[chapmaja]

In my opinion, the organization with the best background check policy and safety policy is USA Swimming. Each coach and official is required to pass a level two background check every 2 years, plus take athlete protection training online course.

At practices it is up to the host club to handle access to locker rooms and the pool deck. At meets (when possible, not always possible at outdoor meets), the host club is required to allow only three groups of people on deck. First is officials who have passed their background check. Second is coaches who have passed their background check. Third is volunteers who are not required to be background checked, but must be registered with meet management. Each person who is on deck is required to wear a deck credential. Failure to have a credential can result in you being removed from the deck and additional punishment through USA Swimming. In addition, USA Swimming limits the use of photographic devices on the pool deck. People caught with a camera out behind the starting blocks can and should be removed from the pool deck.

Nothing is perfect for preventing assaults on children, because much of the time the situation does not involve officials, but coaches who get much less public time with athletes.