Safe Sport logo JUL 2024

TIDE SWIMMING

IS COMMITTED TO FOSTERING A SAFE AND HEALTHY ENVIRONMENT FOR ITS ATHLETES

 

USA Swimming strives to continually improve the programs and services it offers to its members and among these some of the most important relate to the safeguards for protecting young athletes. In an effort to continue to foster safe and positive environments within all member clubs, USA Swimming has provided TIDE with best practice guidelines that help define elements of appropriate behavior and conduct.

 

TIDE's top priority continues to be keeping its athletes safe. No form of abuse, including child sexual abuse, has a place in our sport.

 

Tide Swimming adheres to USA Swimming's Code of Conduct, which is included in the annual USA Swimming Rulebook.

 

The U.S. Center for SafeSport (“the Center”), the separate, independent, organization that oversees all sexual misconduct reports in the Olympic and Paralympic Movement created the Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policies to set a baseline for acceptable safety standards that limit one-on-one interactions between adults and minor athletes.

 

TIDE is committed to providing a safe environment for all of its athletes. To that end, TIDE has a Safe Sport Coordinator, Sara Beth Roberts, and (4) Athlete Welfare Advocates to assist athletes in voicing their concerns.  Andy Van Slyke  will be joined by three additional parents who were named as Athlete Welfare Advocates in 2024. They are Eric Eberle, Sharon Flores, and Jen Fordham. Our Athlete Welfare Advocates are adults who have volunteered to be available to any athlete who is concerned about the conduct of coaches, staff, volunteers, or other athletes and wants to talk about it. TIDE has also put in place numerous policies and procedures that are meant to foster an environment that is safe for all athletes.

 

USA Swimming and the U.S. Center for Safe Sport have reporting systems to deal with Safe Sport concerns. Comprehensive information is available HERE

 

To deal with a Safe Sport concern, contact USA Swimming at (719) 866-4578

 

Contact the U.S. Center for Safe Sport to make a report. Call 833-5US-SAFE (587-7233) or use the online reporting form.

MINOR ATHLETE PROTECTION POLICY

(MAAPP 2.0)

 

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 is required to implement the MAAPP in full.

 

USA Swimming has outlined all policies and guidelines on its MAAPP webpage.

 

Please read the policy below along with the educational resources and videos, to assist you in understanding our MAAPP.

 

TIDE Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policy

 

Applicable Adults/Adult Participants: Definition/FAQ and Description

 

One-on-One Interactions

 

Social Media and Electronic Communications

 

Travel

 

Locker Rooms and Changing Areas

 

Massages, Rubdowns, and Athletic Training Modalities

 

APT Requirements for Adult Participants

 

Non-USA Swimming Activities

ATHLETE PROTECTION TRAINING

 

USA Swimming offers free online Athlete Protection Training for coaches, officials, board members, chaperones, volunteers, and parents. All coaches, officials chaperones and board members 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 is required to provide regular and consistent training for all adults who interact with and have direct contact with minor athletes, including adult athletes. As a condition of membership, all athlete members ages 18 and over must complete Athlete Protection Training.

 

Safe Sport Courses for Parents and Athletes

USA Swimming offers Safe Sport courses for 12&older athletes and all parents. The courses can be accessed through a member's USA Swimming dashboard, under "Education / Course Catalog".

 

Safe for Athletes

SAFE FOR ATHLETES

1-855-SAFE4AA (1-855-723-3422)

info@safe4athletes.org
 

What Every Athlete Should Know         

Every athlete deserves a safe and positive sports environment. SPEAK UP if the way you are being treated feels wrong.

At TIDE, all coaches are required to sign a Code of Conduct Agreement  acknowledging receipt and understanding of the Club Philosophy and Policies Governing Professional Coaching Conduct and the Conduct of all Athletes, Employees, and Volunteers and the USOC and NGB’s Coaching Ethics Code and their obligation to comply with such codes.

 

TIDE's 12 and older swimmers and their parents are required to sign and abide by the policies and rules set forth in the TIDE Swimming Athlete Code of Conduct.

 

TIDE has two Athlete Welfare Advocates, Kristin Lineberry and Andy Van Slyke, to assist athletes in voicing their concerns. Three additional parents were appointed to serve as Athlete Welfare Advocates in 2024: Eric Eberle, Sharon Flores, and Jen Fordham. Our Athlete Welfare Advocates are adults who have volunteered to be available to any athlete who is concerned about the conduct of coaches, staff, volunteers, or other athletes and wants to talk about it.