Tuesday, May 10, 2022
Safe Sport Programming Leads to Club Recognition Honors for Tri-City Channel Cats
Recently, the Tri City Channel Cats in Richland, Wash. joined a growing list of clubs to have achieved Safe Sport Club Recognition by USA Swimming. By implementing and enforcing the Safe Sport policies and curriculum on their team, the Channel Cats were recognized as one of the top clubs committed to protecting athletes’ safety. April Walkley, the team’s Safe Sport Chair, shares some of what the club does to maintain Safe Sport status in this month’s USA Swimming Safe Sport feature.
1. What are three ways your team implements Safe Sport policies for your athletes, coaches and parents?
Our team focuses on a culture that embraces Safe Sport best practices and boundaries in all we do. We encourage individuals to participate in all the classes that USA Swimming offers and we share posts through our team Facebook page. We offer a yearly parent tract called PEP (Parent Education Presentation) for new parents focusing on what is required, offered and policies we are to follow. The most powerful Safe Sport session we have offered was 16 weeks; the focus was John Wooden’s Pyramid of Success. Each week we had a word to discuss and a video or worksheet to reinforce the definition or action.
2. How effective do you feel these policies have been in shaping your team culture?
I believe the policies and best practices are what shapes our culture. Coaches use the tools to address any issues that arise. When these are handled correctly and swiftly there is less opportunity for a potential violation to occur.
3. What advice would you give other clubs in implementing Safe Sport policies into their team operations?
Assign a club Safe Sport Chair and get a few parents on the committee. Start small with a team education event including parents. We have hosted a breakfast session on a Saturday after practice. Pick a focus. Offer parent and athlete sessions. Advertise it and have fun giveaways. Our club hosts several meets and we have a Safe Sport table offering athletes and parents Safe Sport info cards, pencils, activity sheets, stickers, Frisbees and bracelets. We hang banners and signs and use Meet 360 faithfully. We had head timer and meet marshals’ vests made with the Safe Sport logo. It's a great visual on deck - Safe Sport is there.
To view and print free Safe Sport art templates such as posters, meet announcement cards and heat sheet ads, please visit the USA Swimming Safe Sport club toolkit page here. Additional information on the USA Swimming Safe Sport Recognition Program can be found here.
1. What are three ways your team implements Safe Sport policies for your athletes, coaches and parents?
Our team focuses on a culture that embraces Safe Sport best practices and boundaries in all we do. We encourage individuals to participate in all the classes that USA Swimming offers and we share posts through our team Facebook page. We offer a yearly parent tract called PEP (Parent Education Presentation) for new parents focusing on what is required, offered and policies we are to follow. The most powerful Safe Sport session we have offered was 16 weeks; the focus was John Wooden’s Pyramid of Success. Each week we had a word to discuss and a video or worksheet to reinforce the definition or action.
2. How effective do you feel these policies have been in shaping your team culture?
I believe the policies and best practices are what shapes our culture. Coaches use the tools to address any issues that arise. When these are handled correctly and swiftly there is less opportunity for a potential violation to occur.
3. What advice would you give other clubs in implementing Safe Sport policies into their team operations?
Assign a club Safe Sport Chair and get a few parents on the committee. Start small with a team education event including parents. We have hosted a breakfast session on a Saturday after practice. Pick a focus. Offer parent and athlete sessions. Advertise it and have fun giveaways. Our club hosts several meets and we have a Safe Sport table offering athletes and parents Safe Sport info cards, pencils, activity sheets, stickers, Frisbees and bracelets. We hang banners and signs and use Meet 360 faithfully. We had head timer and meet marshals’ vests made with the Safe Sport logo. It's a great visual on deck - Safe Sport is there.
To view and print free Safe Sport art templates such as posters, meet announcement cards and heat sheet ads, please visit the USA Swimming Safe Sport club toolkit page here. Additional information on the USA Swimming Safe Sport Recognition Program can be found here.