USA Water Ski & Wake Sports strives to provide a safe environment for its members and is committed to create an atmosphere that is free of harassment and abusive practices. USA Water Ski & Wake Sports and its affiliated sport discipline organizations will not tolerate any form of harassment, abuse or misconduct and will uphold a zero-tolerance policy.
USA Water Ski & Wake Sports is committed to working with members around these issues and ensuring everyone understands the role they play in creating a safe environment for our competitors. The USA Water Ski & Wake Sports website features resources to help members maintain a culture that does not tolerate abuse. Our membership services team is available to answer questions and clarify misconceptions. Ultimately, we are all on the same team, working to keep our members safe and striving to be part of the solution.
New! SafeSport update for required training:
SafeSport training is required for all active USA Water Ski & Wake Sports members (18 years of age or older) who compete or participate in sanctioned tournaments or have regular contact with any athlete or other Participant who is a minor and is essential in creating a safer environment for our competitors.
Within 24 hours of learning of suspected or alleged sexual misconduct, USA Water Ski & Wake Sports members must make a report to the U.S. Center for SafeSport, and local authorities if a minor is involved.
Reports to the Center can be made electronically through the Center’s website at uscenterforsafesport.org/report-a-concern or by calling (833) 5US-SAFE (587-7233).
To report a concern to USA Water Ski & Wake Sports, you may contact Executive Director Nate Boudreaux directly at nboudreaux@usawaterski.org. Individuals should not investigate or attempt to evaluate the credibility or validity of allegations involving sexual misconduct; the Center’s response and resolution processes, as well as its FBI-trained investigators, will investigate.
If you have questions, contact us at compliance@usawaterski.org.
For additional resources, access the Center's NGB Services page.
In February 2018, the Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse and Safe Sport Authorization Act of 2017 was signed into law. Among the provisions in the law was Congressional authorization for the U.S. Center for SafeSport, which is an independent, nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization headquartered in Denver, Colo.
The Center receives, investigates, and responds to reports of abuse and misconduct from individuals affiliated with the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) and its National Governing Bodies (NGBs). The Center ensures that the USOPC and NGBs properly apply policies and procedures to govern abuse prevention and maintain a database of individuals sanctioned from participation in their sport. The Center works with National Governing Bodies (NGBs), including USA Water Ski & Wake Sports, to enforce the SafeSport Code as well as the federal Safe Sport Act, both of which are aimed at protecting athletes from abuse. The Center ensures all NGBs follow the strictest standards for child abuse prevention and detection. Throughout the Olympic and Paralympic Movement, the Center trains athletes, parents, coaches, volunteers, and organizations at all levels on best practices and principles for preventing abuse in sport settings. In doing so, the Center advances its mission of making athlete well-being the center of our nation’s sports culture through abuse prevention, education, and accountability.
SafeSport training is required for all active USA Water Ski & Wake Sports members (18 years of age or older) who compete or participate in sanctioned tournaments or have regular contact with any athlete or other Participant who is a minor and is essential in creating a safer environment for our competitors. SafeSport Training gives everyone the knowledge to be part of the solution to keep our youth safe. The FREE online SafeSport course lasts approximately 75-90 minutes and only needs to be completed once. Refresher courses (20-30 minutes) must be completed annually thereafter. READ: What USA Water Ski & Wake Sports Members Are Saying About Safe Sport.
Additionally, certain members are required to complete background checks as well. If you are unsure whether you are required to complete Background Screening, please refer to the USA Water Ski & Wake Sports Background Screen Compliance Chart.
USA Water Ski & Wake Sports also encourages all parents and minor athletes to take FREE optional training that is specific to Parents and Minors.
USA Water Ski & Wake Sports has adopted the U.S. Center for SafeSport Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policies (MAAPP). We are committed to building a sport community where participants can work and learn together in an atmosphere free of emotional, physical, and sexual misconduct. Per the policies:
- One-on-one interactions with minors must be observable and interruptible, with exceptions requiring written consent from a legal guardian.
- Adults must include another adult on all electronic communications with a minor, in connection with USA Water Ski & Wake Sports sanctioned activity.
- An adult may travel with a minor in the presence of another adult or two other minors, or with written consent from the minor’s legal guardian.
- An adult cannot share a hotel room or otherwise sleep in the same room with a minor, with exceptions requiring written consent from a legal guardian
- Photographs or videos of Minor Athletes may only be taken in public view and must observe generally accepted standards of decency.