Safety and Safe Sport Information

New or updated material may be added regularly, so check back often. If you have a question you'd like answered, email the Utah Swimming Safety and Safe Sport Chair. (Contact information is on the Board of Directors list under the Governance tab above.)

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What can I do to help keep athletes safer?

  • Be aware of what's going on around you. Look for ways to PREVENT problems. RESPOND to issues when they arise and REPORT concerns.
  • Known and used policies help us know what's okay and what's not. They help PREVENT problems. They also help us know when to RESPOND and what to REPORT. Do you know and follow your team athlete protection policies?
  • Take the Kidpower Put Safety First Commitment: "I WILL put the safety and well-being of young people ahead of anyone's embarrassment, inconvenience, or offense."1
  • Find out more below!

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Information By Topic

New or Recently Updated

October 4, 2019 Added Air Quality section, Athlete Medication section, Emergency Action Plan (EAP) section, and link to USA Swimming Risk Management and Safety Manual in Links and Resources section

October 3, 2019 Added Kidpower International post, "Facing Bullying: 8 Skills We Can Use Right Away," to the Bullying section.

October 2, 2019 Added new USA Swimming Coach Membership Checklist to Coach Registration section

September 26, 2019 Added link to the flyer, What Does MAAPP Look Like in the Real Word? in the MAAPP section

September 21, 2019 Minor changes to Athlete Protection Policies and MAAPP section

June 28, 2019  Updated Athlete Protection Policies and Best Practices. Added Junior Coach information to Coach Registration. Minor changes to MAAPP section

May 21, 2019 Added MAAPP section, MAAPP Agreement Form, and18 & older Athlete Protection Training to Athlete Protection Education. Also added Utah Swimming Registrar information to the Concussion Protocol Training (CPT) section.

May 1, 2019  Added MAAPP information to Athlete Protection Policies

March 15, 2019 Added to the following sections: Code of Conduct,  Links and Resources, Prevent,Respond,Report,  Reporting,  Responding to a Concern

Feb. 18, 2019 Added links to USA Swimming accepted Concussion Protocol Training (CPT)

Feb. 7, 2019 added Put Safety First Commitment and Mandatory Reporting information

Entire page was updated Jan 2019

Air Quality

USA Swimming Presentation: Air Quality (2019 Spring Workshops)

Athlete Medication

USA Swimming Presentation: Athlete Meds on Deck

Athlete Protection Education

USA Swimming offers a variety of free, online athlete protection education courses. Click to learn more, and access course:

NEW! Athlete Protection Training for athletes age 18 and over

All USA Swimming athletes age 18 and older must now take the Athlete Protection Training in order to be eligible to train and compete.  The training takes about one to two hours to complete.  The course will link to the swimmer's USA Swimming ID upon completion. The training is valid for one year.

Athlete Protection Policies

Update:  At it's April 26, 2019 meeting, the USA Swimming Board of Directors approved interim rule changes. As a result by June 23, 2019 member organizations, including clubs and LSC's must update their policies to reflect the Minor Athlete Abuse Protection Policy (MAAPP). Click for additional information from USA Swimming. Additional information for Utah Swimming members available in the MAAP section below.

USA Swimming has Athlete Protection Policies which all members must abide by. They also require clubs to have certain athlete protection policies and recommend that they have others.

Best Practices

USA Swimming has developed a variety of Best Practices lists. For the most current list, search "Best Practices" on www.usaswimming.org. Best Practice links are also below. 

Additionally, The Pick One, Because Kids Matter Newsletter Archive has specific ideas on how to get others involved and build Best Practices into your Positive Team Culture.

Bullying

Kidpower International has a great post about facing bullying. It's called, "Facing Bullying: 8 Skills We Can Use Right Away."

All USA Swimming teams are required to have a policy to address bullying and promote bullying prevention. Check your club website, with your coach, or another team leader to find out more. USA Swimming and the US Center for Safe Sport also have additional resources.

Club Safety Coordinator

Each Utah Swimming club has a Club Safety Coordinator. Here are some resources to assist those serving in that position.

