Pacific Swimming

 
 

MCAT Parent Swimmer Contract, Code of Conduct and Team Rules for Swimmers (revised 10.2012)

·      Swimmers shall respect and show courtesy to their teammates and coaches at all times.

·      If a parent /swimmer have a problem with a coach, it is their responsibility to communicate the problem with that coach.   If the problem escalates or can’t be resolved in this manner, the parent/ swimmer is to take the issue up with the head coach, who will help to resolve any issues.

·      Be on time.  Be ready to get in the water on time for practice and meet warm-ups.   Be prepared to swim.  Have your equipment ready.  Bring extra caps and goggles

·      Be respectful of your teammate’s feelings and personal space.   Swimmers who exhibit sexist, racist or inappropriate behavior towards another person will be excused from the practice or meet and will be subject to a disciplinary process as determined by the head coach depending on the severity of the infraction.  Any coach at any time has authority to ask a swimmer to exit the pool for disciplinary reasons.

·      No dunking, foul language, hanging on lane lines, splashing, spitting, hitting, trash talking, belittling or any other behavior deemed as horseplay is allowed in a practice venue or meet venue.

·      Swimsuits are required for practice.  No bikini’s as a primary practice suit, no cut offs or under garments are allowed to be used as primary swim wear in the pool. Deck changing is forbidden as is shaving at swim meets.

·      Swimmers are expected to wear a team cap for practice, except on casual cap Wednesday.

·      Skateboards, scooters, glass, tobacco, alcohol, roller blades, pets, electrical appliances,  and bicycles are not allowed on deck.

·      Swimmers are expected to exhibit good sportsmanship at practice and meets.

·      Swimmers and Parents shall not ever confront an official or stoke and turn judge at a meet about a disqualification.  This is the coach’s responsibility.  Swimmers and parents will be respectful and courteous to meet volunteers at all times.  If you have a problem, come get your coach.

·       Destruction of locker rooms and theft of property will be prosecuted under the law.  The swimmer and family of swimmer will be responsible for all damages and fees incurred upon collection or prosecution of damages.

·      Parents and Swimmers are responsible for keeping track of their times swum at meets.   Parents and swimmers agree to enter accurate and correct times at meets.  Correct times for your swimmer can be obtained through www.swimconnection.com.  There is a small online membership fee for this service.

·      Swimmers who are ill with contagious viruses and open wounds must tell their coach before entering the water.

·      A swimmer who is injured at practice or a meet must report this to their coach immediately following an injury.  Concussion policy applies to any head injury, Swimmer may not return to practice until cleared by written notice by a medical doctor

·      Swimmers are responsible for checking in, checking postings, and heat and lane assignments, reporting to their coach and for being behind their block prior to their race.  A swimmer will suffer the consequences ( fees, removal from an event or the meet, no show or disqualification) as per the meet sanction or the directive of your coach for missing an event.

·       Swimmers must be at practice a minimum of two days during the week before a meet.   A coach has the right to scratch a swimmer from a meet if the swimmer has not been excused for their absences prior to the meet.

·        I understand that USA Swimming and Pacific Swimming is an organization of trained volunteers.   Meets are operated by volunteers.   I agree to treat volunteers with respect.     

 Specific Team Parent Rules

·      Practice teamwork with all parents, swimmers and coaches by supporting the values of discipline, loyalty, commitment and hard work.

·      As a parent, I will not coach or instruct the team or any swimmer at a practice or meets (from the
stands or any other area) or interfere with coaches on the pool deck.

·      Demonstrate good sportsmanship by conducting myself in a manner that earns the respect of my child, other swimmers, parents, officials and the coaches at the meets and practices.

·      Parents shall refrain from disrupting the practice in any way.  Parents are not allowed to talk to their swimmer or interrupt practice unless it is a life and death emergency, as this disrupts the entire group and focus of the practice session.

