SAFE SPORT

North Star Swim Team, Minnesota Swimming, and USA Swimming are committed to providing a healthy and positive environment, free from abuse, for all its members.

USA Swimming’s SafeSport program, a comprehensive abuse prevention program, consists of a multi-layered approach to keep kids safe, including required policies and best practice guidelines; mandatory screening, including criminal background checks and employment screening; training and education; monitoring; supervision; and mandatory reporting. These measures are informed by experts in the field of child safety and are among the strongest safeguards found in youth-serving organizations.

MAAPP - MINOR ATHLETE ABUSE PREVENTION POLICY

USA Swimming has implemented a new SafeSport Initiative. The Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policy or MAAPP went into effect on Sunday, June 23, 2019. 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.

USA Swimming member clubs and LSCs are required to implement this Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policy in full.

The Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policy must be reviewed and agreed to in writing by all athletes, parents, coaches, and other non-athlete members of member clubs on an annual basis with such written agreement to be retained by the club.

ATHLETE PROTECTION TRAINING FOR PARENTS AND YOUTH ATHLETES

After registration, all swimmers and parents must review the SafeSport training modules available through the Education Section in your and your child’s USA Swimming membership account.

To navigate to the SafeSport modules, log in to your USA Swimming account, click on "Education" in the top right corner, then select your course.

If this is your first time taking a Center for SafeSport course, you will create a new account prior to completing the module. If you encounter errors, wait a few minutes before retrying.

- Online course for Parents: “Parents Guide to Misconduct in Sport” (30 minutes)

- Online course for minor athletes (13 to 17 years old): “Safe Sport for Youth Athletes” (15 minutes)

- Online course for minor athletes (ages 5-12): "SafeSport for Kids"

- Online course for athletes ages 18+: Athlete Protection Training

REPORTING AN ISSUE

To address a SafeSport concern, use the decisions guidelines listed on USA Swimming's "Report a Concern" page .

MANDATORY REPORTING RULE

Pursuant to federal law, all adults authorized to interact with minor or amateur athletes who learn of facts that give reason to suspect that a child has suffered an incident of child abuse, including sexual abuse, must make a report of the suspected abuse to law enforcement and/or your state’s designated agency within 24 hours.

It is every USA Swimming members responsibilities to promptly report any incident regarding sexual misconduct by a member to USA Swimming. 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 part. Various state laws may also require reporting to law enforcement or to a designated child protection agency.

No member shall retaliate against any individual who has made a good faith report. False reporting of sexual misconduct made in bad faith is prohibited, and neither civil nor criminal statutes of limitation apply to reports of cases of sexual abuse.

Reporting can be difficult, if you need any advice or help in making your report, please contact USA Swimming SafeSport Staff.

Contact the U.S. Center for Safe Sport to make a report, 720.524.5640, use the online reporting form or find more information here.

reporting-poster.pdf