Coach Registration

USA Swimming requires coach members to meet specific requirements. Current proof of these required credentials must be submitted to the Utah Swimming Registration Chair to retain coach membership. Utah Swimming honors clubs whose coaches meet all the certification requirements on the 100% Certified Coach Club web page. Is your club there this month?  Click to find out! If not, encourage them to do what it takes to get there.

Code of Conduct

USA Swimming has a Code of Conduct for all members, and recommends all teams have a Code of Conduct. They supply model Code of Conducts for Athletes, Parents and Coaches. Teams are welcome to use them, and modify if desired.

  • USA Swimming Code of Conduct is found in Article 304 of the current rulebook.
  • Model COACH Code of Conduct  WORD    PDF
  • Model ATHLETE Code of Conduct  WORD    PDF
  • Model PARENT Code of Conduct WORD    PDF

Darkness to Light, a non-profit committed to help adults prevent child abuse, has additional information about developing an effective Code of Conduct.

Concussion/Head Injury

Utah state law requires certain things happen when an athlete

  1. Receives a head injury or suspected head injury
  2. Begins, or continues a sport for more than a year.

Find out more:

If accident or injury occurs, a coach, official or someone affiliated with club/facility needs to file a USA Swimming Report of Occurrence.

Coach and Official Concussion Protocol Training (CPT) Requirement for USA Swimming

Taking either of the classes below fills the USA Swimming concussion protocol training(CPT) requirement for coaches and officials. To get the CPT to show up on DeckPass or a USA Swimming membership, send the proof of course completion to the Utah Swimming Registrar. (Contact information on Utah Swimming website > Governance > Board of Directors) Please allow time for processing.

  • Heads-up to Youth Sports: Online Training The free Center for Disease Control (CDC) online training on concussions.  This online course is available to coaches, parents, and others helping to keep athletes safe from concussion.
  • Online Concussion Training Course for High School Sports Coaches This free course was produced by The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) and CDC's HEADS UP. It's purpose is to educate coaches, officials, parents and students on the importance of propr concussion recognition and management in high school sports.

Crisis Management Plan

The purpose of the Utah Swimming Crisis Management Plan is to help volunteer and staff LSC leadership effectively manage crisis leadership roles, decision making and communication. It can also serve as a model plan for Utah Swimming clubs.

Emergency Action Plan (EAP)

Team Emergency Action Plans (EAP's) can help an emergency from becoming a tragedy.

Hiring

USA Swimming requires new coach other non-athlete members to meet specific screening and selection requirements and provide free tools. USA Swimming also has other requirements for coach members. Current proof of theses required credentials must be submitted to the Utah Swimming Registration Chair to retain coach membership.

Injury

If accident or injury occurs, a coach, official or someone affiliated with the club or facility needs to file a USA Swimming Report of Occurrence. If possible head injury is involved, see the "Respond Section" of the Concussion Management and To Do's.

Links and Resources

Meets

The Online Swim Meet Safety Kit is a Utah Swimming resource for meet directors, officials and others. The USA Swimming Safe Sport Club Toolkit has a "Safe Sport at Events" section with additional resources.

Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policy (MAAPP)

The Minor Athlete Abuse Protection Policy (MAAPP) went into effect on June 23, 2019.  All USA Swimming non-athlete members and adult athlete members must be in compliance with MAAPP by this date.  USA Swimming clubs must do 2 things to ensure compliance:

  1. All parents, guardians, athletes, and non-athlete members must review and agree to follow the policy.  Clubs need to have documentation of this agreement within 2019, and update annually thereafter. Clubs need to retain these records and make them available to USA Swimming upon request. The documentation may be kept either digitally or hard copy.
  2. All athletes age 18 and older must now take the Athlete Protection Training in order to be eligible to train and compete.  The training takes about one to two hours to complete.  The course will link to the swimmer's USA Swimming ID upon completion. The training is valid for one year.

The Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policy (MAAPP) policy has five sections:

  • One-on-One Interactions
  • Social Media and Electronic Communications
  • Travel
  • Locker Room and Changing Areas
  • Massages and Rubdowns/Athlete Training Modalities
Help team members understand better how to live the MAAPP. Post and share this flyer

Online Child Safety and Compliance

Teams with websites, social media, or another online presence, need to comply with the the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act. Find out more at www.coppa.org.

The USA Swimming model photography policy is another good resource to help ensure online child safety. See Athlete Protection Policies.

