Westchester Aquatic Club (WAC) Safe Sport Policies Page
USA Swimming (719) 866-4578 Deal with a Safe Sport Concern
U.S. Center for Safe-Sport 833-5US-SAFE (587-7233)
All Adult Employees are background checked and have completed the Athlete Protection Training.
Reporting a Safe Sport Concern
Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policy (MAAPP)
USA Swimming MAAPP information page
WAC Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policy (MAAPP)
Athlete Protection Training
Instructions for Taking the Athlete Protection Training Online Course
Safe Sport for Parents Online Course
Safe Sport for Athletes Online Course
Safe Sport Best Practice Guidelines
USA Swimming WAC Code of Conduct Athlete
USA Swimming WAC Code of Conduct Parent
USA Swimming WAC Antibullying Policy
PERMISSION FOR UNRELATED ADULT TO TRAVEL WITH A MINOR
PERMISSION FOR UNRELATED ADULT TO PROVIDE TRANSPORTATION FOR A MINOR
PERMISSION FOR UNRELATED ADULT TO SHARE LODGING WITH A MINOR
PERMISSION FOR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER TO PROVIDE CARE 1 ON 1 WITH MINOR
Athlete and Parent Code of Conduct
Background
Westchester Aquatic Club is dedicated to the positive and progressive development of every swimmer in an environment that promotes team spirit and commitment, and provides character building opportunities. We are a family of members and coaches that recognizes the importance of individual talents, efforts, and contributions creating success for all. Each swimmer brings to Westchester Aquatic Club unique talents, strengths, mental stamina, physical endurance, personality, and spirit. Together as one dedicated Westchester Aquatic Club team, we are capable of great success! Through positive communication and mutual respect, teammates, coaches, and parents of Westchester Aquatic Club work together to accept meaningful and rewarding challenges in our quest for excellence. We must all be willing to work hard, support one another, and understand our respective roles.
Role of the Athlete
Swimmers will respect and support one another and their coaches. They will obey all the team rules. They will be on time for practice and meets. They will remember to bring all required equipment and back up gear. Swimmers will understand their efforts and consistency at practice are directly linked to their performance. They must be willing to communicate goals and concerns to their coach as they work together to progress. Swimmers are responsible for their own bodies—they must pay attention to nutrition and rest. Swimmers who recognize both their strengths and weaknesses, are willing to share and communicate positively, and are willing to take responsibility as a proud member of Westchester Aquatic Club will be leaders and role models for their fellow swimmers. Participation, spirit, hard work, cooperation, and a positive attitude define the ideal athlete.
Role of the Parent
The parent supports the athlete with love, recognition, and encouragement. Armed with this support, the athlete is able to give his/her best effort and concentrate on what is being taught by the coaching staff. Parent support is critical to emotional and physical confidence during training and competition. Parents help swimmers maintain good health habits, stay hydrated, get enough rest, present themselves appropriately, and maintain a positive outlook. Parents should be supportive of their swimmer’s efforts regardless of outcome. Children learn and develop in different ways and at different rates. Parents should never compare their child to to his/her teammates.
Role of the Coach
The coach is your swimmer’s and the team’s motivator and teacher. Your swimmer will develop a trust-based relationship with the coach, and this relationship will produce the best results when swimmer, parent, and coach all respect one another’s roles. Stroke instruction and training regimen responsibilities rest with the coaching staff. Each practice at Westchester Aquatic Club follows a positive and progressive training philosophy based on sound scientific principles and geared to the specific goals of the group. Coaches make the final decisions about which meets swimmers will attend and which events swimmers will be entered in. At meets, coaches will conduct and supervise warm ups. Before each race, the coach will prepare and focus your swimmer. After each race, the coach will provide constructive feedback regarding performance. The building of a relay team is the sole responsibility of the coaching staff. The coaches reserve the right to change participant line up at any time to reflect what will be in the best interests of the team.
