USBC and Safe Sport

USBC AND SAFE SPORT
Established in 2017, the U.S. Center for SafeSport is the independent and exclusive authority directed by Congress to prevent and respond to all forms of abuse and misconduct within the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Movement. The Center is an independent, nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization headquartered in Denver, Colorado.

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 maintains a database of individuals sanctioned from participation in their sport.

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

Click here for additional information on the NGB services page.

The U.S. Center for SafeSport works collaboratively with sport organizations to ensure a culture of safety through awareness, education and training programs, so that every athlete is safe, supported and strengthened through sport.

Safe. Athletes are protected from emotional, physical and sexual abuse.
Supported. Athletes enjoy welcome, respectful environments where diversity is actively embraced.
Strengthened. Every athlete thrives, on and off the field of play.

Click here to learn more about SafeSport training through USBC.

The United States Bowling Congress, as the NGB for the sport of bowling as recognized by the USOC, has addressed its adherence to Safe Sport policies through its playing rules and bylaws:

USBC PLAYING RULES
Chapter 2 - 17g. USBC Safe Sport Code Violations
An individual can charge a USBC member who is a Covered Individual with violating USBC’s Safe Sport Code by following the procedures outlined on BOWL.com. Matters involving allegations or reports of sexual abuse or misconduct or other violations of USBC Safe Sport Code will be processed in accordance with USBC’s Safe Sport Procedures.

USBC BYLAWS
Article XI – USBC SafeSport Policy
The investigation and adjudication of matters involving allegations or reports of sexual abuse or misconduct, or other violations of USBC’s SafeSport Code that involve prohibited conduct by covered individuals as stated in Article VI of the USBC Bylaws Disciplinary Procedures Supplement are subject to the jurisdiction of the U.S. Center for SafeSport.

USBC NATIONAL BYLAWS SUPPLEMENT - DUE PROCESS
Article V – USBC SafeSport
Section A. Jurisdiction
SafeSport Jurisdiction of USBC
1. Statement of Jurisdiction. USBC is recognized by the United States Olympic Committee as the National Governing Body (“NGB”) for the sport of Bowling under the Ted Steven Olympic and Amateur Sports Act, 36 U.S.C. § 220501, et seq. (the “Olympics Act”). The Olympics Act states that an NGB is authorized to “exercise jurisdiction over international amateur athletic activities and sanction international amateur athletic competition held in the United States and sanction the sponsorship of international amateur athletic competition held outside the United States.” 36 U.S.C § 220523(a)(4).
2. The United States Olympic Committee requires all NGBs to adopt the SafeSport Policy consistent with an NGB’s jurisdictional authority under 36 U.S.C § 220523(a)(4).

Section B. Definitions
The following definitions apply to USBC’s SafeSport Policies and Procedures:
1. “Individuals within the disciplinary jurisdiction of USBC” means those individuals within USBC’s jurisdiction established by 36 U.S.C. § 220523(a)(4), including all USBC members. In addition to “SafeSport Covered Athletes” and “Non-Athlete Participants", “Individuals within the disciplinary jurisdiction of USBC” are USBC high performance department employees and employees serving operational roles at the USBC Team USA training center (ITRC).
2. “Non-Athlete Participants” means:
a) An individual that USBC formally authorizes, approves or appoints to a position of authority over Athletes or to have frequent contact with Athletes; and
b) Serves as a coach, trainer, team staff, medical or paramedical personnel, administrator, official, or other athlete support, personnel, employee or volunteer for Team USA.

Section C. Covered Individuals
1. A covered individual is someone who currently is, or was at the time of a possible violation of the USBC SafeSport Code, part of at least one of the following groups:
     a) Any individual within USBC’s SafeSport governance or SafeSport disciplinary jurisdiction.
     b) Non-athlete participants.
2. Information about Covered Individuals may be disclosed to the Center in connection with disciplinary proceedings. Covered Individuals consent to disclosure to the Center for this purpose.

Section D. Prohibited Conduct
USBC has agreed to adopt the U.S. Center for SafeSport (Center) prohibited conduct policy and its definitions as stated in the SafeSport Code for the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Movement (Code), into this policy. The Center may update its prohibited conduct and definitions at any time and the changes are effective when published. For the most current prohibited conduct and definitions, go to uscenterforsafesport.org.

