Riptide Aquatics: Team Grievance Policy

 

The Riptide Aquatics Grievance Policy outlines guidance and procedures to give swimmers, parents, coaches, and employees a way to address and report grievances in a productive, systematic way that allows the appropriate parties to investigate and intervene, and take disciplinary action when needed.

 

There are occasions when a problem arises in a club, for example, fighting or bullying, where immediate action is required. A temporary suspension or exclusion from a single practice can be given by the coaches. A report should then be made, within 24 hours to the head coach, who should follow the procedures outlined below.

With the exception of issues that immediately affect the health and safety of swimmers, all matters should be discussed before or after a coaching session and coaches should not be expected to deal with issues during water time.

If your concern relates to inappropriate behavior or activity that includes, but is not limited to the following:

  • Criminal activity
  • Use, sale or distribution of illegal drugs
  • Physical abuse
  • Inappropriate touching
  • Coaches sharing hotel rooms with athletes
  • Rubdowns or massages performed by coaches
  • Pictures and or videos taken in locker rooms or changing areas
  • Violations of USA Swimming’s Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policy (MAAPP)

Please report the incident immediately to SafeSport. You can reach out to Missouri Valley Swimming Safe Sport Chairperson, Jae Davis, at [email protected] or USA Swimming SafeSport Director Abigail Howard at [email protected]. Anonymous reporting can be completed at https://fs22.formsite.com/usaswimming/form10/index.html

If your concern relates to sexual misconduct, sexual harassment or sexually explicit communication through any media, please contact the U.S Center for SafeSport to make a report immediately. You can report your concern online or call 720-524-5640. More Information can be found at www.uscenterforsafesport.org.

Any concerns dealing with deception or recruiting should be directed to the Missouri Valley Board of Review. Instructions on how to do so can be found here: https://www.teamunify.com/team/mvslsc/page/rules-and-regs/by-laws-appendices

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How Grievances will be handled

 

Gathering Information: The appropriate individuals will reach out to the individual who filed the grievance and the person against whom the grievance is being filed to ask questions about the situation. Other individuals who were present may be contacted for more information.

 

Assessing Behavior: The behavior of the individual(s) against which the grievance was brought will be assessed using Riptide Aquatics team policies and facility rules, USA Swimming Code of Conduct, USA Swimming Safe Sport policies, and applicable local and state laws.

Consequences Will be Given and Disciplinary Action Will be Taken if Appropriate. These consequences and disciplinary actions will be decided using the following general guidelines: 

 

Nature of the misconduct

The severity of the misconduct

Prior disciplinary actions against swimmer

The adverse effect of the misconduct on other swimmers

Application of the Code of Conduct



Categories of Grievances

1. Athlete Conduct

2. Coach Conduct

3. Head Site Coach Conduct

4. USA Swimming Offical conduct

5. Parent/guardian conduct

 

Grievance Chain of Command

 

1. Conduct of an Athlete - Should a parent/athlete feel another athlete’s conduct is inappropriate or violates the Athlete Code of Conduct, the parent/athlete should discuss these concerns with the coach who is responsible for said athlete responsible for the violation. This complaint should be made in person or in writing. 

 

2. Conduct of a Coach - Should a parent/athlete feel that a coach’s conduct is inappropriate or violates any team policies, procedures, or the Coach Code of conduct, the parent/athlete should notify the Head Coach of this violation. This complaint should be made in person or in writing.

 

3. Conduct of a Head Site Coach- Should a parent/athlete feel the Head Site Coach’s conduct is inappropriate or violates any team policies, procedures, or the Coach Code of conduct, the parent/athlete should notify the team owner. This complaint should be made in person or in writing.

 

4. USA Swimming Official/Parent/Guardian Conduct- Should a parent/athlete feel that another Riptide Aquatics parent’s conduct is inappropriate or violate any team policies, procedures, USA swimming procedures, or Parent code of conduct, the parent/athlete should notify the head coach. This complaint should be made in person or in writing. 

 

Appeals Procedure

 

Any initial conduct review and disciplinary action will be the responsibility of the initial individual(s) responsible for officially receiving the said grievance. A decision, and/or disciplinary action, will be issued as soon as possible.

If a Parent/athlete who registers the complaint with a Coach feels the disciplinary action is insufficient or unsatisfactorily resolves the issue, or if the responsible coach fails to address the parent/athlete’s concerns in a timely manner, the parent/athlete may appeal the decision to the Head Coach, in writing, within 7 days of the initial complaint. A decision and/or disciplinary action will be issued by the Head Coach as soon as possible.

If the parent/athlete who registers the complaint appeals feels the Head Coach’s decision/disciplinary action is insufficient or unsatisfactorily resolves the issue, or if the Head Coach fails to address the parent/athlete(s) concerns in a timely manner, the parent/athlete may request that the Team Owner review all disciplinary actions and any appeals to the Head Coach up to that point by the Riptide Aquatics Team Owner.  

The decision of the Team Owner regarding any complaint, and any resulting disciplinary action, is final.