A successful swim program requires understanding and cooperation among parents, athletes, and coaches. In order to create a safe training environment where both individual athletes and the team as a whole can thrive, Westchester Aquatic Club athletes and parents, as registered members of Westchester Aquatic Club, will comply with the following Westchester Aquatic Club Codes of Conduct (Athlete and Parent).
Westchester Aquatic Club reserves the right to terminate the membership of any individual whose behavior places Westchester Aquatic Club in an unfavorable light or jeopardizes our participation in any sporting event, or our continued partnership with any pool or facility. All athletes and parents are expected to act as appropriate ambassadors of our club and demonstrate good sportsmanship. It is everyone's responsibility to create a healthy team environment free of disrespect, hostility, intimidation, or harassment of any kind. Our swimmers should be role models to other athletes, and our parents should be role models to other parents.
Athlete Code of Conduct
1. Athletes will display proper respect and sportsmanship toward coaches, officials, administrators, fellow athletes, competitors, and the public. Athletes will refrain, at all times, from any conduct that is unbecoming to Westchester Aquatic Club. This shall include, but not be limited to, abusive language, lying, theft destruction of property, or any other criminal behavior. Disciplinary action will occur if an athlete is disrespectful, displays poor sportsmanship, destroys property, or does not follow rules or direction stated by coaching staff.
2. Conduct unbecoming to Westchester Aquatic Club—even it if occurs outside of team events—may result in suspension or termination of membership at the discretion of the Head Coach.
3. Westchester Aquatic Club has a no tolerance drug and alcohol policy for all swimmers at home and away functions. At team events, the possession or use of alcohol, tobacco products, or recreational drugs by any team member of Westchester Aquatic Club is prohibited and will result in suspension or termination of membership. The use of alcohol or drugs in any setting outside of team events may result in suspension or termination of membership.
4. Athletes will not display inappropriate affection or physical contact with another athlete while at Westchester Aquatic Club activities, including swim meets, swim practice, team events, or during team travel. During travel events, unrelated male and female athletes will not enter one another’s rooms except in the presence of a supervising adult. Any form of sexual misconduct or sexual harassment is strictly prohibited and will result in suspension or termination of membership.
5. Athletes participating in team travel will comply with the Team Travel Policy. Team travel is a privilege, and participation may be denied at the discretion of the Head Coach.
6. During official team events, athletes will attend all team functions including meetings, warm-ups, competitions, practices, exhibitions, and other events unless excused by the Head Coach.
7. Athletes will wear prescribed team apparel at meets or team events as directed by the Head Coach.
8. At all meets, athletes will check in with the coaches before and after every race, and before going to their parents.In a meet with preliminaries and finals, athletes who qualify for a final are expected to swim that final unless excused by the Head Coach.
9. Any athlete who is injured at practice or a meet must report this to their coach immediately following the injury. Any athlete who is ill or has an open wound must disclose the condition to the coach before joining practice.
10. Athletes will arrive on time, prepared, and with necessary gear for all practices and meets.
11. Athletes understand that any coach at any time has the authority to remove an athlete from the pool, facility, or event for disciplinary or safety reasons.
12. Athletes will follow all directions given by coaches.
Membership with Westchester Aquatic Club is a privilege and not a right. Westchester Aquatic Club maintains the right to terminate any membership with or without cause in the interest of its mission and objectives.
Implementation for Athletes
All athletes, parents, and staff are apprised in writing of this policy. Annual signature of the Waiver, Release, Authorization and Agreement Form constitutes unconditional agreement to comply with the Code of Conduct as set forth by Westchester Aquatic Club. Failure to comply with the Code of Conduct may result in disciplinary actions, which may include but are not limited to:
Removal from pool, training facility, or event venue to sit all or part of out the activity.
Removal from training facility and dismissal from team for a period of days or weeks.
Dismissal from the team and immediate return home from an event at the expense of the parent.
Disqualification from one or more events, or all events of competitions.
Suspension from further team activities for a specified duration.
Disqualification from future meets.
