Safe Sport

Athlete safety is the club's highest priority. Bakersfield Race Club (BRC) adopts and follows USA Swimming Safe Sport policies, the current Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policy, USA Swimming rules, and applicable U.S. Center for SafeSport requirements.

Safe Sport Coordinator

The club's Safe Sport Coordinator is:

• Name: Stanzi McGowan
• Email: stanzi@bakersfieldrace.club
• Phone: (661) 565-3057

The Safe Sport Coordinator helps communicate Safe Sport information, encourages parent and athlete education, supports Safe Sport Club Recognition efforts, and helps families understand reporting pathways. The Safe Sport Coordinator does not replace law enforcement, child protective services, USA Swimming, or the U.S. Center for SafeSport.

Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policy (MAAPP)

The club implements the current USA Swimming Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policy (MAAPP) in full. The MAAPP applies to all In-Program Contact — any contact (including communications, interactions, or activities) between an Adult Participant and any Minor Athlete(s) related to participation in sport.

This Policy Applies To:

Adult Participants — Any adult 18 years of age or older who is a USA Swimming member (athlete or non-athlete); a participating non-member (e.g., meet marshals, computer operators, timers); authorized, approved, or appointed by USA Swimming, Zones, LSCs, or member clubs to have Regular Contact with or authority over minor athletes; and/or within the governance or disciplinary jurisdiction of USA Swimming, Zones, LSCs, or member clubs.

General Requirement: USA Swimming, Zones, LSCs, and member clubs are required to implement this Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policy in full. The MAAPP must be reviewed and agreed to in writing by all athletes, parents/legal guardians, coaches, and other non-athlete members of member clubs on an annual basis.

Definitions:

• Athlete: A USA Swimming athlete member.
• Authority: When one person's position over another is such that, based on the totality of the circumstances, they have the power or right to direct, control, give orders to, or make decisions for that person (e.g., when a power imbalance exists).
• Billeting: A residential environment in which a Minor Athlete is temporarily housed in a private home with an adult or family who is not related to or known by the Minor Athlete, in conjunction with an activity related to sport.
• Dual Relationship: When an Adult Participant has a relationship with a Minor Athlete that is outside of the sport program (e.g., family members, mental health professionals, teachers, medical professionals, and family friends).
• Electronic Communication: Includes, but is not limited to, phone calls, emails, videoconferencing, video coaching, text-messaging, social media, or any other electronic medium.
• In-Program Massage: Any massage, manual therapy, therapeutic and recovery modalities involving an Adult Participant and any Minor Athlete(s) related to participation in sport.
• In-Program Travel: Any transportation or travel involving an Adult Participant and any Minor Athlete(s) related to participation in sport, authorized or funded by USA Swimming.
• Lodging and Residential Environment: Lodging arrangements including, but not limited to, hotel stays, rentals (e.g., Airbnb, VRBO), and long-term residential environments, including lodging at training sites and Billeting.
• Massage: Any massage, rubdown, athletic training modality including physical modalities (e.g., stretching, physical manipulation, injury rehabilitation) and electronic or instrument-assisted modalities (e.g., stim treatment, dry needling, cupping).
• Minor Athlete: An athlete under 18 years of age who is a USA Swimming member or was a USA Swimming member within the previous 12 months.
• Regular Contact: Ongoing interactions during a 12-month period wherein an Adult Participant is in a role of direct and active engagement with any minor athlete.

Exceptions:

• Close-In-Age Exception: In-Program Contact between an Adult Participant and a Minor Athlete is permitted if: (1) the Adult Participant has no authority over the Minor Athlete; and (2) the Adult Participant is not more than four years older, determined by birthday, than the Minor Athlete.
• Dual Relationship Exception: An Adult Participant has a role or relationship with a Minor Athlete that is outside of the sport program. This exception requires written consent of the Minor Athlete's parent/legal guardian at least annually, which must also identify which portion of MAAPP the parent/guardian is providing consent.
• Emergency Exception: Applies to all situations in MAAPP where an Adult Participant must violate requirement(s) of the MAAPP due to an emergency. Adult Participants must carefully consider whether specific circumstances meet the threshold of an emergency circumstance. It is strongly encouraged that the Organization or Adult Participant document the emergency circumstance.

