US Sailing Cmmunity Sailing Center Accreditatin Prgram Guidelines & Applicatin
INTRODUCTION With hundreds f cmmunity sailing prgrams in the US Sailing database, the Cmmunity Sailing Center Accreditatin Prgram identifies and accredits thse cmmunity sailing prgrams that ffer the highest level f bating educatin and public access acrss the United States. By accrediting prgrams that nly meet these high standards, as set frth in the applicatin prcess, the Prgram aims t ffer a natinal standard fr cmmunity sailing prgrams. Accredited prgrams use US Sailing certified instructrs, have detailed emergency and safety prcedures, use curricula that meet US Sailing s teaching standards and have prper insurance. Prgrams f all types (year-rund r seasnal, yuth r adult, etc.) can apply fr accreditatin, prvided they meet the specific guidelines set frth by the Accreditatin Applicatin. Organizatins that have been accredited will be recgnized natinally as the tp cmmunity sailing prgrams and centers in the cuntry. They will be featured in US Sailing s Cmmunity Sailing publicatins, netwrked with ther accredited centers, receive regular cmmunicatin frm the US Sailing Accreditatin Cmmittee and will assist in mentring newer prgrams int the Accreditatin prgram. Accredited Centers can als participate in the gverning prcess that mlds, shapes and imprves the quality and reach f ur prgrams, by being invlved with the Cmmunity Sailing Cmmittee. Please nte that US Sailing accredits Keelbat Sailing Schls in additin t Cmmunity Sailing Centers. Bth require different accreditatins and a center meeting bth terms, wuld apply fr each accreditatin separately. The Accreditatin prcess des nt have prerequisites fr the types f bats that an rganizatin uses, nr is there a limitatin n what age grups that they must teach. Each prgram is expected t use bats that meet minimum safety requirements and in their educatinal prgrams are required t use curricula that accmplish the skills listed in the US Sailing Little Red Bks.
YOU RE INVITED TO PARTICIPATE In additin t all the benefits yur cmmunity sailing prgram will receive, yu are invited t participate fully in the gverning prcess that cntinually mlds, shapes, and imprves the quality and reach f ur prgrams. While US Sailing culd simply be viewed as anther vendr designed t supply yu with the materials, credentials and supprt that yu need, we encurage all prgrams t get invlved with the rganizatin thrugh service n the Cmmunity Sailing Cmmittee. THE EVOLUTION OF US SAILING Serving sailrs since 1897 under the names f NAYRU and USYRU, the rganizatin changed its name t US Sailing, t mre adequately describe its brader rle beynd the administratin f sailbat racing. US Sailing derives its charter frm the Amateur Sprts Act f 1978 passed by Cngress, and in this rle, is the Natinal Gverning Bdy (NGB) fr the sprt f sailing and regulates all levels f cmpetitin. Hwever, US Sailing reaches far beynd the cmpetitive level. Frm training prgrams t cmmunity sailing utreach, US Sailing has wrked t imprve the sprt and expand its accessibility t bring new peple in at all levels f expertise thrugh grassrts develpment prgrams. The rganizatin is strngly cmmitted t quality instructin in rder t prduce quality sailrs thrugh a natinal training system. It is a netwrk f instructrs, prgram rganizers and sme f the best sailing experts in the wrld. Last year alne, US Sailing trained ver 1,600 new instructrs acrss the cuntry in dinghy, keelbat and windsurfing instructr curses. And ver the last decade US Sailing has been actively invlved in the develpment f cmmunity sailing prgrams making sailing mre available, safe and fun. This prgram has prven t be extremely successful. Tday, US Sailing fcuses all aspects f recreatinal sailing, and cntinues as a nnprfit rganizatin with a missin t serve all sailrs.