Termination of membership.
Formal follow-up actions will be taken if an athlete is involved in any disciplinary action more severe than a single day suspension. If an athlete is involved in disciplinary actions #2-7 above, the following sequence of events will occur:
The athlete will be required to attend a meeting that will occur within seven days of the incident and will include the following: athlete, parent or guardian, head coach, and additional coaching staff involved in incident.
The athlete will be allowed to present any information or evidence at that time and a decision will be rendered as to any further course of disciplinary action.
Athletes and their parents or guardians must indicate their willingness to comply with this Code of Conduct by signing the appropriate section of the Waiver, Release, Authorization and Agreement Form.
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Parent Code of Conduct
1. Parents will support Westchester Aquatic Club team values of commitment, hard work, team spirit, and positive encouragement. Parents will not criticize, name-call, or use abusive language or gestures towards any coaches, athletes, officials, or other parents either in person or via social media. Parents must model positive communication, good sportsmanship, and self-control at all times.
2. Parents will treat all officials and meet volunteers with respect. Any issue involving a meet official decision or action will be resolved by the coaching staff only. Parents will never interfere with officials on the pool deck. Parents will follow the directions of meet volunteers who are in positions of authority.
3. Parents will respect coach decisions regarding relay team selection, event selections, and meet selection.
4. Parents will not disrupt practices in any way. Parents will remain off deck during swim practices and may observe practices from designated areas away from the immediate pool deck. Communications with coaches during practice is unsafe and ineffective, and it detracts from the athlete-coach-team relationship and training environment.
5. Parents will not coach or instruct the team or any athlete in any way at practices or meets. Parents understand that any swimming advice they give their athlete may only confuse the athlete. Parents should discuss any coaching concerns with the coach.
6. Communication between parents and coaches is highly encouraged. Parents will communicate with their athlete’s coach at the coach-prescribed times (office hours) and in the method preferred by the coach. Parents may request phone calls or in-person conferences.
7. The Westchester Aquatic Club coaching staff decides which meets will be attended by the team each year. Families will not attend local or away meets not approved by Westchester Aquatic Club.
8. Parents understand they are expected to assist the team with timing requirements at meets and additional volunteer positions throughout the year. Parents agree to abide by the team Volunteer Policy.
9. Parents will ensure that non-swimming children are supervised by a responsible adult while present at any USA Swimming or Westchester Aquatic Club sanctioned activity.
10. Parents will drop off and pick up their athletes on time.
11. Parents understand that conduct bringing discredit or discord to Westchester Aquatic Club will not be tolerated. Membership with Westchester Aquatic Club is a privilege and not a right. Westchester Aquatic Club maintains the right to terminate any membership with or without cause in the interest of its mission and objectives.
Implementation for Parents
All athletes, parents, and staff are apprised in writing of this policy. Annual signature of the Waiver, Release, Authorization and Agreement Form constitutes unconditional agreement to comply with the Code of Conduct as set forth by Westchester Aquatic Club. Failure to comply with the Code of Conduct may result in disciplinary actions, which may include but are not limited to:
Removal from the practice, meet, or event where the misbehavior occurs.
Suspension of membership.
Termination of membership.
Westchester Aquatic Club is not liable for refund or prorate of membership fees due to suspension or termination.
If a parent or member family is involved in conduct resulting in disciplinary action, the following sequence of events will occur:
It is the responsibility of the individual (coach, member, volunteer, parent) recognizing an infraction to contact the Westchester Aquatic Club Head Coach.
The parent member charged with an infraction will be required to attend a meeting that will occur within seven days of the incident and will include the following: parent member(s) and any individual(s) involved in incident and Head Coach.
The parent(s) involved in the incident will be allowed to present any information or evidence at that time and a decision will be rendered as to any course of disciplinary action.
Athletes and their parents or guardians must indicate their willingness to comply with this Code of Conduct by signing the appropriate section of the Waiver, Release, Authorization and Agreement Form.
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