An important part of the Lake Monsters' mission is to provide programs in "a safe and supportive environment," which for us means strict adherence to Safe Sport policies and guidelines as the minimum best practices for interactions between swimmers and adults.

What is Safe Sport?

USA Swimming’s Safe Sport program is a comprehensive abuse prevention program consisting of a multi-layered approach to keep kids safe, including: required policies and best practice guidelines; mandatory screening, including criminal background checks and employment screening; training and education; monitoring, supervision and mandatory reporting. These measures are informed by the U.S. Center for SafeSport, an independent nonprofit organization authorized by Congress to help abuse prevention, education, and accountability take root in every sport, on every court - dedicated solely to ending sexual, physical, and emotional abuse on behalf of athletes everywhere.

Reporting an Issue

• To the Team, including any bullying, parent concerns, or violations of any of the Lake Monsters' policies, best practices, or expectations, including the Lake Monsters' Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policy.
  • Lake Monsters Safe Sport Coordinator and Team Administrator, Brian Elliott, at [email protected] or 612-703-4987.
  • Lake Monsters Board President, at [email protected]
• To MN Swimming for any of the above issues
  • MN Swimming Safe Sport Committee Chair at [email protected]
• To USA Swimming, including criminal charges, physical or emotional misconduct, or violations of USA Swimming's Code of Conduct or policies, including USA Swimming's Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policy.
  • Safe Sport Concern Reporting Form
  • Text Anonymous Tips to 888-270-SWIM(7946)
  • Non-Safe Sport Violation Reporting Form
  • Contact USA Swimming Safe Sport Staff Directly
• To the U.S. Center for SafeSport for sexual misconduct or harrassment or sexually explicit or inappropriate electronic communication.
  • Online Reporting Form
  • By Phone to 833-5-US-SAFE (833-587-7233)
• To Hennepin County Child Protection Services for concerns about child abuse, neglect or sexual abuse
  • If a child is in immediate danger, call 911
  • Suspected Child Maltreatment Reporting Form
  • Make a Report by Phone to 612-348-3552

Lake Monsters Safe Sport Policies and Best Practices

• Lake Monsters' Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policy
• Safe Sport Best Practice Guidelines
• Anti-Bullying Policy and Action Plan
• Photo and Video Policy
• USA Swimming Code of Conduct (Rules Article 304)
• Locker Room Policies
  • Most Minneapolis Public School swimming pools have only boys and girls locker rooms. All swimmers are free to use whichever locker room corresponds most closely to their gender identity, and depending on the location, we can designate a bathroom near the pool as a "family locker room." For alternate accommodation, please contact the Team Administrator directly.
  • All swimmers are expected to rinse off before entering the pool.
  • Many swimmers arrive at and leave practice with their swimsuits on under their clothing. But if swimmers need to use the locker room prior to practice in order to change, they are expected to arrive early so they can exit the locker room before the swimmers from the preceding practice exit the pool.
  • There are times when Lake Monsters practices may overlap with adult swimmers or swimming lessons with younger children. We work closely with Minneapolis Community Education to stagger start times in an effort to not have Lake Monsters swimmers in the locker room at the same time as adults, whether those are adult swimmers or adults helping their younger children get changed before/after swimming lessons.
  • After practice finishes, swimmers are expected to take no more than 10 minutes to shower/rinse and get changed before leaving the pool area. This is about both respecting the coaches and volunteers, who must stay in the pool area until all swimmers depart, as well as to avoid overlap in the locker rooms between adults and Lake Monsters swimmers. Swimmers who routinely take longer than 10 minutes, particularly after the final practice of the evening, risk losing their locker room privileges.
  • Roughhousing in the locker rooms is a significant safety concern that we take very seriously, and which could result in the loss of locker room privileges.
• Athlete Code of Conduct - The Minneapolis Lake Monsters works diligently to provide an environment in which kids can learn and have fun. This is not solely the responsibility of coaches, but also requires swimmers to demonstrate respectful, supportive, and safe behavior as well.
  • Respecting Other Swimmers (regardless of team) requires swimmers to be a good sport, to respect the feelings and personal space of others, to avoid interaction with other swimmers when coaches are speaking, and to generally set a good example of behavior.
  • Respecting Coaches and Officials requires on time arrival at practices, observing locker room time limits, listening when the coach is speaking, not arguing with the coach or official, and making the effort to apply the coaches’ instructions.
  • Supporting Teammates by cheering them on during competition and encouraging them outside of competition.
  • Observing Safety Rules, including no running, sit-and-slide pool entry, no roughhousing, showing respect for all facilities and equipment, and following all USA Swimming rules, codes of conduct, and coaches’ and officials’ instructions.
  • Swim HERO (Here Everytime Ready On-time) - Swimmers are expected to arrive to practice on time and ready to swim. This means being dressed in their swimsuit and swim cap, having rinsed off in the locker room, and being at the poolside with their goggles and a full water bottle in hand prior to posted start time for their practice. For most swimmers, this means arriving to practice 10 minutes beforehand.
  • Anti-Doping - Swimmers are expected to embrace anti-doping responsibilities to ensure the protection of clean competition. For more information and resources, please refer to the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) website.
• Parent Code of Conduct
  • Support Your Swimmer - Though it may seem obvious, it is important to state that the primary role of a swim parent is to be supportive of your child. While this support may sometimes feel like you’re no more than the swim cab, your support and engagement is key to your child’s participation in, and enjoyment from, swimming. As you would with their school, ask them about practices (what they enjoyed, what they’re working on, who they swam with that day), comfort them when they’re anxious or frustrated, cheer them on, and be there for them. Sometimes swimmers get anxious about competition - remind them that the only person they’re competing against is themselves and their own past times, or that their coach wouldn’t have put them in an event they weren’t ready for, or that everyone gets disqualified sometimes, and that’s part of getting better, or that most of a swim meet is hanging out with friends and cheering on teammates. Sometimes swimmers get frustrated with their pace of improvement - let them know that all people progress and grow at different rates, and help them to set goals and to identify what they need to do to achieve those goals. This is their experience - they are the athlete - so don’t impose your own ambitions on your child, and remember that criticism has no place in the sport.
  • Reinforce the Coaching - Ask your swimmer’s coach about what your child is working on or struggling with and encourage your child to envision themselves swimming the stroke or event as they focus on the things they want to improve. Don’t coach from the stands during practice or a swim meet, and above all, don’t undermine a coach by criticizing or contradicting them in front of your child or other swimmers - if you have concerns, the coaches and the team administrator are happy to discuss whatever it is.
  • Lead by Example - Show your swimmer what it means to be a good sport - cheer at swim meets for everyone you or your child knows, cheer for swimmers you don’t know but who are struggling, wish swimmers good luck, congratulate other parents on their child’s achievements, volunteer for your child’s team, and respect the judgement of officials who are overwhelmingly just volunteers doing their best.