USA Swimming Passes Open Water Safety, Athlete Protection Legislation at USAS Convention

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado, September 20. AT its annual Convention on Saturday, over 400 USA Swimming Delegates, representing state committees and swim clubs from all 50 states, voted in favor of amendments to further improve open water safety and athlete protection measures within USA Swimming.

Open Water
Open Water swimming saw new legislation related to event rules, water temperatures and water quality that will be effective immediately. Most importantly, USA Swimming adopted a maximum water temperature of 29.45 degrees Celsius (85 degrees F) for all Open Water races of a 5K distance and over. The new legislation lowers the previously adopted maximum temperature from 31 degrees Celsius.

Also, in an effort to make open water races as safe as possible, host organizing committees are required to have an Independent Safety Monitor to deal with race day conditions and assure that the safety plan is implemented (Rule 701.8).

Athlete Protection
For the second straight year, delegates also acted to further strengthen USA Swimming's comprehensive athlete protection programming. The House of Delegates voted to implement a groundbreaking proposal to adopt an anti-bullying policy.
The approved rule (304.6) reads as follows:

"Bullying is prohibited. For these purposes, the term "bullying" shall mean, regardless of when or where it may occur, the severe or repeated use by one or more USA Swimming members ("Members") of an oral, written, electronic or other technological expression, image, sound, data or intelligence of any nature (regardless of the method of transmission), or a physical act or gesture, or any combination thereof, directed at any other Member that to a reasonably objective person has the effect of: (i) causing physical or emotional harm to the other Member or damage to the other Member's property; (ii) placing the other Member in reasonable fear of harm to himself/herself or of damage to his/her property; (iii) creating a hostile environment for the other Member at any USA Swimming activity; (iv) infringing on the rights of the other Member at any USA Swimming activity; or (v) materially and substantially disrupting the training process or the orderly operation of any USA Swimming activity (which for the purposes of this section shall include, without limitation, practices, workouts and other events of a member club or LSC)."

Complaints under this rule will be heard by the Local Swimming Committee (LSC) Board of Review before going to the National Board of Review.

Another USA Swimming rule was expanded to prohibit inappropriate sexual conduct by a coach or non-athlete member toward an athlete, including inappropriate sexual conduct in the "oral, written, visual or physical form." (Rule 304.3, previously 304.7)

"Any inappropriate sexual conduct, or advance, or other oral, written, visual or physical conduct of a sexual nature directed towards an athlete by (i) a coach member or other non-athlete member, or (ii) any other adult participating in any capacity whatsoever in the activities of USA Swim¬ming (whether such adult is a member or not). Any act of sexual harassment, including without limitation unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature in connection with or inci¬dental to a USA Swimming-related activity by any person participating in the affairs or activi¬ties of USA Swimming (whether such person is a member or not) directed toward any member or other person participating in the affairs or activities of USA Swimming."

An additional rule was also put into place to strengthen false allegations measures at USA Swimming. The new rule states that anyone who knowingly files a false allegation may be subject to criminal and civil defamation laws as well as disciplinary action by USA Swimming (306.3).

The above article is a press release submitted to Swimming World Magazine. It has been posted in its entirety without editing. Swimming World offers all outlets the chance to reach our audience by contacting us at Newsmaster@swimmingworldmagazine.com. However, Swimming World reserves the right to choose what material is posted.

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