SkateSafe®

U.S. Figure Skating strives to provide a safe environment for its members that is free of misconduct and harassment. The association will not tolerate or condone any form of harassment or misconduct of any of its members, including athletes, coaches, officials, directors, employees, parents, volunteers or any other persons while they are participating in or preparing for a figure skating activity or event conducted under the auspices of U.S. Figure Skating. All forms of misconduct are unacceptable and in direct conflict with U.S. Figure Skating rules.

What is SkateSafe®?

Graphic resembling a wheel to outline U.S. Figure Skating's SkateSafe pillars. In the middle is the SkateSafe logo and surrounding it are six blue circles that say: Policies Prohibiting Abuse and Misconduct, Education and Awareness Training, Mandatory Background Screening, Reporting Concerns of Abuse, Respondingto Reports of Abuse, Monitoring and Supervision of SkateSafe programThe U.S. Figure Skating SkateSafe® Program addresses the following types of misconduct:

  • Sexual misconduct
  • Physical misconduct
  • Emotional misconduct
  • Bullying, threats and harassment
  • Hazing
  • Willfully tolerating misconduct

Questions regarding U.S. Figure Skating’s SkateSafe® Program can be directed to skatesafe@usfigureskating.org or 719-635-5200, Option 6.

Filing a Report

All adult participants (i.e., coaches/instructors, athletes, officials, volunteers, club and program leaders, etc.) are required to report suspected child abuse and/or sexual misconduct to the U.S. Center for SafeSport and local law enforcement. The U.S. Center for SafeSport has the exclusive authority to investigate and resolve alleged SafeSport Code violations involving sexual misconduct. Reports can be made to the Center here or by calling 833-5US-SAFE (587-7233). 

All other SkateSafe® violations, such as emotional and physical misconduct, bullying, harassment, discrimination or violations of the U.S. Figure Skating SkateSafe® Handbook, must be made directly to U.S. Figure Skating here

There are no fees for filing a report with the U.S. Center for SafeSport or U.S. Figure Skating. While all reporting information is kept confidential, you are permitted to file a report to the U.S. Center for SafeSport or SkateSafe® anonymously. Any report is better than no report at all. 

Response & Resolution Standards

U.S. Center for SafeSport

The Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse and Safe Sport Authorization Act of 2017 authorizes the U.S. Center for SafeSport to develop training and policies to prevent abuse within the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Movement. The U.S. Center for SafeSport is also charged with developing and enforcing policies, procedures, and training to prevent abuse and misconduct, with independent and official oversight of all National Governing Bodies .

Compliance

The full list of roles requiring compliance can be found on the last page of the SkateSafe® Handbook. The general rule of thumb is any adult member of U.S. Figure Skating or Learn to Skate USA® who has regular contact with or authority over a minor athlete(s) requires compliance. You can log into your respective Members Only or Learn to Skate USA® portal to check your role’s compliance requirements. You are not permitted to participate in a role requiring compliance until all items have been satisfied with a green check mark in your member profile. 

Videos

Please continue to refer back to this section as we create videos on additional topics throughout the season. 

  • Compliance - explore the who, what, why and how of compliance requirements.
  • Conflict Resolution - advice for club and program leaders when navigating conflict at the rink.
  • Locker Rooms - all things locker rooms, ready rooms, medical rooms and the role of a locker room monitor.
  • Locker Room Monitor  - a few examples of common responsibilities and scenarios.
  • Mandatory Reporting - details for all adult members to know their responsibility as a mandatory reporter.
  • Officials Professionalism - standard expectations when officiating a test or competition.

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