Directly speaking t the relatinship between US Sailing and Cmmunity Sailing Prgrams, US Sailing sees the Accreditatin Prgram as a means t benefit bth sailrs and prgrams in the fllwing areas: Increase the use f natinal small bat sailing educatinal standards fr instructinal prgrams, instructrs, students and sailrs. Prvide a training system that enfrces cnsistent standards f quality and prmtes and supprts reciprcity amng prgrams in the U.S. Offer Instructr and Instructr Trainer certificatin as well as cntinuing educatin pprtunities. Issue student and instructr certificatins. Publish superir quality instructr manuals, student bks and ther teaching materials t supprt the prgram. Maintain a natinal database fr student certificatin recrds. Help sailing prgrams in their effrts t ffer successful pprtunities fr peple t experience the jys and challenges f sailing. Encurage cntinued participatin in the sprt. Fster awareness f the imprtance f bating safety. Wrk with industry manufacturers t supprt cmmunity bating prgrams in the U.S. Wrk with ther marine industry rganizatins t stimulate mre peple t cme int sailing and fster cperative effrts t benefit the entire industry.
COMMUNITY SAILING ACCREDITATION PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS The current guidelines fr applicatin in the US Sailing Cmmunity Sailing Center Accreditatin prgram include: 1. Center must be a member rganizatin f US Sailing. If nt already a current US Sailing member rganizatin, include a check made ut t US Sailing fr the current annual rganizatin dues. 2. Center must be either a 501(c)3 r crpratin pen t the general public withut discriminatin based n any prtected class status. This clause may nt be interpreted t halt any center frm refusing t serve persns deemed inapprpriate, dangerus, r incmpatible with teaching, learning r cmmunity sailing. Military sailing prgrams are exempt frm this requirement. 3. Accredited Centers agree t the terms, cnditins and rules as fund in the US Sailing Cmmunity Sailing Accreditatin Guidelines. A center principal must sign and cmplete this US Sailing Cmmunity Sailing Center Accreditatin applicatin. 4. Upn acceptance f applicatin, Center is subject t a physical site inspectin and nging visits by US Sailing representatives. Such inspectin includes but is nt limited t standard items fund in the US Sailing Cmmunity Sailing Center Accreditatin Prgram site inspectin guidelines. Site visits are perfrmed n a case by case basis and may nt be a mandatry part f the Accreditatin applicatin fr sme centers. Hwever, a site visit may ccur if a US Sailing representative is nt familiar with yur prgram. 5. All instructrs wh teach curses leading t student certificatin must be US Sailing certified t the level f the curse they are teaching. See the cmplete US Sailing Cmmunity Sailing Center Accreditatin Guidelines. The Center must emply US Sailing certified instructrs fr their teaching and supervisry staff, r instructrs certified by their wn natin s Natinal Organizing Cmmittee. (As per US Sailing requirements that a certified persn be in charge f classes n the water, but nt excluding nn-certified instructrs wrking with r under the supervisin f the certified instructr.) All lead instructrs must be at least 18 years f age.
6. A Center must have at least ne lead instructr, US Sailing Certified, in rder t be accredited. All lead and regular instructrs must be at least 18 years f age. Minimum certificatin is Small Bat Level 1 Instructr certificatin. Include in this applicatin the names f all US Sailing Certified Instructrs n staff, with levels and membership numbers. 7. Fee Structure: Annual rganizatinal membership dues fr US Sailing billed yearly frm the US Sailing Membership Department. Annual Cmmunity Sailing Center Prgram Accreditatin fee (currently $200.00). Any Center that declares bankruptcy, r vilates any f requirements r terms specified in the US Sailing Cmmunity Sailing Accreditatin requirements, can be terminated with 30 days written ntice. Prvide evidence f wning r renting a facility with a pint f cntact that is accessible t the public. Prvide a written descriptin f the facility listing all its benefits t the sailing student and a phtgraph f each aspect f the facility used by the student. The facility shall include: A structure that huses the business ffices fr the center. A classrm suitable fr cnducting classes see site inspectin guidelines fr examples Other entities such as yacht clubs, marinas, sailing clubs, cmmunity clleges r centers, etc., which cater t the bating public. 8. Prf f having been in business at least ne year (such as certificate f incrpratin, the actual telephne yellw page listing - n phtcpy - with the cver shwing the year, r any actual advertisement that shws the date f the ad such as a newspaper page). 9. Centers must submit cpies f : Emergency and Safety Prcedure and Prtcls Liability and Injury waivers. State business license and federal tax ID numbers. Lessn plans, curse syllabi, and the verall prgram curriculum (in the case f multiple levels f certificatin) fr all certificatin curses. 10. Centers must attach cpies f a Certificate f Insurance satisfying all f the items under Insurance Requirements.