One-on-One Interactions

Observable and Interruptible: All one-on-one In-Program Contact interactions between a Minor Athlete and an Adult Participant must occur at an observable and interruptible distance from another adult, except:

• In emergency circumstances;
• When a Dual Relationship exists; and/or
• When the Close-In-Age Exception applies.

Meetings and Individual Training Sessions

Meetings:

• Meetings between a Minor Athlete and an Adult Participant may only occur if another adult is present and where interactions can be easily observed and at an interruptible distance from another adult.
• If a one-on-one meeting takes place, the door to the room must remain unlocked and open. If available, it must occur in a room that has windows, with the windows, blinds, and/or curtains remaining open during the meeting.
• Meetings must not be conducted in an Adult Participant or Athlete's hotel room or other overnight lodging location during In-Program Travel.

If a licensed mental health care professional or health care provider meets one-on-one with a Minor Athlete at an Event or Facility Under Partial or Full Jurisdiction of the Organization in conjunction with participation, the meeting must be observable and interruptible by another adult, except if: the door remains unlocked; another adult is present at the facility; the other adult is advised that a closed-door meeting is occurring; Bakersfield Race Club is notified (when appropriate and not violating professional licensure); and the provider obtains consent consistent with applicable laws and ethical standards.

Individual Training Sessions:

• In-Program one-on-one individual training sessions outside of the regular course of training and practice between Adult Participants and Minor Athletes must be observable and interruptible by another adult, except when a Dual Relationship exists and/or when the Close-In-Age Exception applies.
• The Adult Participant providing the individual training session must receive advance, written consent from the Minor Athlete's parent/legal guardian at least annually, with a copy provided to Bakersfield Race Club, which can be withdrawn at any time.
• Parents/legal guardians must be allowed to observe the individual training session.
• Prior to parents/guardians providing consent, said parent/guardian must complete the U.S. Center for SafeSport's education and training on child abuse.

Electronic Communications

Content: All Electronic Communication from Adult Participants to Minor Athletes must be professional in nature.

Open and Transparent: If an Adult Participant communicates one-on-one with a Minor Athlete via Electronic Communications, the Minor Athlete's parent/legal guardian, or another adult family member, must be copied or included. If a Minor Athlete communicates to the Adult Participant privately first, said Adult Participant must copy or include the Minor Athlete's parent/legal guardian, or another adult family member, on any Electronic Communication response. Adult Participants must only use Electronic Communication platforms that allow for open and transparent communication.

• Exceptions apply in emergency circumstances, when a Dual Relationship exists, and/or when the Close-In-Age Exception applies.
• When an Adult Participant communicates electronically to the entire team or any number of Minor Athletes on the team, said Adult Participant must copy another Adult Participant.

Requests to Discontinue: Parents/legal guardians may request in writing that their Minor Athlete not be contacted through any form of electronic communication by the Organization or by an Adult Participant subject to this Policy. The Organization and/or Adult Participant must abide by any such request, absent emergency circumstances.

Hours: Electronic communications must only be sent between the hours of 5:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. local time for the location of the Minor Athlete, unless emergency circumstances exist or during competition travel.

Prohibited Electronic Communication:

• Adult Participants are not permitted to maintain private social media connections with Minor Athletes and are not permitted to accept new personal page requests on social media platforms from Minor Athletes, unless the Adult Participant has a fan page or the contact is deemed celebrity contact. Existing social media connections with Minor Athletes must be discontinued. Minor Athletes may "friend," "like," or "follow" USA Swimming's official page.
• Adult Participants must not send private, instant, or direct messages to a Minor Athlete through social media platforms. Exceptions apply when a Dual Relationship exists and/or when the Close-In-Age Exception applies.

In-Program Travel and Lodging

Transportation:

• During In-Program Travel, observable and interruptible environments must be maintained.
• An Adult Participant must not transport a Minor Athlete one-on-one during In-Program Travel and must always transport at least two Minor Athletes (who are at least 8 years of age) or another Adult Participant, except in emergency circumstances, when a Dual Relationship exists, when the Close-In-Age Exception applies, and/or when the Minor Athlete's parent/legal guardian has provided at least annual written consent.
• Adult Participants, including team managers and chaperones, who travel with USA Swimming athletes must be USA Swimming non-athlete members.
• Adult Participants who are parents/legal guardians of Minor Athletes must pick up their Minor Athlete first and drop off their Minor Athlete last in any shared or carpool travel arrangement.
• Prior to parents/guardians providing consent, said parent/guardian must complete the U.S. Center for SafeSport's education and training on child abuse.