Section E. USBC SafeSport Violations
1. Covered individuals can be charged with a violation of USBC’s SafeSport Code if the prohibited conduct is alleged to have been committed:
     a) During Team USA competition or any function in connection with Team USA, USBC, its associations or certified competition.
     b) Through out-of-program activities regardless if directly associated with a lesson, function or competition.
2. USBC and/or the Center has the discretion to decline jurisdiction over possible violations that occur out-of-program.

Section F. Reporting
1. Procedure
     a) Alleged SafeSport Code violations
          1) Involving sexual misconduct are to be reported to the Center, who will have the exclusive authority to investigate and resolve.
          2) That are non-sexual in nature, USBC will retain the authority to investigate and resolve, and are to be reported to USBC, attention Rules and Compliance.
     b) There are no time limits on reporting possible USBC SafeSport Code Violations.
     c) There is no fee to report USBC SafeSport Code violations.
2. SafeSport reports may be made anonymously. Anonymous reporting may make it difficult for USBC to investigate or properly address misconduct or abuse. However, USBC recognizes it can be difficult for an athlete, teammate, friend or family member to report an allegation of misconduct and strives to remove as many barriers to reporting as possible.
3. Regardless of outcome, it is the policy of USBC to support the complainant(s) and his or her right to express concerns in good faith. USBC will not encourage, allow or tolerate attempts from any individual, group or organization to retaliate, punish, allow or in any way harm any individual(s) who reports a concern in good faith. Such actions against a complainant will be considered a violation of the USBC’s SafeSport Program and grounds for disciplinary action. However, this “Whistleblower” protection is not intended to shield complainants from discipline for engaging in other misconduct.

Section G. US Center for SafeSport Authority
1. Sanctions can be imposed by the Center for misconduct. Sanctions include the possible sanction of permanent ineligibility, which extends to USOC and all national Governing Bodies or Professional Sports Organization. This sanction could also result in the Covered Individual’s name on a publicly available ineligibility list that identifies the misconduct giving rise to sanction.
2. A copy of US Center for SafeSport policies and procedures can be found online at uscenterforsafesport.org and can be modified by the Center. Lack of knowledge about the policies and procedures is not a defense to misconduct.

Section H. USBC Procedure
Upon receipt of a proper Complaint alleging a violation of the USBC SafeSport Code, USBC will:
1. Review the Complaint within seven (7) days.
2. Forward any Complaint alleging a violation of sexual abuse directly to the Center for processing.
3. USBC may impose interim measures pending resolution of the Complaint by the U.S. Center for SafeSport.
4. Process all other Complaints in accordance with USBC Due Process Procedures. USBC reserves the right to forward any Complaint directly to the Center for processing.

TRAINING, EDUCATION AND BACKGROUND CHECKS
Those who hold the following roles in the United States Bowling Congress (USBC) are required to become Registered Volunteers through the Registered Volunteer Program (RVP): USBC national board members, International Bowling Campus Youth Committee members, USBC employees, Team USA and Junior Team USA team members and support staff, local and state association board members and association managers, local and state youth committee members and youth directors, youth league officials and USBC-certified coaches.

REPORTING PROCEDURES
The Center accepts all reports of sexual abuse and child abuse within the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Movement. Report here (“Report here” should link to uscenterforsafesport.org/report-aconcern) if you have reasonable suspicion of sexual misconduct or harassment, child abuse (including child sexual abuse), or intimate relationships involving an imbalance of power. The Center also accepts reports of emotional and physical misconduct (including but not limited to bullying, hazing, stalking, and harassment) within the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Movement. Reports of emotional and physical misconduct can also be reported directly to your sport’s national governing body (NGB).

Alleged SafeSport Code violations Involving sexual misconduct are to be reported to the Center through their website https://uscenterforsafesport.org/report-a-concern or by calling the Center's toll-free Report a Concern phone number at 833-5US-SAFE (587-7233).

Alleged SafeSport Code violations that are non-sexual in nature are to be reported to:

USBC
Attention: Rules and Compliance
621 Six Flags Dr.
Arlington, TX 76011
Email: Rules@bowl.com