@Buxrus - I encourage you to read "The Why" behind Safe Sport - https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Water-Ski/About-Us/The-Why---USA-WSWS
Some may not agree with the rationale but there actually is rhyme and reason behind the board's decision to implement. We are actually trying to protect our young athletes and the organization as a whole.
"The Why" Behind Safe Sport - (from an Dec 21, 2021 email to members)
After a lengthy discussion the USA Water Ski & Wake Sports board of directors voted in March 2021 to add Safe Sport training for all adult members age 18 and over starting on January 1, 2022. The below bullet points should help answer “why” this decision was made:
As an amateur sports organization, we are required to follow the Safe Sport code per federal law S534, the Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse and Safe Sport Authorization Act of 2017.
The bill imposes general requirements on youth-serving amateur athletic organizations which include mandatory reporting and prevention training for adult members who have regular contact with minor athletes (Note: The organization would be subject to following the law regardless of our association with the USOPC).
Some state laws (California is the most recent example) also mandate comprehensive background screening, abuse & molestation awareness and prevention training, mandatory reporting, etc. The insurance carriers are simply stating that for insureds to qualify for defense and liability coverage with respect to alleged abuse situations, insureds must be following federal and state law requirements. These laws are NOT limited to USOPC and its NGBs.
USA-WSWS recently received a letter from Congressional leaders regarding Safe Sport training and background check expectations of amateur sports organizations that oversee sports with minor athletes.
The law requires mandatory reporting and prevention training for adult members who have “regular contact” with minors. The definition of regular contact is debatable but typically covers coaches, instructors, officials, leadership boards and national team members. In our sport, regular contact with a minor is evident within the entire sport discipline of show skiing, as there are minors on teams with adults. Show skiing makes up nearly 40% of USA-WSWS membership. Nearly all USA-WSWS sanctioned events (regardless of sports discipline) have both minor and adult participants. For example, the junior divisions at AWSA Nationals have seen eight straight years of participation grown. It’s obvious that juniors are the future of the sport.
Of our 13,700 total members comprising nine Sports Disciplines, 3,400 (25%) are minors.
The USA-WSWS board felt Safe Sport training for all adult members age 18 and over was the right thing to do in the best interest of athlete safety.
The culture around athlete safety in all of sport is evolving and the board felt it was important to be proactive and take a stand in an effort to protect our young athletes. Currently, 15 of the 50 recognized National Governing Bodies (NGBs) under the oversight of the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC), including U.S. Ski & Snowboard who has double the number of adult participants as USA-WSWS, have a Safe Sport training requirement in place for all adult members.
From a liability standpoint, our general liability insurance carrier supported the Safe Sport training decision. Although the requirement does not affect our insurance premium directly, it puts the organization in a better position with carriers moving forward. Some NGBs and other youth serving organizations have now become uninsurable because of claims regarding sexual abuse and misconduct.
According to our insurance broker, carriers are going to expect there to be a Safe Sport protocol (or something similar) and background screening in place, regardless of whether or not the organization is affiliated with the USOPC, if the organization wants to have insurance coverage for abuse claims. Organizations such as Boy Scouts of America and Boys and Girls Clubs may not use Safe Sport, but they are required to implement a similar program if they want insurance coverage. (Side note: our insurance broker took USA-WSWS to market to 26 carriers prior to 2022 and only 3 where willing to even write coverage. Our past provider for 10+ years is no longer in the amateur sports arena with any sport governing body due to risk concerns - our sport has motorized boats, minors, girls in bathing suits, etc. - not an appetite for many carriers).
Since 2017, across all NGBs, the U.S. Center for Safe Sport has investigated more than 8,400 total cases. Unfortunately, there are bad apples out there. The goal of Safe Sport training is for USA-WSWS members to recognize and help to eliminate areas where potential abuse and misconduct could occur.
Protecting our young athletes is important. And if you look at things from a risk management/liability standpoint, we are trying to avoid this (which has destroyed similar sports governing bodies):
Hockey Canada Pays out $7.6 Million in Abuse Claims-
https://torontosun.com/sports/hockey/hockey-canada-has-paid-7-6m-in-sex-abuse-settlements-since-1989
Kylie McKenzie Sues U.S.T.A., Claiming It Failed to Keep Her Safe -
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/28/sports/tennis/kylie-mckenzie-usta-lawsuit.html
USA Gymnastics, U.S. Olympic Committee Agree To $380 Million Settlement-
https://www.forbes.com/sites/annakaplan/2021/12/13/usa-gymnastics-us-olympic-committee-agree-to-380-million-settlement-with-nassar-victims-report-says/?sh=658708e8556d
USA Water Polo players get $14 million in sex abuse settlement
https://apnews.com/article/water-polo-olympic-games-2020-tokyo-olympics-sports-837aabce492f3debb492181d77dea80e
How USA Badminton found itself at the center of athlete abuse allegations
https://www.latimes.com/sports/olympics/story/2021-12-05/us-badminton-sexual-assault-allegations
$6 million settlement for child abused by bowling coach
https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/law-justice/6-million-settlement-for-child-abused-by-seattle-area-bowling-coach/
USA Swimming To Settle Sex Abuse Lawsuit Filed By Former Olympian
https://www.npr.org/2020/03/11/814377679/usa-swimming-to-settle-sex-abuse-lawsuit-filed-by-former-olympian
U.S. Figure Skating to Pay $1.45 Million to Ex-Skater Who Says He Was Abused
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/14/us/adam-schmidt-sexual-abuse-settlement.html
Court Rules USA Taekwondo must protect athletes from abuse, court rules
https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1106178/court-ruling-usa-taekwondo-sexual-abuse