Quick links
- SafeSport & MAAPP compliance
- How CrewLAB communication works
- Our Safety partners
- Safety Resources Button
- Why Not Slack, WhatsApp, or SMS?
Athlete safety is built into CrewLAB — not bolted on. This page explains how our communication structure aligns with SafeSport and MAAPP requirements, who we partner with, and why it matters for your program.
SafeSport & MAAPP compliance
Is CrewLAB SafeSport compliant?
CrewLAB’s communication structure was designed in alignment with SafeSport guidelines. It prevents 1:1 Coach-to-minor-Athlete messaging and ensures all interactions are transparent and auditable. SafeSport compliance ultimately depends on how your organization uses the platform — CrewLAB provides the structural tools to support it. We recommend consulting your national governing body for program-specific guidance.
What is MAAPP and how does CrewLAB support it?
The Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policy (MAAPP), established by the U.S. Center for SafeSport, requires that all one-on-one electronic communications between adults and minor athletes be “open and transparent” — meaning a parent, guardian, or second adult must be included. CrewLAB’s direct messaging was developed in partnership with USA Swimming to enforce this by default: any direct message involving a minor automatically includes a parent as a view-only participant, or requires a second adult. If neither condition is met, the message is blocked.
Can coaches and admins monitor athlete communication in CrewLAB?
Yes. All communication within CrewLAB is accessible to coaches and administrators and can be reviewed at any time. This provides teams with a full audit trail of team interactions. Messages can be deleted by users, but CrewLAB retains them for auditing purposes — unlike SMS or consumer apps where message history may be permanently lost or inaccessible to program staff.
How CrewLAB communication works
How does CrewLAB structure communication to prevent violations?
CrewLAB enforces safe communication by design. Any direct message involving a minor athlete automatically includes a parent or guardian as a view-only participant. If a parent is unavailable, a second adult must be included before the message can be sent. Athletes cannot message each other without a Coach present. All conversations are transparent and auditable.
Are there any private channels in CrewLAB?
No. There are no unmonitored spaces in CrewLAB. All conversations are organized in structured, staff-accessible channels. Messages may be deleted by users, but they are retained by CrewLAB and can be audited — this is a key distinction from public messaging apps.
How does CrewLAB compare to texting or social media in terms of safety?
Unlike unmonitored platforms like SMS, WhatsApp, or Instagram, CrewLAB offers centralized, structured, and reviewable messaging within the same platform teams use for training and scheduling. This reduces the risk of misconduct and aligns with institutional safeguarding policies.
Our Safety partners
Why is CrewLAB recommended by USA Swimming?
CrewLAB is a USA Swimming partner and its MAAPP-compliant direct messaging was developed in collaboration with USA Swimming SafeSport department. CrewLAB is listed as a recommended tool for USA Swimming member clubs at usaswimming.org.
Why is CrewLAB recommended by USRowing?
USRowing endorses CrewLAB as a SafeSport-aligned electronic communication tool. Tom Rooks, Director of Sport Safety and Operations at USRowing, recommends that coaches and athletes use CrewLAB to support SafeSport compliance requirements.
Who is #WeRideTogether and why does CrewLAB partner with them?
#WeRideTogether is an organization dedicated to eliminating sexual abuse in sport through safeguarding education, abuse prevention, and survivor support. CrewLAB partners with #WeRideTogether to curate the safety resources available in-app and to stay current with best practices in athlete protection across endurance sports.
Safety Resources Button
What is the Safety Resources Button?
The Safety Resources Button is an in-app feature available to all CrewLAB users — athletes, coaches, parents, and administrators. With one tap, it connects users to vetted, sport-aware support organized across four categories: crisis intervention, mental health support, safeguarding education, and survivor support. Resources are curated in partnership with #WeRideTogether. Read the announcement.
Who can access the Safety Resources Button?
Every user on every plan. Athletes, coaches, and parents all have access. It is always visible in the app — it does not require a specific role or subscription tier.
Why is crisis and mental health access built into a coaching app?
Safety is more than communication policy. Coaches and parents need to know what to do when something goes wrong — and athletes need to know where to turn. Putting vetted resources inside the tool your team uses every day removes a meaningful barrier to getting help.
Why Not Slack, WhatsApp, or SMS?
I already use Slack to communicate with my team. Why should I use CrewLAB?
We strongly recommend against using Slack for team communication with minor athletes (under 18).
Age restrictions: Slack’s Terms of Service prohibit use by anyone under 16 (or the age your country or state defines as a minor).
SafeSport alignment: Slack does not provide built-in features for SafeSport’s “open and transparent” communication requirements — it cannot automatically include parents or guardians on messages involving minor athletes.
FERPA compliance: While Slack can be configured for FERPA compliance, it requires an Enterprise Grid plan and is not compliant by default. Your program is responsible for ensuring proper configuration and safeguards.
Data risk: All messages, files, and shared information in Slack could be exposed in a data breach or legal investigation, without the sport-specific safeguards CrewLAB provides.
CrewLAB provides communication tools designed specifically for coaching environments, with proper safeguards for minor athletes included by default.
What about group texts?
SMS group texts offer no audit trail accessible to program administrators, no parent-inclusion enforcement, and no structural protection against private side conversations. They were not designed for youth sport environments and do not align with MAAPP requirements.
This page is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. SafeSport compliance is the responsibility of each individual program, organization, and participant. Consult your national governing body for guidance specific to your organization.