100% agree with doing this to protect everyone out there in USA swimming. The funny part about this, is that they only do background checks of "all coaches, volunteers and non-athlete members"...not ADULT swimming members of USA Swimming (I am one who is dual registered for swimming in USMS and USA Swimming).
I'm not advocating that they get started ASAP on doing this or anything, but I just thought in was interesting that they didn't check on the background of the adult swimmers who happen to possibly swim with the same age group swimming programs that we're trying to protect.
My :2cents:
The Athlete Protection Course is required for officials, and probably others. My wife, as a meet director, was also required to complete the course. It is a good course and only takes about 45 minutes. I could not get my 2012 credentials until I completed the course and that is probably uniform in all LSCs.
... The funny part about this, is that they only do background checks of "all coaches, volunteers and non-athlete members"...not ADULT swimming members of USA Swimming ...
USA Swimming requires all coaches, administrators, officials and anyone in the back office to complete the background checks and complete the athlete protection program, across any national, regional and even down to the team level organizations.
This is because all of the above represent the USA Swimming organization, and any of the above can get USA Swimming sued.
The Adult Swimmer who does not serve in any of the capacities noted above, only represents himself, and does not create a risk for USA Swimming any more than a parent of a swimmer might.
On another note, while all this is not necessarily bad, the increasing amount of certifications being required of USA Swimming coaches to prevent possible lawsuits is making it increasingly difficult to maintain one's credentials year over year, and many of these checks/creds cost the coach money every year. Not every team has the wherewithall to cover these costs for the coach.
