Catawba Yacht Club Rowing reinforces the USRowing SafeSport campaign to protect athletes from bullying, hazing, harassment (including sexual harassment), emotional misconduct, physical misconduct and sexual misconduct. Our coaches and volunteers are held to the highest standard; in compliance with USRowing’s program, we use background checks, education and training, and reporting and enforcement to ensure a safe space for our master’s athletes. 

CYC Rowing Compliance Procedures 

Catawba Yacht Club Rowing has adopted the following policy based on the guidelines of the U.S. Center for SafeSport. 

Covered Individuals       

To assure the safety of all members of the rowing community, CYC Rowing requires the Rowing Captain and SafeSport Administrator to be properly screened and aware of SafeSport issues. These individuals have a duty to report instances of misconduct to the CYC Rowing SafeSport program.

Screening/Background Checks

 As a condition of employment or participation at CYC Rowing events, the Rowing Captain and the SafeSport Administrator are required to pass a third-party background check prior to employment or participation and every two years thereafter.  

SafeSport Training 

As a condition of employment or participation at CYC Rowing events, the Rowing Captain and SafeSport Administrator are required to complete the U.S. Center for SafeSport online training program prior to employment or participation and every two years thereafter.  

The online program is free and may be accessed as follows: 

1.      Go to SafeSport.org and click on the “Sign In” button (upper right corner). 

2.      Register following the prompts and create your account. (As this is a new program, you must create a new account. You will not be able to login with your SafeSport credentials from the previous website.) 

3.      Select U.S. Rowing as your “Membership” from the drop-down menu. 

4.      The following account code should be used for USRowing: J5YZ-UJKV-YMFX-4ENI 

Reporting Policy

The CYC Rowing Captain, any coach and/or volunteer must report violations of this Safe Sport Policy.  CYC Rowing Captain, coaches and/or volunteers at CYC Rowing are required to report suspicions or allegations of abuse by a colleague or co‐volunteer. If they receive an allegation or observe misconduct or other inappropriate behavior that is not reportable to the appropriate law enforcement authorities, it is the responsibility of each coach and/or volunteer to report their observations to a CYC Rowing Captain or the SafeSport Program Administrator, and where applicable, appropriate law enforcement authorities. 

Willfully Tolerating Misconduct

It is a violation of this policy if any member, coach, or volunteer knows of misconduct, but takes no action to intervene on behalf of the athlete(s), member, coach or volunteer.

Violations

Violations of the CYC Rowing SafeSport Policy shall be reported pursuant to our Reporting Procedures and will be addressed under our Disciplinary Rules and Procedure.

Reporting Procedure

To Whom to Report

Members, contractors and volunteers may report to:

1.      Coach or supervising volunteer with whom they are working

2.      Rowing Captain

3.      SafeSport Program Administrator

4.      Where applicable, appropriate law enforcement authorities

How to Report

CYC Rowing will take a report in the way that is most comfortable for the person initiating a report including an anonymous, in-person, verbal or written report (link here). Regardless of how you choose to report, it is helpful to CYC Rowing for individuals to provide, at a minimum, (1) the name of the complainant(s); (2) the type of misconduct alleged and the name(s) of the individual(s) alleged to have committed the misconduct.

Confidentiality

To the extent permitted by law, and as appropriate, CYC Rowing will keep confidential the complainant’s name on request, not make public the names of potential victims, the accused perpetrator or the people who made a report of physical and sexual abuse to the authorities.

Anonymous Reporting

CYC Rowing recognizes it can be difficult for an athlete, teammate, friend or family member to report an allegation of misconduct and strives to remove as many barriers to reporting as possible. Anonymous reports may be made without the formality of completing an Incident Report Form:

•       by completing the  Incident Reporting Form  without including their name

•       by expressing concerns verbally, electronically, or in writing to a CYC Rowing Captain

“Whistleblower” Protection

Regardless of outcome, CYC Rowing will support the complainant(s) and his or her right to express concerns in good faith. CYC Rowing will not encourage, allow or tolerate attempts from any individual to retaliate, punish, allow or in any way harm any individual(s) who reports a concern in good faith. Such actions against a complainant will be considered a violation of our guidelines and grounds for disciplinary action.

Bad-Faith Allegations

A report of abuse, misconduct or policy violations that is malicious, frivolous or made in bad faith is prohibited. Such reports will be considered a violation of our guidelines and grounds for disciplinary action. Depending on the nature of the allegation, a person making a malicious, frivolous or bad-faith report may also be subject to civil or criminal proceedings.

How Reports are Handled

Investigation

Upon receiving a notification of report, the SafeSport Program administrator will conduct a thorough investigation of the incident.  The investigation will involve speaking to all parties mentioned, including the reporting party.  The process will also including the opportunity for both parties to get together to try to resolve the complaint.  If the complaint is not able to be resolved upon discussion, then a hearing panel with authority to make recommendations will be created and conducted.  Final appeals will be made to US Rowing.  

Notification

Following CYC Rowing’s notice of a credible allegation that results in the removal of a coach, member, or other volunteer, CYC Rowing may consider the circumstances in which it will notify other athletes with whom the accused individual may have had contact. At CYC Rowing’s discretion, as appropriate, and after consultation with counsel, CYC Rowing may notify its coaches, volunteers, and/or athletes of any allegation of abuse or other criminal behavior that

(1) law enforcement authorities are actively investigating; or (2) that CYC Rowing is investigating internally. Advising others of an allegation may lead to additional reports of abuse and other misconduct.

Disciplinary Rules and Procedure

While CYC Rowing endeavors to provide support and guidance to participants on a day-to-day basis, it is also important for CYC Rowing to have a formal procedure for disciplinary action to address alleged violations of its policies and other inappropriate behaviors.

Disciplinary Rules

CYC Rowing recognizes that there are varying levels of misconduct. For example, physical and sexual misconduct are serious violations that may result in immediate dismissal. Less serious misconduct, and depending on the circumstances, might be dealt with more appropriately through dialogue and a verbal warning. In all cases, CYC Rowing’s disciplinary procedures and actions will be proportionate, reasonable and applied fairly and equally.