensive program of its kind in the Olympic movement, USA Swimming’s Safe Sport program has created countless resources, programs, safeguards and policies to help prioritize a community free from abuse. To go above and beyond, many of these resources were created in addition to the Vieth Report recommendations.
To help close out the Vieth Report, USA Swimming Safe Sport staff now incorporates emotional misconduct training into its coach and athlete workshops, which includes situational-based case scenarios from past closed cases reported to USA Swimming. In addition, a network of medical, mental health and sex offender treatment experts were developed to provide consulting for cases of physical and emotional abuse reports. Lastly, the USA Swimming Safe Sport staff has a specialized network of consultants for cases of juvenile sex offenses.
The USA Swimming Safe Sport program also continues to strive to have a Safe Sport Coordinator in every club. The organization also remains steadfast in its goal to fully implement Safe Sport Club Recognition (SSRP) Program, which has seen a 60% increase in clubs who have either started or achieved this commitment in the past two and a half years.
As the USA Swimming Safe Sport program continues towards this commitment, we continue to offer Safe Sport training for our athlete members 12-18 years old and incentivize parents to attend Safe Sport trainings through the SSRP Program. Most recently, we have also provided Safe Sport documents in Spanish for additional reach within membership, as well as created and sent a physical copy of the Family Resource Guide to every USA Swimming registered household.
USA Swimming’s Safe Sport staff will continue to provide free trainings each month for athletes, parents and coaches. These trainings help people to become stronger advocates against physical, emotional and sexual abuse, earn Safe Sport Club Recognition as well as incorporate Safe Sport into the culture of their clubs.
In addition to the longstanding opportunity to attend free monthly trainings, USA Swimming’s Safe Sport staff has provided numerous supplementary educational opportunities throughout the year. This includes training regarding the implementation of the updated Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policy, as well as the USA Swimming Safe Sport Leadership Conference, which provided training from experts on the topics of Adverse Childhood Experiences, Cultivating Resiliency, Trauma Informed Sport as well as Suicide Awareness and Prevention. Throughout 2021 alone, USA Swimming Safe Sport staff has trained over 4,000 individuals.
Although the Vieth Report recommendations have been completed, USA Swimming knows there is still work to be done. There is no complacency when it comes to child protection and USA Swimming will continue the work of making our sport safer in and out of the pool.
The USA Swimming Safe Sport team is always available. To reach out to a Safe Sport staff member, please email safesport@usaswimming.org.