Safe Sport

Bakersfield Race Club is a USA Swimming member club and is fully committed to the USA Swimming Safe Sport program. Safe Sport exists to provide a healthy, positive environment free from abuse for every athlete — regardless of age, group, or experience level. Every coach, volunteer, and adult member of BRC is required to comply with all USA Swimming Safe Sport policies, the Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policies (MAAPP), and applicable federal and state law.

The information on this page summarizes key Safe Sport policies that apply to all BRC members and families. For the most current and complete policies, visit usaswimming.org/safe-sport and the U.S. Center for SafeSport.

The Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policies (MAAPP) are mandatory for all USA Swimming member clubs. The MAAPP addresses six core areas of safeguarding: one-on-one interactions, electronic communications, travel and lodging, locker rooms and changing areas, physical contact, and dual relationships.

All athletes, parents, coaches, and adult members are required to review and acknowledge the MAAPP annually. The policies described below reflect the current MAAPP as established by the U.S. Center for SafeSport. BRC implements these policies in full.

All one-on-one interactions between an adult participant and a minor athlete must occur at an observable and interruptible distance from another adult. This means the interaction must take place where another adult can see what is happening and step in if needed.

No coach or adult member may meet privately with a minor athlete in a space where the interaction cannot be seen or interrupted by another adult. This applies to conversations, training sessions, video review, and any other in-program activity.

All electronic communications between adult participants and minor athletes must be open and transparent. This includes text messages, emails, social media, direct messages, video calls, and any other digital communication.

• A minor athlete's parent or legal guardian must be copied on all electronic communications from an adult with authority over that athlete.
• Coaches may not maintain private social media connections with unrelated minor athletes.
• Electronic communication may only occur between 8:00 AM and 8:00 PM, except in emergency circumstances or during competition travel.
• Adults are required to discontinue any existing private social media connections with minor athletes that do not comply with these policies.

BRC follows strict travel and lodging policies to protect athletes during away competitions and team travel.

• Under no circumstance may a coach or adult member share a hotel room or overnight lodging with a minor athlete.
• Minor athletes should be paired with other minor athletes of the same gender and similar age for shared lodging.
• Meetings may not be conducted in a coach's or athlete's hotel room or overnight lodging location during team travel.
• A minor athlete's parent or legal guardian must provide written consent in advance for all in-program travel and lodging. Consent may be withdrawn at any time.

Physical contact during training and competition must be appropriate, necessary, and conducted professionally. Coaches and adult members must obtain permission before providing physical instruction or correction.

• Coaches may not perform massages or rubdowns on athletes under any circumstance — even if the coach holds a professional license.
• Any in-program massage must be performed by a licensed massage therapist or certified professional, in an observable and interruptible location, with prior written parental consent.
• Parents and legal guardians must be permitted to observe any massage performed on their minor athlete.
• All interactions in locker rooms and changing areas must be observable and interruptible.

All adult USA Swimming members — including coaches, volunteers, officials, and board members — are required to complete a criminal background check and pass Athlete Protection Training before working with athletes.

• Background checks are mandatory for all non-athlete adult members and must be renewed on the schedule established by USA Swimming.
• Athlete Protection Training (APT) is required annually for all adult members. The core course takes approximately 90 minutes; annual refresher courses take approximately 35 minutes. Training is provided at no cost through the U.S. Center for SafeSport.
• Coaches are also required to complete Safety Training for Swim Coaches (STSC), CPR/AED certification, and annual concussion protocol training.
• No adult may serve in a coaching, officiating, or volunteer capacity with BRC until background check and training requirements are verified as current.

If you witness or suspect abuse, misconduct, or a violation of Safe Sport policies, you are required to report it. Federal law requires all adults authorized to interact with minor or amateur athletes to report suspected child sexual abuse or misconduct within 24 hours — to both law enforcement and the U.S. Center for SafeSport. Reports must be made to both entities separately.

Retaliation against anyone who makes a good-faith report is strictly prohibited. You do not need to have certainty that abuse occurred — if you have reason to suspect it, report it.

For non-emergency Safe Sport concerns specific to Bakersfield Race Club, you may also contact club leadership directly. BRC takes all concerns seriously and will cooperate fully with any investigation conducted by the U.S. Center for SafeSport or law enforcement.

• USA Swimming Safe Sport Program
• Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policies (MAAPP)
• U.S. Center for SafeSport — Report a Concern
• USA Swimming Background Check Information
• Athlete Protection Training
• U.S. Center for SafeSport

Safe Sport policies are updated regularly. The information on this page reflects current USA Swimming and U.S. Center for SafeSport guidelines, but families should always refer to the official sources above for the most current requirements.