Walnut Creek Aquabears is committed to fostering a safe and healthy environment for its athletes.

USA Swimming strives to continually improve the programs and services it offers to its members and among these some of the most important relate to the safeguards for protecting young athletes. In an effort to continue to foster safe and positive environments within all member clubs, USA Swimming has provided WCAB with best practice guidelines that help define elements of appropriate behavior and conduct.

WCAB's top priority is to keep its athletes safe. No form of abuse, including child sexual abuse, has a place in our sport.

Walnut Creek Aquabears adheres to USA Swimming's Code of Conduct, which is included in the annual USA Swimming Rulebook.

The U.S. Center for SafeSport, the separate, independent, organization that oversees all sexual misconduct reports in the Olympic and Paralympic Movement created the Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policies to set a baseline for acceptable safety standards that limit one-on-one interactions between adults and minor athletes.

Walnut Creek Aquabears is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for all of its athletes. To that end, Walnut Creek Aquabears has a Safe Sport Coordinator, Heidi McMillan, to assist athletes and parents in voicing their concerns about the conduct of coaches, staff, volunteers, or other athletes. WCAB has also put in place numerous policies and procedures that are meant to foster an environment that is safe for all athletes.

USA Swimming and the U.S. Center for Safe Sport have reporting systems to deal with Safe Sport concerns. Comprehensive information is available HERE. 

To deal with a Safe Sport concern, contact USA Swimming at (719) 866-4578

Contact the U.S. Center for Safe Sport to make a report. Call 833-5US-SAFE (587-7233) or use the online reporting form.

To report anonymously, text anonymous tips to (888) 270-SWIM (7946).

- - - - -

Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policy (MAAPP 2.0)

The Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policy (MAAPP) addresses one-on-one interactions, social media and electronic communications, travel: local and team, locker rooms and changing areas and massages, rubdowns and athletic training modalities.  Every USA Swimming club is required to implement the MAAPP in full.

USA Swimming has outlined all policies and guidelines on its MAAPP webpage.

Please read the policy belowalong with the educational resources and videos, to assist you in understanding our MAAPP.

- - - - -

Athlete Protection Training

USA Swimming offers free online Athlete Protection Training for coaches, officials, board members, chaperones, volulnteers, and parents.  All coaches, officials, board members and chaperones must take the course to be certified as a non-athlete member of USA Swimming.

Training our members in abuse prevention and mandatory reporting is just as important as creating policies.  USA Swimming is required to provide regular and consistent training for all adults who interact with and have direct contact with minor athletes, including adult athletes.  As a condition of membership, all athlete members ages 18 and over must complete Athlete Protection Training.

Safe Sport Courses for Parents and Athletes: USA Swimming offers Safe Sport courses for 12&older athletes and all parents.  The courses can be accessed through a member's USA Swimming dashboard, under "Education/Course Catalog."

- - - - -

Walnut Creek Aquabears Safe Sport Information and Policies

Safe Sport Courses
Team Travel