The SAY Seals, the Summit Area YMCA’s competitive swim team, is proud to announce that they have been officially recognized as a USA Swimming SafeSport Recognized Program.
This designation highlights the SAY Seals’ commitment to providing a healthy, positive, and safe environment for all athletes through strong governance practices, comprehensive SafeSport policies, clear reporting mechanisms, and ongoing education for athletes, parents, and staff.
As a USA Swimming program, the SAY Seals are dedicated to partnering with USA Swimming to uphold the highest standards of athlete safety and well-being.
“We are incredibly proud to be recognized as a SafeSport program by USA Swimming,” said Patrick Collins, Competitive Aquatics Director at the Summit Area YMCA. “Creating a culture where athletes feel safe, supported, and respected is a top priority for our program. This recognition reinforces our ongoing commitment to protecting our swimmers and ensuring a positive experience for every family involved with the SAY Seals.”
The SAY Seals program has been a cornerstone of the Summit Area YMCA for over 100 years, serving thousands of swimmers across a wide range of ages and competitive levels.
Founded to promote skill development, teamwork, and a lifelong love of swimming, the program emphasizes not only athletic excellence but also character, sportsmanship, and community engagement.
Beyond competition, the SAY Seals are actively involved in the local community through YMCA initiatives, youth development programs, and events that encourage healthy living and personal growth.
USA Swimming is committed to providing a healthy and positive environment free from abuse for all its members. USA Swimming’s SafeSport program is a comprehensive abuse-prevention initiative that includes required policies and best-practice guidelines, mandatory screening and criminal background checks, education and training, monitoring and supervision, and mandatory reporting. These measures are informed by experts in child safety and represent some of the strongest safeguards in youth-serving organizations.
USA Swimming’s SafeSport program continues to spark meaningful conversations nationwide, strengthening communication and reinforcing athlete protection at every level of the sport.
