USA Swimming is committed to fostering a fun, healthy, and safe environment for all its members, and in 2010, it formally implemented a comprehensive Safe Sport program to respond to and prevent instances of abuse and misconduct within the sport of swimming. Since then USA Swimming Safe Sport has worked tirelessly to educate members, put policies in place, and empower LSCs and clubs to create the best possible environments for all members.
Grosse Pointe Gators Safe Sport
GPG is committed to protecting your swimmers by following the Safe Sport Policies defined by USA Swimming. In addition, GPG has added some of its own policies to further create a safe environment specific to our club.
GPG Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policy (MAAPP)
Athlete Protection Training and Education
USA Swimming offers free online Athlete Protection Training for coaches, officials, board members, volunteers, and parents. All coaches, officials, board members, and some volunteers must take the course to be certified as a non-athlete member of USA Swimming.
Training our members in abuse prevention and mandatory reporting is just as important as creating policies. USA Swimming requires 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 their USA Membership, all athlete members ages 18 and over must complete the Athlete Protection Training course. Any other athletes or parents are welcome to take this free class. The comprehensive online programming includes information about how offenders operate; how to recognize and respond to boundary violations, myths and facts about child sexual abuse and USA Swimming’s Safe Sport Policies and Procedures.
Safe Sport Athlete and Parent Education
The USA Swimming Safe Sport Program is proud to offer free Safe Sport training to the athletes and parents of our member athletes. These courses are a requirement for our team to become a Safe Sport Recognized Team. Parents are a critical component to our overall goal to protecting children from sexual abuse. This course will help you understand how abuse occurs and what you can do about it. You should be able to recognize signs of grooming behavior and boundary violations and what to do when you suspect a child's safety is at risk.
Please take the free Safe Sport Athlete and Parent Training Courses. Click HERE for detailed instructions on how to sign up and take the courses.
Reporting
Mandatory Reporting Laws: "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, shall make a report of the suspected abuse to law enforcement and/or your state's designated agency within 24 hours."
- Please refer to GPG Grievance Procedure for directions for who to report concerns to.
- USA Swimming and U.S. Center for Safe Sport Contact and reporting information call USA Swimming 719-866-4578. Click HERE to Deal with a Safe Sport Concern.
- If you have questions or concerns regarding sexual harrassment or misconduct, contact the US Center for Safe Sport HERE Phone: 720-524-5640 Online reporting form
- If you have questions or concerns regarding criminal charges, drugs, physical abuse, or violation of MAAPPs, contact Liz Hahn at USA Swimming at [email protected] Online Reporting: USA Swimming Reporting
- If you have questions or concerns regarding fraud, deception, or recruiting, contact the Central Zone Board of Review contact Director Pam Lowenthal at [email protected].
- If you have questions or concerns regarding bullying, parent issues, violations of team rules/policies, contact us at [email protected].
Additional Documents/Links
GPG Locker Room and Changing Areas Policy
GPG Team Travel Policies and Procedures - find under Policy/Section 3 of GPG Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policy (MAAPP)
GPG Permission to Drive Minor Athlete to Competition
GPG Permisssion to Drive Minor Athlete Local Transportation
GPG Permission to Share Lodging with Minor Athlete
GPG Permission for Licensed Massaged Therapist/Health Care Provider with Minor Athlete
GPG Photography Policy and Consent (in registration)