11. The rganizatin s evaluatin criteria must meet r exceed standards fund in the US Sailing s Little Red Bk, which stipulates bats t be used are defined as dinghies, keel and centerbard daysailrs and mulithulls that are generally under 20 feet and withut live-abard accmmdatins. Prf f access t at least ne bat: if wned by center, cpy f the dcumentatin r state registratin. If chartered, cpy f the charter cntract. INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS: 1. A certificate fr a $1,000,000 Prtectin and Indemnity (P and I) including Jnes Act cverage frm an insurer with a minimum Best rating f A-Minus r better fr a minimum f $1,000,000 primary Prtectin & Indemnity Liability (P&I) including: Jnes Act cverage General Liability Statutry limits fr Wrker s Cmpensatin $500,000 Emplyer s Liability: The cmments sectin f the Certificate shall state that students are cvered while abard bats wned, chartered r leased by the Center. The Prtectin and Indemnity insures the Sailing Center against lsses by students, in r ut f the vessel, while n the water during a training curse. The Jnes Act requirement prtects the Sailing Center against claims because f injury, death, r damages sustained by the sailing instructr while n the water. The primary P&I must cver students n bats chartered r leased by the Center. T be submitted with Center applicatin. 2. $1,000,000 General Liability: This prtectin is limited t $1,000,000 fr a single incident f bdily injury r prperty damage, primarily ver land, in a claim against the Sailing Center by a sailing student r member f the general public. 3. Statutry Limits fr Wrker s Cmpensatin with Emplyer s Liability Limits at $500,000. This prtects the Sailing Center against wrker s cmpensatin claims by instructrs, as emplyees, while perfrming their duties primarily ver land r n the dcks. 4. Under the cmments sectin f the Certificate f Insurance, it must be stated Students are cvered while abard bats wned, chartered, r leased by the center. 5. The insurance cmpany must carry a minimum Best Rating A- r be Llyd s f Lndn (unless this requirement is specifically waived by US Sailing in writing).
6. US Sailing is t be identified as an Additinal Insured. This requirement is necessary if we are t implement the inspectin and certificatin f sailing centers under US Sailing. IMPLEMENTATION & OVERSIGHT Every prgram will be reviewed n a variable schedule based n the histry, perfrmance and survey results f the prgram. Fr details n what criteria prgrams will be reviewed n, please reference the dcument Quality Assurance Assessment. An independent bserver must review the applicatin package f every prgram that wishes t becme a US Sailing Accredited Cmmunity Sailing Center at the time f applicatin. Site visits may be scheduled at this time. Prgrams meeting the US Sailing requirements at a level f Excellent may be reviewed every three years. Prgrams that are meeting the US Sailing requirements at a level f Satisfactry may be reviewed every tw years. Prgrams that are meeting the US Sailing requirements at a level f Acceptable may be reviewed every year until they are at least Satisfactry fr tw cnsecutive years. Prgrams that are nt meeting the US Sailing requirements at a level f Acceptable will be cnsidered prbatinary and be reviewed again in a time dependent n the prblems (e.g. missing insurance shuld nly take a few days t crrect, missing Level 1 instructrs culd take mnths). N prgram may be prbatinary fr mre than tw years. Accreditatin shall be revked frm prgrams rated at the prbatinary level fr tw cnsecutive years.