Lodging and Residential Environments:

• An Adult Participant must not share a lodging arrangement with an Athlete.
• During In-Program Travel, all In-Program Contact in a lodging arrangement between an Adult Participant and a Minor Athlete must be observable and interruptible.
• During In-Program Travel, when doing room checks, two-deep leadership (two Adult Participants should be present) and observable and interruptible environments must be maintained.
• Exceptions apply when a Dual Relationship exists (the Adult Participant is not a coach and the Minor Athlete's parent/legal guardian has provided advance written consent) and/or when the Close-In-Age Exception applies.
• Minor Athletes should be paired to share lodging with other Minor Athletes of the same competition category and of similar age.
• Adult Participants, including team managers and chaperones, who lodge with USA Swimming athletes must be USA Swimming non-athlete members.

Written Consent: A Minor Athlete's parent/legal guardian must provide written consent, at least annually, for all In-Program Travel and lodging during In-Program Travel, which can be withdrawn at any time.

Locker Rooms and Changing Areas (MAAPP)

The designated locker room or changing area must be used when an athlete or Adult Participant changes, in whole or in part, into or out of a swimsuit when wearing just one suit (deck changing is prohibited).

All In-Program Contact between Adult Participants and Minor Athletes in a locker room, changing area, or similar space must be observable and interruptible, except in emergency circumstances, when a Dual Relationship exists, and/or when the Close-In-Age exception applies.

The Organization must provide a private or semi-private place for Minor Athletes that need to change clothes or undress at Events or Facilities Under Partial or Full Jurisdiction of the Organization.

Use of any device's recording capabilities, including voice recording, still cameras, and video cameras in locker rooms, changing areas, or similar spaces by a Minor Athlete or an Adult Participant is prohibited.

Adult Participants must not remove their clothes or behave in a manner that intentionally or recklessly exposes their breasts, buttocks, groin, or genitals to a Minor Athlete under any circumstance. An Adult Participant must not request a Minor Athlete to expose the Minor Athlete's breasts, buttocks, groin, or genitals to the Adult Participant under any circumstance.

Showers: Adult Participants must not shower with Minor Athletes unless the Adult Participant meets the Close-in-Age Exception and/or the shower is part of a pre- or post-activity rinse while wearing swimwear. Parents/legal guardians may request in writing that their Minor Athlete(s) not change or shower with Adult Participants during In-Program Contact.

Monitoring: The Organization must regularly and randomly monitor the use of locker rooms and changing areas to ensure compliance with this Policy. Methods may include conducting a sweep of the locker room before athletes arrive, posting staff directly outside during periods of use, leaving doors open when adequate privacy is still possible, and making occasional sweeps (women checking on female locker rooms and men checking on male locker rooms).

Media and Championship Celebrations in Locker Rooms: The Organization may permit recording or photography in locker rooms to highlight a sport or athletic accomplishment if: parent/legal guardian consent has been obtained (when possible); the Organization approves the specific instance; two or more Adult Participants are present; everyone is fully clothed; and any parent/legal guardian who enters a locker room or changing area is of the same competition category and notifies a coach or administrator in advance.

Manual Therapy, Therapeutic, and Recovery Modalities

Any In-Program Massage performed on an athlete must be conducted in an observable and interruptible location and must be performed by a licensed massage therapist or other certified professional. However, even if a coach is a licensed massage therapist, the coach must not perform a rubdown or massage of an athlete under any circumstance.

