SafeSport | U.S. Figure Skating

What Constitutes Misconduct?

BY: U.S. FIGURE SKATING’S SAFESPORT TEAM

This guide is intended to help members and parents understand the definitions of the various forms of misconduct along with the difference between misconduct and a rude or unprofessional behavior. More information about each form of misconduct can be found in U.S. Figure Skating’s SafeSport Program Handbook.

Questions about these definitions and reporting can be directed to safesport@usfigureskating.og. If you witness, suspect, or are otherwise made aware of misconduct that poses an imminent threat to a person’s safety or wellbeing, notify your local law enforcement agency immediately.

Physical Misconduct

Physical misconduct, which includes threats of physical harm, intentionally causes (or has the potential to cause) a person bodily harm or personal injury. This includes intentional hitting, forcing a painful stance/position for no athletic purpose, withholding, recommending against or denying hydration or nutrition, and prescribed dieting or weight-control without or against the recommendation of a medical professional. Physical misconduct is not an accidental collision (either on or off the ice) or physical conditioning that does not cause harm and is intended to benefit a person’s athletic performance or physical condition.

If a member threatens physical harm, intends to cause physical harm, or succeeds in causing physical harm to another, report this to U.S. Figure Skating’s SafeSport Program. If an accidental collision occurs on the ice that could have been avoided by utilizing ice etiquette guidelines or if a person doesn’t agree with the effectiveness of practices/conditioning exercises, it is recommended that this is reported to the club’s leadership or skating director.

Emotional Misconduct

Emotional misconduct is a pattern of deliberate, non-contact behavior that have the potential to cause emotional and/or psychological harm to another person. This includes a pattern of verbal attacks such as insults, a pattern of aggressive behaviors such as throwing objects to intimidate, deliberately ignoring a person for an extended period of time or routinely/arbitrarily excluding a person of belittling, verbally attacking and intimidation can be shown, the misconduct should be reported to U.S. Figure Skating’s SafeSport program. This includes instances where a person has left a club/coach/program due to consistent maltreatment.

Personality differences, eye rolling or other physical displays of annoyance and periodic rude/mean comments that do not escalate to a pattern of behavior are not considered to be emotional misconduct. Situations of unprofessionalism and rude behaviors should be reported to the club’s leadership or the skating director as they are in the from practice or team/club related activities. If a pattern

Bullying, Threats, Harassment

Bullying, threats and harassment can be written, verbal, physical or digitally transmitted expressions. Bullying involves an intentional, persistent or repeated pattern of committing or willfully tolerating physical and non-physical behaviors that are intended to cause fear, humiliation, or physical harm in an attempt to socially exclude, diminish or isolate another person emotionally, physically or sexually.

Situations of persistent bullying, threats or harassment should be reported to U.S. Figure Skating’s SafeSport Program. Being called a mean or rude term infrequently is not considered bullying, but should be reported to a club or program’s leadership to be addressed.

Sexual Misconduct

As a reminder, all reports of sexual misconduct must be reported to the U.S. Center for SafeSport. Sexual misconduct includes unwelcome sexual advances, verbal or physical aggressions or hostility based on gender or sexual orientation, and requests for sexual acts. Members are encouraged to learn more about what may constitute sexual misconduct by reviewing the U.S. Center for SafeSport’s Code which can be found on their website under the “Response and Resolution” tab. If you have questions about whether an act constitutes sexual misconduct, you are encouraged to contact the U.S. Center for SafeSport.