Cmmunity Sailing Center Accreditatin Applicatin I. General Organizatin Infrmatin Date: Name f applicant (hereinafter referred t as "Center"): US Sailing Organizatinal member number: Mailing address: City, State & ZIP: Physical address: Email address: Website address: Name and title f principal cntact: Address (if different): City, State ZIP: Telephne: E-mail Address: II: Facilities & Equipment Sailbat(s)/Safety Bats Fleet size Length Curse Use
Please list all vessels/fleets yu intend t use fr sailing curses. Additinal bats can be listed can be listed n a separate piece f paper entitled Schedule A. Phtgraphs f ffice, classrm, dcks, safety bats, sailbats and strage facilities (fr bats and equipment). Include evidence f renting r wning a facility. Prf f having been in business fr at least ne (1) year. If this prvisin has nt been met, additinal dcumentatin might be required. III. Staff Infrmatin List/Attach the name(s) and member number(s) f US Sailing Small Bat Level 1 certified Instructrs* in the center. At least ne certified Instructr must be emplyed by the center. List any additinal instructrs n a separate piece f paper entitled Schedule B. We als ask that yu indicate any additinal US Sailing Certificatins that yur instructrs have (example: Level 1 Instructr Trainer, Keelbat Instructr, Pwerbat Instructr, etc.) and indicate what classes they teach in yur rganizatin. Instructr Name Membership # Any Additinal US Sailing Certificatins Classes taught
* A current US Sailing instructr is defined as ne wh has taken and passed the Small Bat Level 1 Instructr Curse, their membership and instructr status are current (nte: Instructrs need t recertify their instructr certificatins every three years t remain current). IV. Educatinal/Safety Dcumentatin Lessn plans, curse syllabi, and the verall prgram fr all certificatin curses. Evaluatin frms used fr bth students AND staff. Liability and Injury waivers. Emergency and Safety Prcedure and Prtcls (i.e. Emergency Actin Plan) Please indicate if yu utilize US Sailing Red Bk in yu prgramming**? **While the utilizatin f the US Sailing Small Bat Training prgrams is required fr any classes that lead t US Sailing certificatin t be an accredited center, the use f the physical Red Bk and Green Bks fr all classes is nt. V. Insurance and State/Federal Dcuments Cpies f state business license and federal ID tax numbers Insurance dcumentatin. Certificate f Insurance, which cmplies with all required elements in INSURANCE GUIDELINES which states Students are cvered while abard bats wned, chartered, r leased by the center. US Sailing is t be identified as an Additinal Insured. A new Certificate f Insurance shuld be supplied t US Sailing at every renewal. VI. Additinal Required Infrmatin A check made ut t US Sailing fr $200.00 fr the annual accreditatin fee. A principal f the Center must sign the fllwing statement, acknwledging agreement t the terms, cnditins and rules as fund in the US Sailing Cmmunity Sailing Center Accreditatin Guidelines and attesting t the veracity f the infrmatin enclsed in this applicatin.
Print name Title Signed Date IMPORTANT: Submitting this applicatin des nt guarantee yur Center has been fficially apprved by US Sailing r their agent. Until yur Center has been fficially apprved in writing frm US Sailing, yu may nt imply verbally r in any advertising and/r prmtinal items that yur Center is a US Sailing Accredited Cmmunity Sailing Center.
Dear Applicant fr US Sailing Accreditatin Prgram: Yur insurance requirement needs t be arranged by yur insurance brker. Please deliver this page, r a cpy f this page, t yur insurance brker s that yur applicatin can be apprved as quickly as pssible. INSURANCE REQUIREMENTS: 1. $1,000,000 Prtectin and Indemnity (P and I) including the Jnes Act. The Prtectin and Indemnity insures the sailing schl against lsses by students, in r ut f the vessel, while n the water during a training curse. The Jnes Act requirement prtects the sailing schl against claims because f injury, death, r damages sustained by the sailing instructr while n the water. 1. $1,000,000 General Liability. This prtectin is limited t $1,000,000 fr a single incident f bdily injury r prperty damage, primarily ver land, in a claim against the sailing schl by a sailing student r member f the general public. 1. Statutry Limits fr Wrker s Cmpensatin with Emplyer s Liability Limits at $500,000. This prtects the sailing schl against wrker s cmpensatin claims by instructrs, as emplyees, while perfrming their duties primarily ver land r n the dcks. 1. Under the cmments sectin f the Certificate f Insurance, it must be stated that Students are cvered while abard bats wned, chartered, r leased by the schl. 1. The insurance cmpany must carry a minimum Best Rating A- r be Llyd s f Lndn (unless this requirement is specifically waived by US Sailing in writing). 1. US Sailing is t be identified as an Additinal Insured. This requirement is necessary if we are t implement the inspectin and certificatin f sailing schls under the US Sailing Assciatin.