Safe Sport Newsletter

All Safe Sport items sold on the USA Swimming brand store will be discounted between Monday, December 7-Thursday, December 31, 2020!!

Get your discounted items before the year ends!

Congratulations to our four clubs who have won a virtual visit from a National Team athlete. On Tuesday, November 10, Bergen Barracudas Swim Team had a virtual meeting with Kaersten Meitz. Coach Nicole said, "Thank you so much for creating such an authentic experience for us. Kaersten was amazing!" She continued, "Our swimmers are more motivated than ever!" 

Do you want to win a visit with a National Team athlete or alum? Make sure to become a Safe Sport Recognized club! Check out our updated list of winners and the athlete who visited them here.

Did you see the reaction from Barracudas Swim Team when they found out they won our monthly drawing? Watch the video here!

USA Swimming Safe Sport wants to hear from you! If you haven't started the process to become a USA Swimming Safe Sport Recognized Club, why not? Let us know in this 30-second survey! 

Congratulations to teams who have been SSRP approved for TWO years!! 

Safe Sport Club Recognition status expires after two years. To remain recognized, clubs will have to submit a new application. This will include a complete upload of all required documents. If you are coming up on your expiration, please start gathering your information. 

For more information about what new policies and resources are available to maintain your SSRP status, please email ssrp@usaswimming.org.

Can you think of a better way to end 2020 than becoming a Safe Sport Recognized Club? For clubs who have achieved SSRP, utilize USA Swimming's Safe Sport Tip Sheet. It has communication tips and examples on emailing your members, social media posts and press releases! 

Safe Sport trainings are held monthly, please view trainings through March 2021 below: 

Parent Training:

• Wednesday, December 9, 2020 at 8 p.m. EST

• Wednesday, January 20, 2021 at 8 p.m. EST

• Wednesday, February 17, 2021 at 8 p.m. EST

• Wednesday, March 17, 2021 at 8 p.m. EST

Athlete Training (ages 12-18):

• Thursday, December 10, 2020 at 8 p.m. EST

• Thursday, January 21, 2021 at 8 p.m. EST

• Thursday, February 18, 2021 at 8 p.m. EST

• Thursday, March 18, 2021 at 8 p.m. EST

Coach Training:

• Friday, December 11, 2020 at 3 p.m. EST

• Friday, January 22, 2021 at 3 p.m. EST

• Friday, February 19, 2021 at 3 p.m. EST

• Friday, March 19, 2021 at 3 p.m. EST

If you cannot attend these trainings, athletes and parents can independently complete trainings using the USA Swimming LEARN platform. Click the link below for more info on Safe Sport trainings! 

Athlete Protection Training requirements must be renewed each year. The training must be completed no later than the date of expiration on your LEARN dashboard. To renew, follow these easy steps:
 

1. Login to LEARN here

2. Enter your information and click "SEARCH"

3. Click on your name

4. Take the Refresher Course as early as 90 days prior and up to your expiration date

5. Your membership record will update automatically within 24 hours!
 

For further assistance, please contact learn@usaswimming.org.

USA Swimming recognizes the required training course may not be appropriate for some adult athlete members with cognitive disabilities. For any such adult athlete member, please reference this document for exemptions and accommodations.

Additionally, completing this training may be triggering or re-traumatizing for victims/survivors. Exemptions for this requirement may be made on a case-by-case basis. Requests may be made to USA Swimming at learn@usaswimming.org. 

Bi-weekly emails are sent to our Safe Sport Chairs/Coordinators with brief descriptions on the lesson plans.

Implementing is as easy as 1,2,3! 
 

1. Download the cards on the Safe Sport Team Talk page

2. Get familiar with the topic of the week...no formal or additional training necessary

3. Follow the directions and review with your athletes

Please make sure to forward this information to clubs in your LSC to help them take advantage of these two great programs. These programs can be completed virtually or in person. 

Overview

• 12 learning sessions

• Aims to teach male athletes ages 12 and older respect for themselves and others

• Helps build healthy relationships and stops violence before it starts

• Themes include personal responsibility, respectful behavior and relationship abuse

Athletes as Leaders

Overview

• 10 learning sessions

• Aims to empower women athletes ages 12 and older

• Promotes healthy relationships and ending sexual violence

• Encourages leadership

• Challenges gender stereotypes 
   
   

Don't let COVID-19 trick you! USA Swimming member clubs and LSCs are required to implement the Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policy (MAAPP) in full. All requirements for adult and minor interactions are specified in MAAPP, including interactions at practice and meets.

Since MAAPP must be reviewed and agreed upon by all athletes, parents, coaches and other non-athlete members every year, make sure to review this policy before getting back in the water. 

To view and customize your Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policy, please click here.

Meet 360 is an informational resource guide intended to assist meet administrators in creating a healthy and positive environment free from abuse for athletes. With the increase of virtual meets, this is a great resource to use!

For other resources to help you run safer meets, please visit the Safe Sport Club Tool Kit page.

Club Portal Access
Look at these easy to follow steps to give an additional user club portal access to complete the Safe Sport Club Recognition application!

Safe Sport Club Recognized FAQ 
We have updated our Safe Sport Club Recognition FAQ sheet! To view the updated PDF, please click here.

Safe Sport Activity Books
The Activity Books are still available! To purchase books, please visit our purchasing page here. PDF versions for 5-11 year olds and 12-18 year olds are also available to download. 

Interested in telling your team's story or accomplishments? Make sure to let USA Swimming know by submitting a "news tip" on the newly added News Page for a chance to be featured! 

Keep Us in the Loop

• We want to know what your LSC & teams are doing – send us a picture at safesport@usaswimming.org with a brief description to be featured online or in our next newsletter!

USA Swimming Insider

• Don’t forget to follow @USASwimInsider on Twitter to follow along with training and other resources from USA Swimming.

Does your club participate in community service as a group for the holidays?

• Yes
• No

Click the button below to submit your response!