|
USA Swimming Blast 3/31/10
Dear USA Swimming Member Coaches,
You are ambassadors and leaders in our sport, and we appreciate your leadership.
The Open Letter we posted on usaswimming.org on March 23, 2010, has raised member awareness about the issue of sexual misconduct, and has garnered constructive feedback, which has provided us the opportunity to remind you of some of USA Swimming’s key policies surrounding child protection, specifically, the USA Swimming Code of Conduct and Reporting and Disciplinary process.
We need not tell you, our coaches, about the numerous benefits of competitive swimming, or the highly positive impact the sport and its leaders can have on our members. We are incredibly grateful for the thousands of qualified, effective and positive coaches within our membership. Unfortunately, there is a fraction of a percent of people who would choose to act inappropriately, and it is vital that our coach membership be aware of USA Swimming's rules and the affirmative responsibility to report inappropriate behavior to the National office, in addition to any legal reporting obligations that a coach may have.
Code of Conduct (Article 304, USA Swimming Rulebook)
All registered members of USA Swimming must adhere to USA Swimming’s Code of Conduct, the full text of which can be found here. In regard to sexual misconduct specifically, the USA Swimming Code of Conduct prohibits:
304.3.4 Conviction of, imposition of a deferred sentence for, or any plea of guilty or no contest any any time, past or present, or the existence of any pending charges for any crime involving sexual misconduct.
304. 3.5 Any sexual conduct, advance or other inappropriate sexually oriented behavior or action directed towards an athlete by (i) a coach member or other non-athlete member, or (ii) any other adult participating in any capacity whatsoever in the affairs or activities of USA Swimming (whether such adult is a member or not). Any nonconsensual physical sexual conduct,or pattern of unwelcome advances or other sexual harassment in connection with or incidental to a USA Swimming-related activity by any person participating in the affairs or activities of USA Swimming (whether such person is a member or not) directed toward any member or other person participating in the affairs or activities of USA Swimming.
304.3.10 Physical abuse of an athlete by any person who, in the context of swimming, is in a position of authority over that athlete.
Reporting Inappropriate Conduct / National Board of Review (Section 4, USA Swimming Rulebook)
Any violation of the above sections or any other complaint regarding sexual misconduct, should be immediately reported in writing to USA Swimming’s Executive Director. Remember, sexual abuse is a criminal act, and while we can remove the perpetrator from membership in our organization, we implore coaches, members, parents and athletes to also report the matter quickly and directly to local police authorities.All states have mandatory child abuse reporting laws. The definition of which categories of people must report varies from state to state. Coaches and Clubs are responsible for knowing whether they are mandatory reporters of child abuse under state law. A useful guide to state laws is found at:http://www.childwelfare.gov/systemwide/laws_policies/state/.
A complaint can be filed with USA Swimmingvia any of the following channels:
Email to cwielgus@usaswimming.org
Fax to: (719) 866-4761
Mail to: USA Swimming
Attn: Chuck Wielgus
One Olympic Plaza
Colorado Springs, CO 80909
In no case should any coach, club or other member conclude that, based on their own investigation, a complaint lacks sufficient merit to be reported to USA Swimming. All complaints filed via one of the above channels are immediately turned over to USA Swimming’s legal representation and investigated. Once a complaint has been substantiated, it is sent to our internal hearing body, the National Board of Review. The National Board of Review has the authority to suspend or expel a member for life, which is the highest penalty available to USA Swimming.
You should always report any sexual misconduct that you observe or that is reported to you. Please do not decide not to report based on your own investigation. When in doubt, report.
Thank you for working together with us to ensure our clubs remain a safe and healthy environment for our young athletes. If you have additional questions about the Code of Conduct, Board of Review or Reporting process, please email us.
Teaching Racing Starts - Effective 5/1/2009
Effective May 1, 2009, USA Swimming’s Board of Directors has modified the racing start rule, 103.2.2 (which already provides that racing starts should only be taught in at least six feet of water) to further clarify that racing starts should only be taught under the direct supervision of a USA Swimming member coach, and to expand the definition of teaching racing starts to make clear that no swimmer who has not been certified as proficient by their coach should be performing racing starts into less than six feet of water.
Several documents were provided that should explain the amendment to rule 103.2.2. They are:
All Coaches - Please Read - Regarding Coaching Assistants
Effective 1 January 2009, the rules for coaching assistants have changed, based upon legislation passed at convention. Please read the memo being fielded by USA Swimming to make sure your team is in compliance.
Approved Coach Safety Courses
Worksheets
|