Click for a pdf of the Utah Swimming policy regarding the solicitation and collection of information from children under the age of 13.

Pick One, Because Kids Matter Newsletter Archive

Archive of monthly one page newsletter designed to give coaches, and other team leaders, simple specific ways they could increase the safety of their team members each month. Doing so helps build a positive, safe team culture. Click to access the newsletter archive and get some great ideas.

Positive Team Culture

What makes your team great? How does your team help build athletes in positive ways? Build safety within your positive team culture. Include a form of athlete protection within your mission or vision statements. Help make your athlete protection policies known and used, as well as your code of conduct and best practices. Help all on your team learn, and choose, to treat each other in positive ways.

Additionally, The Pick One, Because Kids Matter Newsletter Archive has specific ideas on how to get others involved and build safety into your positive team culture.

Prevent, Respond, Report

The Utah Swimming Safety and Safe Sport slogan.  Each is a key action every member, or parent, can do to help increase the safety of athletes, and other members. To find out more about each, see the Utah Swimming Safety Committee page.

5 Steps to Protect Children

Policies

Known and used policies help everyone know what's okay and what's not.  They also PREVENT problems, help us know when to RESPOND and what to REPORT. Every USA Swimming team is required to have athlete protection policies.  

The Pick One, Because Kids Matter Newsletter Archive has specific ideas on how to get others involved and get your policies known and used in your Positive Team Culture.

Racing Start Certification

USA Swimming requires coaches to certify athletes in both backstroke and forward starts.

Responding to a Concern

If an accident or injury occurs on deck, get a USA Swimming coach member and/or facility lifeguard to help. Both are trained responders. The Utah Swimming Meet Safety Plan has additional information about responding to accidents or injuries at meets. Remember to also complete a Report of Occurrence.

For information about responding to, or reporting, a Safe Sport concern see the USA Swimming Deal with a Concern page.

Other USA Swimming resources:

Want to speak with someone local? Each team has a Club Safety Coordinator. Utah Swimming also has a Safe Sport chairperson. Contact information for the Utah Swimming Safe Sport Chair is on the Board of Directors list, located under the Governance tab at the top of this page.

Wondering if there's been a policy violation? See Athlete Protection Policies and Policies.

Reporting

For information about reporting a Safe Sport concern, see the USA Swimming Deal with a Concern page.

For accident or injury, see injury for USA Swimming reporting requirement.

Utah Child Abuse Reporting Hotline: 855.323.3237  (911 if child is in immediate danger)

The Pick One, Because Kids Matter Newsletter Archive has specific ideas on how to get others informed about, and doing appropriate reporting.

Tips for Mandated Reporters (which, in Utah, is "any person who has reason to believe that a child has been subjected to abuse or neglect")

USA Swimming Safe Sport webinar on Mandatory Reporting given on 3/13/2019 (Scroll down to locate slides or recording of 1 hour webinar presentation)

Mandatory Reporting: Do you suspect that a child is being sexually abused? Find out when you’re required to contact the authorities, and how to do so in Utah via RAINN. 

Safe Deck Plans

Safe Deck Plans designate where spectators may sit at swim meets and practice. Every team has one. Plans are listed by club abbreviation.

  • Note:  A coach or team leader may update a team Safe Deck plan by emailing it to the Utah Swimming Safe Sport and Safety Chair. (Click "Governance" > "Board of Directors" above to get contact information.)

Safe Sport Mondays

USA Swimming's Safe Sport Mondays program is designed to help launch conversations within swim clubs about everyday issues.  Having regular, short conversations about different Safe Sport related issues can strengthen a club's values and open productive communications channels. Families are welcome to use these resources too!

Safe Sport Monday scenario and discussion guides are available online. Additionally, USA Swimming mailed every team a Safe Sport Mondays booklet in the spring of 2018. Coaches attending the 2018 Utah Swimming Swimposium Coach Safety class also received a copy.

The Pick One, Because Kids Matter Newsletter Archive has specific ideas on how to get Safe Sport Mondays going in your swim club.

Safe Sport Recognized Club Program

Demonstrate your team's commitment to safeguarding your athletes and all participants.  Become a Safe Sport Recognized Club.

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