Additional requirements for Minor Athletes:

• Written consent by a parent/legal guardian must be obtained in advance at least annually by the licensed massage therapist or other certified professional, which can be withdrawn at any time.
• Parent/legal guardians must be allowed to observe the Massage, except for competition or training venues that limit credentialing.
• Any Massage of a Minor Athlete must be done with at least one other Adult Participant physically present and must never be done with only the Minor Athlete and the person performing the Massage in the room.
• Any Massage of a Minor Athlete must be performed with the Minor Athlete fully or partially clothed, ensuring that the breasts, buttocks, groin, or genitals are always covered.
• The provider must narrate the steps in the modality before taking them, seeking consent of the Minor Athlete throughout the process.
• Prior to parents/guardians providing consent, said parent/guardian must complete the U.S. Center for SafeSport's education and training on child abuse.
• Any Massage of a Minor Athlete must only occur after a proper diagnosis from a treating physician and be done in the course of care according to the physician's treatment plan.

Photography and Video

Purpose: To promote a safe and positive environment for all athletes, it is important to follow clear, proactive guidelines around capturing and using images of youth in sports settings. While most photography and video is appropriate and conducted with good intentions, establishing preventative safeguards helps minimize the risk of misuse and promotes responsible practices from the outset.

Policies:

• Publication of Photographs of Minors: The publication of any image or video of a swimmer under the age of 18, along with any personally identifying information (such as their name), including posting on bulletin boards, articles, video recordings, social media platforms, or livestreamed content related to swimming activities, may only occur with prior consent from a parent or legal guardian, documented through the club's consent form.
• Right to Refuse Photography or Video: Parents or guardians have the right to refuse consent for their children to be photographed or recorded on video. Exercising this right may not be used as a basis to limit or deny a child's participation in USA Swimming activities. Note that in some instances by simply entering a meet, you may be giving consent to photographs, videos, or livestreaming of your athlete. Accordingly, any photo or video that may be shared publicly, whether taken by a club member or an official photographer, must have written parental consent prior to publication or display. In the case where an official photographer or videographer is present, parents should be made aware and given the opportunity to withhold their consent.

All photographs must observe generally accepted standards of decency, including but not limited to:

• Action shots should be a celebration of the sporting activity and not a sexualized image in a sporting context.
• Action shots should not be taken or retained where the photograph reveals a torn or displaced swimsuit.
• Photographs should not be taken from directly behind swimming blocks when athletes are in the starting position, nor exhibit an athlete climbing out of the swimming pool.
• Photography and videography are strictly prohibited in locker rooms, bathrooms, and any other area where there is a reasonable expectation of privacy.

The club takes all reports seriously and prohibits retaliation against anyone who makes a good-faith report.

Emergency or Immediate Danger

If there is immediate danger, call 911 first.

Mandatory Reporting

Adults authorized to interact with minor athletes must report suspected child abuse or sexual misconduct as required by federal law, state law, USA Swimming rules, and SafeSport requirements. Reports must be made promptly to the appropriate authorities.

Report to the U.S. Center for SafeSport

Report concerns involving sexual misconduct, sexual harassment, sexually explicit or inappropriate communication, child sexual abuse, child abuse, or related criminal charges/dispositions to the U.S. Center for SafeSport.

• Website: uscenterforsafesport.org/report-a-concern
• Phone: 833-5US-SAFE

Report to USA Swimming

Report concerns involving physical misconduct, emotional misconduct, USA Swimming Code of Conduct violations, MAAPP violations, retaliation, or other Safe Sport policy violations to USA Swimming when appropriate.

• Website: usaswimming.org/safe-sport/report-a-concern

Report to the Club

Report team rule violations, parent concerns, peer bullying, adult-to-athlete bullying, practice concerns, or club policy violations to:

• Stanzi McGowan, Owner — (661) 565-3057

Reporting to the club does not remove any obligation to report to law enforcement, child protective services, the U.S. Center for SafeSport, or USA Swimming when required.

Bakersfield Race Club (BRC) prohibits bullying, harassment, hazing, discrimination, intimidation, and retaliation.

Bullying

Bullying includes repeated or severe behavior that is intended or likely to hurt, intimidate, humiliate, isolate, or control another person. Bullying may be physical, verbal, social, written, or electronic.

Harassment

Harassment includes unwelcome conduct based on personal characteristics or status, or conduct that creates a hostile, intimidating, or abusive environment.

Hazing

Hazing includes any activity expected of someone joining or participating in a group that humiliates, degrades, abuses, endangers, or creates risk, regardless of willingness to participate.

Retaliation

Retaliation against any person who reports a concern, participates in a review, or supports another person in making a report is prohibited.