·      Parents are expected to keep non-swimming siblings from running around on the deck unsupervised during practice, as this is a distraction and of safety concern.   Non-swimming children shall be supervised by a responsible adult while on any USA swimming sanctioned activity

·      Parents are encourages TO COMMUNICATE WITH THEIR CHILD’S COACH.  The appropriate time is well before practice.  Communicating with coaches during practice disrupts the workout for the entire group.  We want to talk with you.  You can call us, email us or visit with us after practice.

·      Parents are expected to time and volunteer for jobs as needed by our club at swim meets

·      Parents are encouraged to join our board, volunteer for activities , to participate in our team fundraising (bingo), and to learn to be a USA Swimming Official.

·      Maintain self-control at all times. Know my role: Swimmers - Swim; Coaches - Coach; Officials
Officiate; Parents - Parent.

·      I , as a parent, I understand that criticizing, name-calling, use of abusive language or gestures
directed toward the coaches, officials, and/or any participating swimmer or their family will not be
permitted or tolerated.

·      Enjoy involvement in MCAT  by supporting the swimmers, coaches and other parents
with positive communication and actions

·      During competitions, questions or concerns regarding decisions made by meet officials are
directed to a member of our coaching staff. Parents address officials via the coaching staff only.

·      I agree to let the coach know of any other activity that involves rigorous physical activity that my child may be involved in order to prevent injury, exhaustion or illness.  It is especially important to notify the head coach and coaching staff any other swimming related activity and or weight training program.  I understand that swimmers 13 and under, are not to be involved in a weight training program.

·      I agree to provide my child with a sensible nutrition before and immediately following practice.  I understand that swimmers have a special carbohydrate and calorie intake need.  Soda, sugar and foods high in fats are not the best choices for a swimmer.

·      Share the burden among parents by volunteering to time at meets at which our children are swimmers; volunteer to help at swim meets our club hosts,
whether our children participate or not.

·      Support my swimmer in making the minimum number of practices per week, plus one swim meet per month.

 

