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The concept of SafeSport has emerged in recent years as a term for protecting children and young adults from abuse by coaches in youth activities. It is intended to prohibit “any forms of sexual misconduct, emotional misconduct, physical misconduct, bullying, harassment and hazing,” and is one area in which rowing has been ahead of the curve in youth sport safety. USRowing’s SafeSport policies date back to 2013, more than two years before the US Olympic Committee established the Center for Safe Sport.
Since January, 2015, USRowing has required all member organizations to have SafeSport program in place. [ https://usrowing.org/sports/2016/6/1/safesport.aspx ] Under this program all non-sexual reports of harassment are death with internally (within USRowing) and to date there have been several actions taken by USRowing in response to reported problems. Reports of sexual abuse are referred directly to the U.S. Center for SafeSport for investigation and possible action.
USRowing’s requirement that all member organizations have SafeSport programs in place, however, is in jarring contrast with its continuing assertion that it doesn’t have the authority to set safety requirements. This is a fundamental contradiction in USRowing’s Safety Policies. Where it is consistent, however, is that it seems not to enforce its SafeSport policy. In at least one instance USRowing officials were questioned about a sexual harassment lawsuit filed against a college coach and, several months after the suit had been filed, were unaware of the charges.