Safe Sport Training for Parents and Non-Athletes

U.S. CENTER FOR SAFE SPORT - PARENT TOOL KIT

On February 14, 2018, a new law went into effect, S.534, the “Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse and SafeSport Authorization Act of 2017.” The Act designates the U.S. Center for SafeSport (The Center) as the independent national safe sport organization responsible for delivering education and resolving allegations of misconduct within the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Movements; additionally, the law requires the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) and U.S. Olympic national governing bodies (NGBs) to report child sexual abuse to law enforcement.

If your child participates in a sport organization that is a member of a national governing body recognized by the U.S. Olympic Committee, the U.S. Center for SafeSport Code and definitions apply. Click the link below for full details.

Parent Tool Kit
 

MINOR ATHLETE ABUSE PROTECTION POLICY (MAAPP)

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. As a part of our continued commitment to safeguarding our athletes, USA Swimming has enacted enhancements to our Safe Sport policy requirements.

The Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policy (MAAPP) addresses one-on-one interactions, social media and electronic communications, travel: local and team, locker rooms and changing areas and massages, rubdowns and athletic training modalities. Every USA Swimming club, Zone and LSC is required to implement the MAAPP in full.

The USA Swimming Minor Athlete Abuse Protection Policy (MAAPP) was updated on September 1, 2021. MAAPP contains five sections: one-on-one interactions, travel, social media and electronic communications, locker rooms and changing areas and massage, rubdowns and athletic training modalities.

Additionally all our 18+ year old athletes must complete the Athlete Protection Training by their 18th birthday, before they are able to swim in a meet. Any meet that uses OME for entries (Sectionals, Far Westerns, Jr. Nationals, Nationals, etc.) will flag any 18+ athletes that have not completed the online course and they will not be allowed to swim in the meet. It is recommended that those athletes that are almost 18 years old complete the online course during the summer while they have time.

Below you will find all of the materials that USA Swimming has published regarding MAAPP, including answers to FAQs to date. Kelly Schott, our Safe Sport Chair, has also put together a presentation with more in-depth explanations of these policies. If you have a question that is not answered in USA Swimming's or Kelly's presenation, please email Kelly Schott and she will either answer your question(s) or forward it on to USA Swimming to get an answer.

• Letter to Membership
• Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention - Full Policy

Documents and FAQs

• Applicable Adults
• One-On-One Interactions
• Social Media and Electronic Communications
• Travel
• Locker Rooms and Changing Areas
• Massages, Rubdowns and Athletic Training Modalities

MAAPP Sample Forms

• Language for Meets
• Permission for Licensed Massage Therapist
• Permission for Adult Athlete Lodging with Minor Athlete
• Permission for Local Transportation
• Permission for Travel to Competition

Presentation at House of Delegates

• MAAPP Questions and Answers

ATHLETE PROTECTION TRAINING

MANDATORY TRAINING FOR NON-ATHLETE MEMBERS, APPLICABLE ADULTS AND 18+ ATHLETES

The Athlete Protection Training is provided through the U.S. Center for SafeSport. The required course is found on your USA Swimming Account under the Education tab and must be renewed annually.  This training is required for all new and existing members, including coaches, officials, chaperones, meet directors, and adult athletes.

If you have registered with USA Swimming for the first time, you need to take the "Athlete Protection Training: SafeSport TM Trained core course".  All new and existing adult members of USA Swimming, including adult athletes, must satisfactorily complete Athlete Protection Training as required by the U.S. Center for SafeSport.

There are only four courses that will satisfy the Athlete Protection Training requirement for membership. Those four courses are the SafeSport™ Trained Core Course, Refresher 1, Refresher 2, and Refresher 3. These courses are located in Education - Course Catalog - All Courses.

The accepted courses show up as:

Athlete Protection Training

Athlete Protection Training - Refresher 1

Athlete Protection Training - Refresher 2

Athlete Protection Training - Refresher 3

All non-athlete members, applicable adults and 18+ years old athletes of USA Swimming are required to complete the Athlete Protection Training by finding the required course in your USA Swimming Account under the Education tab and must be renewed annually. These courses are located in Education - Course Catalog - All Courses. New members will be required to have their membership application form and payment processed by USA Swimming before they can sign in to complete the course.

This certification is required for all new and existing members. If you have registered with USA Swimming for the first time and you are 18 or over, this is the course you need to take.

Once you have completed your courses, your membership record will update within 24 hours with a new APT expiration date.

Your APT will expire 12 months after you complete the course.

ATHLETE PROTECTION EDUCATION

USA Swimming is committed to raising awareness about prevention of abuse in sport.  We believe that the first step to creating an empowered team environment is education.  

Our training will help you:

• Understand the scope and effects of abuse in sport
• Recognize the signs of grooming behavior and boundary violations
• Understand how to establish boundaries and protect against false allegations
• Know how to react and report suspected abuse

FREE TRAINING FOR PARENTS

Parents are a critical component to our overall goal of protecting children from sexual abuse. 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 Athlete Protection Policies and Procedures.

Access the training for parents at https://www.usaswimming.org/resource-center/athlete-protection-training