USA Wrestling

The U.S. Center for SafeSport is an independent nonprofit organization responsible for responding to and preventing emotional, physical, and sexual misconduct and abuse in the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Movement. The Center also serves as an educational resource for sports organizations at all levels, from recreational sports organizations to professional leagues.

The Center has created the SafeSport Code. This Code of Conduct establishes consistent standards of response and resolution to abuse and misconduct claims behavior across the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Movement. The USOPC, NGBs, and LAOs must comply, in all respects, with these policies and procedures as defined by the Code. All participants of these organizations are responsible for adhering to and understanding the Code.

USA Wrestling has adopted our own Safe Sport Program Handbook to guide our members in this important movement. 

It is also important to understand what is not included in Safe Sport. Safe Sport is not about equipment safety, concussion protocol, or matters covered under the USA Wrestling Rule Book and Guide to Wrestling.

The MAAPP is a collection of proactive prevention and training policies for the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Movement. It has three primary components: an Education and Training Policy, Required Prevention Policies, and Recommended Prevention Policies. The Center developed the MAAPP to assist National Governing Bodies, Paralympic Sport Organizations, Local Affiliated Organizations, the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee, and other individuals to whom these policies apply in meeting their obligations under federal law.

USA Wrestling has long had systems in place to protect its participants from physical abuse, sexual abuse and other types of abuse and misconduct that can be harmful to youth athletes and other participants. The safety of its athletes, coaches, and volunteers is of paramount importance to USA Wrestling. This includes both on-mat and off-mat safety.

USA Wrestling is committed to creating the safest possible environment for participation in wrestling. We pledge to protect, support, and empower our athletes through this Safe Sport Program. USA Wrestling grants the privilege of membership to individuals and Member Programs committed to its mission. The privilege of membership may, therefore, be withdrawn or denied by USA Wrestling at any time where USA Wrestling determines that a member or prospective member's conduct is inconsistent with the mission of the organization or the best interest of the sport and those who participate in it.

The USA Wrestling Safe Sport Handbook incorporates the Center’s SafeSport Code and adds certain specifics that are relevant to the sport of wrestling.

The follow matrix is a list of those individuals who are required to obtain SafeSport Trained Core.  If you have questions, please email usawrestlingsafesport@usawrestling.org.

 

Adult Participant Type Regular Contact with a Minor Authority Over a Minor SafeSport Trained Core USA Wrestling Program Staff   X Yes USA Wrestling Program Board Members   X Yes USA Wrestling Coaches X X Yes USA Wrestling Officials X X Yes USA Wrestling Adult Athlete Members (all athletes that will turn 18 years old within a membership year and older) - regardless of Regular Contact or Authority     Yes Other USA Wrestling Adult Members (all members that will turn 18 years old within a membership year and older) - regardless of Regular Contact or Authority     Yes USA Wrestling Team Leaders   X Yes USA Wrestling Program Volunteers if Regular Contact and/or Authority* X X Yes USA Wrestling Program Volunteers if no Regular Contact or Authority     Center Volunteer Course or SafeSport Core Training RECOMMENDED USA Wrestling Medical** X   Yes Credentialed Media - regardless of Regular Contact and/or Authority     Yes Contractors/Vendors that have Regular Contact and/or Authority X X Yes

*Each event may have a different assortment of event volunteers. That written, the following event volunteers will be deemed to have Regular Contact with and Authority over minors: director of event, lead event coordinator, venue/operations director, director of security, media director, locker room monitors, director of escorts and Minor Athlete escorts, bus drivers, and as such, must complete SafeSport Core Training.

**Medical includes the following: athletic trainers, masseur, chiropractors, dieticians, mental health care professionals, and medical doctors. The Center’s Health Professionals Course may substitute for the SafeSport Core Training.

The Center accepts all reports of sexual abuse and child abuse within the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Movement. Report here if you have reasonable suspicion of sexual misconduct or harassment, child abuse (including child sexual abuse), or intimate relationships involving an imbalance of power.
 
The Center also accepts reports of emotional and physical misconduct (including but not limited to bullying, hazing, stalking, and harassment) within the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Movement.  Reports of emotional and physical misconduct can also be reported directly to your sport’s national governing body (NGB).

 

 

Every Participant of USA Wrestling must report:

 

     (1) actual or perceived violations of the USA Wrestling Safe Sport Policy, including violations of the Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policy,

     (2) any violations of the Sexual Abuse, Physical Abuse, Emotional Abuse, Bullying, Threats or Harassment, or Hazing Policies, and

     (3) suspicions or allegations of child physical or sexual abuse to the U.S. Center for SafeSport or USA Wrestling representatives.

***Additionally, in all cases involving suspicions or allegations of child physical or sexual abuse, every Participant of USA Wrestling must also report to the appropriate law enforcement within 24 hours of learning about the allegations.

 

Reporting:

Complaints or information may be reported to the U.S. Center for SafeSport through the U.S. Center for SafeSport Report a Concern page: https://uscenterforsafesport.org/report-a-concern/  or by calling 833-5US-SAFE (587-7233), the Center's toll-free Report a Concern phone number.

Complaints or information may be reported to USA Wrestling by (1) completing an online report to USA Wrestling at https://www.usawmembership.com/misconduct, or (2) by calling 719-598-8181.