USA Cycling is committed to creating a safe and positive environment for its participants’ physical, emotional, and social development and to ensuring it promotes an environment free from misconduct and abuse. To achieve this, USA Cycling’s Safe Sport Program went into effect in January 2014. Today, the Program consists of three core components: (1) Education, (2) Policies, and (3) Response and Resolution.
In 2017, the U.S. Center for SafeSport (“The Center”) was launched and it has exclusive jurisdiction over sexual misconduct matters and may exercise discretionary jurisdiction over other misconduct. USA Cycling works closely with The Center to educate our membership, create policies that protect our members from misconduct and abuse, and respond to and resolve allegations of misconduct when they arise.
1) Education
Education is a key component of any abuse and misconduct prevention strategy. USA Cycling encourages all adults to complete The Center’s “SafeSport Trained” education course. USA Cycling requires certain adults to complete training, as outlined in USA Cycling’s Education and Training Policy within the Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policies. USA Cycling also provides regular communications regarding available SafeSport education opportunities to its members.
2) Policies
Following The Center’s launch in 2017, USA Cycling amended its Safe Sport Program policies. The Center continues to release updated policy standards and USA Cycling complies with these. USA Cycling’s Safe Sport Program is currently made up of the following policies:
3) Response and Resolution
USA Cycling encourages everyone to report suspected misconduct, while some members are explicitly required to report misconduct. Multiple avenues for reporting suspected policy violations are available, including anonymous and confidential options. Reporting, Response and Resolution Policy outlines the process that is followed when a Safe Sport related allegation within USA Cycling’s jurisdiction is received by USA Cycling.
