ESA Travel Policy
Section 1 - USA Swimming Required Policies
These items are Code of conduct stipulations in the USA Swimming Rulebook:
a) Club travel policies must be signed and agreed to by all athletes, parents,
coaches and other adults traveling with the club. (305.5.D)
b) Team managers and chaperones must be members of USA Swimming and
have successfully passed a USA Swimming-administered criminal
background check. (305.5.B)
c) Regardless of gender, a coach shall not share a hotel room or other sleeping
arrangement with an athlete (unless the coach is the parent, guardian,
sibling, or spouse of that particular athlete). (305.5.A)
d) When only one athlete and one coach travel to a competition, the athlete
must have his/her parents’ (or legal guardian’s) written permission in advance
to travel alone with the coach. (305.5C)
Section 2 - Team Policies
a) During team travel, when doing room checks, attending team meetings
and/or other activities, two-deep leadership and open and observable
environments should be maintained.
b) Athletes should not ride in a coach’s vehicle without another adult present
who is the same gender as the athlete, unless prior parental permission is
obtained.
c) During overnight team travel, if athletes are paired with other athletes they
shall be of the same gender and should be a similar age. Where athletes are
age 13 & Over, chaperones and/or team managers would ideally stay in
nearby rooms. When athletes are age 12 & Under, chaperones and/or team
managers may stay with athletes. Where chaperones/team managers are
staying in a room with athletes, they should be the same gender as the
athlete and written consent should be given by athlete’s parents (or legal
guardian).
d) When only one athlete and one coach travel to a competition, at the
competition the coach and athlete should attempt to establish a “buddy” club
to associate with during the competition and when away from the venue.
e) To ensure the propriety of the athletes and to protect the staff, there will be
no male athletes in female athlete’s rooms and no female athletes in male
athlete’s rooms (unless the other athlete is a sibling or spouse of that
particular athlete).
f) A copy of the Club Code of Conduct must be signed by the athlete and
his/her parent or legal guardian.
g) Team or LSC officials should obtain a signed Liability Release and/or
Indemnification Form for each athlete.
h) Team or LSC officials should carry a signed Medical Consent or Authorization
to Treat Form for each athlete.
i) Curfews shall be established by the team each day of the trip.
j) Team members and staff traveling with the team will attend all team functions
including meetings, practices, meals, meet sessions, etc. unless otherwise
excused or instructed by the head coach or his/her designee.
k) The directions & decisions of coaches/chaperones are final.
l) Swimmers are expected to remain with the team at all times during the trip.
Swimmers are not to leave the competition venue, the hotel, a restaurant, or
any other place at which the team has gathered without the
permission/knowledge of the coach or chaperone.
m) When visiting public places such as shopping malls, movie theatres, etc.
swimmers will stay in groups of no less than three persons. 12 & Under
athletes will be accompanied by a chaperone.
n) The Head Coach or his/her designee shall make a written report of travel
policy or code of conduct violations to the appropriate club leadership
and the parent or legal guardian of any affected minor athlete.
Section 3 – Expectations
- All team members, team staff, and parents of minors are apprised in writing of this Code of Conduct and the attached USA Swimming Code of Conduct. A signature on this document constitutes unconditional agreement to comply with the stipulations of both documents.
- All swimmers must sign the code of conduct or are ineligible to participate in team travel.
- Swimmers must wear ESA clothing to and from the pool when competing at an ESA travel meet.
- Cell phone communication is not allowed in team meetings and must be used in moderation during the meet. (Cell phones are not permissible when a teammate is swimming).
- Be quiet and respect the rights of teammates and others in hotel
- Be prompt and on time
- Respect travel vehicles
- Swimmers are responsible for all incidental charges in the hotel.
