Reply to AAC President in the SAFESPORT Database

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]AAC better get a statement out real quick. This is nauseating.[/quote]

They did. According to the statement, there are no allegations related to AAC or any AAC team members. [/quote]

I’m not so sure about that.  Someone above posted that the statement said they had no knowledge of what he was doing.  Have they put out another one?[/quote]

STATEMENT ON FORMER AAC BOARD MEMBER
 
Arlington Aquatic Club (AAC) is a county-run swim team directed by a coaching staff comprised of Arlington County employees. The AAC booster board is comprised of volunteers who support AAC by facilitating swim meets, making the timely payment of splash fees, and helping to produce team merchandise. Any AAC parent, including but not limited to boosters, may volunteer to support the team, principally by staffing swim meets.
 
Mark Black was formerly a member of the booster board, serving as its President from 2018-2020. Black is also a registered member of USA Swimming. Black resigned from the board in June 2023 and did not give a reason for his resignation. In September 2023, AAC became aware that the federal Center for SafeSport (Center) had temporarily suspended Black for unspecified "allegations of misconduct.” 
 
The Center was established under federal law in 2017 to serve as an independent national safe sport organization. Among other powers, the Center has the authority to receive and investigate claims of abuse of amateur athletes allegedly undertaken by “participants” in amateur sports, including participant members of amateur sport national governing bodies like USA Swimming. 
The Center may also investigate reports that a participant is the subject of a criminal investigation unrelated to the participant’s involvement in amateur athletics, but which relates to the participant’s fitness to be involved in amateur athletics.

Upon learning of Black’s temporary suspension by the Center, AAC reached out to the Center for further information and guidance. The Center informed AAC that it had received information concerning Black involving a criminal matter, and that the Center determined it had jurisdiction over the matter based upon this information. When the Center takes jurisdiction over a matter, swim clubs like AAC are not permitted to investigate.

The Center further confirmed to AAC that the Black criminal matter does not involve current or former minor athletes affiliated with AAC. To date, there have been no families or athletes who have disclosed concerns to AAC regarding Black. AAC has not been contacted by law enforcement authorities (e.g., federal, state, local, Center) regarding the Black investigation.
 
The SafeSport code provides that Center investigations are confidential, but the Center’s ultimate disposition is noted on its Centralized Disciplinary Database. Under the code, a determination of permanent ineligibility may be made and would mean that Black is ineligible to participate, in any capacity, in any program, activity, event, or competition sponsored by, organized by, or under the auspices of the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee, any National Governing Body, or any Local Affiliated Organization like AAC. 
AAC has been designated as a 2023 SafeSport Recognized Club through the Center for SafeSport Club Recognition Program. This program allows a USA Swimming Member club to demonstrate its commitment to creating a healthy, abuse-free environment by implementing SafeSport best practices including club governance measures, SafeSport policies and reporting mechanisms, and SafeSport training for athletes, volunteers, and parents.

As part of our SafeSport program, AAC implements the USA Swimming Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policy which protects our athletes in their interactions with coaches, officials, and volunteers; in social media and electronic communications; during travel and training; and in locker room and changing areas. AAC coaches, officials, booster board members, and travel meet volunteers are required to complete criminal background checks and enhanced SafeSport training. AAC strongly encourages all AAC families to undertake SafeSport training and provides group training opportunities to do so.

If you have information regarding a SafeSport code violation, that concern should be reported via the  U.S. Center for SafeSport’s online reporting form  ( www.uscenterforsafesport.org/report-a-concern ). Reports may also be related by phone at 720-531-0340, during regular business hours (Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM MT – 4:00 PM MT.) or toll-free at 1-833- 5US-SAFE (24-hours per day, 7-days per week). Any information regarding a reasonable suspicion of an incident of child abuse must be immediately reported to  both  the Center for SafeSport and law enforcement.

Evan Stiles; AAC Head Coach           Meggie Scogna ; AAC Booster Board President

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