PDSC TEAM TRAVEL POLICY
The USA Swimming Minor Athlete Abuse Protection Policy (MAAPP) has five parts. This resource is intended to provide information regarding implementing the Travel: Local and Team section of the policy.
Travel: Local and Team
Local and team travel occur frequently in our sport and presents a series of unique risk factors. The goal of this policy is to minimize the opportunity for an Applicable Adult to abuse a minor athlete during local and team travel.
Before MAAPP, USA Swimming rules required every team establish a travel policy. This section of MAAPP replaces that requirement. Members will note that this section of the MAAPP is similar to USA Swimming’s previous Model Policy on Team Travel and published Best Practice Guidelines.
A legal guardian must consent in writing, in advance, for every instance in which their minor athlete travels alone with an Applicable Adult. Please note, it is the responsibility of the team to maintain parent consent forms covered in this section.
Teams often try to save money during team travel. For example, it has become a common practice for teams to rent a house which may be more cost effective than paying for hotel rooms. That practice is no longer permissible.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can Applicable Adults ride alone in a vehicle with a minor athlete?
A: Applicable Adults must not ride in a vehicle alone with an unrelated minor athlete, absent emergency circumstances, and must always have at least two minor athletes or another adult in the vehicle, unless agreed to in writing by the minor athlete’s legal guardian.
Q: How is “overnight lodging location” in Section II(b) defined?
A: Overnight lodging location refers to a non-traditional lodging situation that teams might use. This includes, but is not limited to, non-traditional arrangements such as VRBO rentals, Air BNBs, campers, trailers, etc. All the travel rules apply to these locations as well.
Q: Can an adult athlete share a hotel or sleeping arrangement with a minor athlete?
A: Yes, an adult athlete can share a hotel room, other sleeping arrangement or overnight lodging location with a minor athlete only if the minor athlete’s legal guardian provides written permission in advance and for each instance for the minor to share a hotel room, other sleeping arrangement or overnight lodging location with said adult athlete. No other Applicable Adult can share a hotel or sleeping arrangement with a minor athlete.
UPDATED QUESTIONS (June 13, 2019)
Q: Can families traveling to a competition share an Air BNB or VRBO?
A: Yes. If the travel is not “organized or supervised by the team” then families can make their own arrangements for accommodations. Under no circumstance can a coach share a hotel room, other sleeping arrangement or overnight lodging location with an athlete.
Q: What is different between a VRBO or Air BNB and a hotel? Especially if everyone has their own rooms, and bathroom.
A: A temporary residence rental such an a VRBO or an AirBNB provides opportunity for more personal and casual encounters between Applicable Adults and minor athletes than a hotel. This sort of casual setting provides an environment where boundaries can be crossed.
