SAFESPORT

SAFESPORT AND THE GATORS

The Alameda Gators Swim Team is committed to fostering a fun, healthy, and safe environment for all, and believes all athletes deserve to participate in sports free from bullying, hazing, sexual misconduct, or any form of emotional or physical abuse.

To ensure athlete safety, the Gators follow all relevant USA Swimming policies including:

Coaches, officials, and chaperones complete background checks before working with swimmers.
Coaches and officials have regular Athlete Protection training, a program focused on clear guidance of acceptable and unacceptable behavior, and the proper steps to follow if unacceptable behavior occurs.

In addition, USA Swimming policy makes clear that it is every member’s responsibility to promptly report any incident regarding sexual misconduct by a member. Reporting must occur when an individual has firsthand knowledge of misconduct or where specific and credible information has been received from a victim or knowledgeable third party.

While it can be intimidating to step forward, the safety of our children is the team’s top concern, so please bring any Safe Sport concerns to our attention, and encourage your children to speak up as well. There are two ways to report a concern:

Report to either USA Swimming and/or the U.S Center for SafeSport. Your report can be anonymous or you can leave your contact information for report follow up. Following are the phone numbers and online reporting links.

USA Swimming Safe Sport (719) 866-4578. USA Swimming reporting link here.
U.S. Center for Safe Sport to make a report. Use the online reporting form or call 833-5US-SAFE (587-7233), or find more information at www.uscenterforsafesport.org

Report to the team using the following guidance:

Alert the coach – if inappropriate behavior is observed between athletes.
Alert the head coach (Marshall Dortch) – if inappropriate behavior is observed involving a coach.
Alert any member of the parent board – if your concern is about the head coach or you are otherwise unsure of whom to tell

The Alameda Gators Parent Board has completed a thorough inventory of policies and practices related to Safe Sport this season and providing transparent communication to our members on this difficult but important topic. If you have any questions, please contact the Safe Sport Club Coordinator: Erica Catic safesport@alamedagators.org.