USA Swimming Code of Conduct

90 2012 Rules & Regulations
ARTICLE 304
CODE OF CONDUCT
304.1  The mission of USA Swimming is to encourage participation and the pursuit of excellence 
in all aspects of swimming. USA Swimming grants the privilege of membership to individuals and 
organizations committed to that mission. The privilege of membership may, therefore, be withdrawn or denied by USA Swimming at any time where USA Swimming determines that a member 
or prospective member's conduct is inconsistent with the mission of the organization or the best 
interest of the sport and those who participate in it.
In order to assist all members to better serve the interests of those who participate in swimming, 
USA Swimming has adopted this Code of Conduct.
304.2  Any member or prospective member of USA Swimming may be denied membership, censured, placed on probation, suspended for a definite or indefinite period of time with or without 
terms of probation, fined or expelled from USA Swimming if such member violates the provisions 
of the USA Swimming Code of Conduct, set forth in 304.3, or aids, abets or encourages another 
person to violate any of the provisions of the USA Swimming Code of Conduct.
304.3  The following shall be considered violations of the USA Swimming Code of Conduct:
 .1 Violation of the right to compete provisions set forth in 301.1 through 301.4.
 .2  Violation of the anti-doping provisions set forth in 303.3.
 .3  Discrimination in violation of any part of the USA Swimming Rules and Regulations or the 
Amateur Sports Act which requires that USA Swimming must provide: "an equal opportunity 
to amateur athletes; coaches, trainers, managers, administrators, and officials to participate 
in amateur athletic competition, without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, 
age, gender, or national origin."
.4 Violation of any of the Athlete Protection Policies set forth in Article 305
.5 Violation of any of the Sexual Misconduct Reporting Requirements set forth in Article 306.
.6  Conviction of, imposition of a deferred sentence for, or any plea of guilty or no contest at any 
time, past or present, or the existence of any pending charges, for (i) any felony, (ii) any 
offense involving use, possession, distribution or intent to distribute illegal drugs or substances, (iii) any crime involving sexual misconduct, or (iv) any criminal offense against a 
minor.
.7 Bullying is prohibited.  For these purposes, the term “bullying” shall mean, regardless of 
when or where it may occur, the severe or repeated use by one or more USA Swimming 
members (“Members”) of an oral, written, electronic or other technological expression, 
image, sound, data or intelligence of any nature (regardless of the method of transmission), 
or a physical act or gesture, or any combination thereof, directed at any other Member that 
to a reasonably objective person has the effect of: (i) causing physical or emotional harm to 
the other Member or damage to the other Member’s property; (ii) placing the other Member 
in reasonable fear of harm to himself/herself or of damage to his/her property; (iii) creating a 
hostile environment for the other Member at any USA Swimming activity; (iv) infringing on 
the rights of the other Member at any USA Swimming activity; or (v) materially and substantially disrupting the training process or the orderly operation of any USA Swimming activity 
304.12012 Rules & Regulations 91 (which for the purposes of this section shall include, without limitation, practices, workouts and other events of a member club or LSC).
.8  Any inappropriate sexual conduct or advance, or other oral, written, visual, or physical conduct of a sexual nature directed towards an athlete by (i) a coach member or other non-athlete member, or (ii) any other adult participating in any capacity whatsoever in the activities 
of USA Swimming (whether such adult is a member or not). Any act of sexual harassment, 
including without limitation unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and 
other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature in connection with or incidental to a USA 
Swimming-related activity by any person participating in the affairs or activities of USA 
Swimming (whether such person is a member or not) directed toward any member or other 
person participating in the affairs or activities of USA Swimming.
.9 The sale or distribution of illegal drugs or the illegal sale or distribution of any substance 
listed on FINA's recognized list of banned substances.
.10  The use of illegal drugs in the presence of an athlete, by a coach, official, trainer, or a person who, in the context of swimming, is in a position of authority over, that athlete.
.11  The providing of alcohol to an athlete by a coach, official, trainer, manager or any other person where the athlete is under the legal age allowed to consume or purchase alcohol in the 
state where the alcohol is provided.
.12  The abuse of alcohol in the presence of an athlete under the age of 18, by a coach, official, 
trainer, or a person who, in the context of swimming, is in a position of authority over that 
athlete.
.13 Physical abuse of an athlete by any person who, in the context of swimming, is in a position 
of authority over that athlete.
.14  Any act of fraud, deception or dishonesty in connection with any USA Swimming-related 
activity.
.15  Any non-consensual physical contact, obscene language or gesture, or other threatening 
language or conduct directed towards any meet official and which is related to any decision 
made by such official in connection with a USA Swimming sanctioned competition.
.16  Action, other than through general advertising, by a coach, owner, officer, volunteer, representative, or employee of a swim club, or a USA Swimming or LSC employee, either through 
direct contact with an athlete or the encouragement of others, to recruit or otherwise encourage an athlete who is already a member of a USA Swimming member swim club to leave 
that club, unless the acting party receives prior written approval to recruit or encourage the 
athlete to change affiliation from the designated club representative of the athlete's existing 
USA Swimming-member swim club or contact is initiated by the athlete, the athlete's parent 
or authorized representative. General advertising includes any information that is:
A Distributed to an identifiable general population where there is a reasonable expectation 
that the majority of that population are not current members of USA Swimming, or
B Placed in or on any item that is sold.
In the event of a violation of this section, a sanction may be imposed against any coach, 
owner, officer, volunteer, representative or employee of a swim club, or against any such 
club, or any combination thereof, as appropriate.
304.3
392 2012 Rules & Regulations
304.3
.17  Violation of any team misconduct rule as established by the USOC, USA Swimming, any 
Zone or LSC team authority.
.18  Any other material and intentional act, conduct or omission not provided for above, which is 
detrimental to the image or reputation of USA Swimming, a LSC or the sport of swimming.
ARTICLE 305
ATHLETE PROTECTION POLICIES
The following policies related to Athlete Protection are mandatory components of the USA Swimming Code of Conduct:
305.1  Inappropriate touching between an athlete and an adult non-athlete member or Participating Non-Member (as defined in 401.1) is prohibited, including, but not limited to, excessive touching, hugging, kissing, sexually oriented behavior, sexually stimulating or otherwise inappropriate 
games, and having an athlete sit on a non-family member adult’s lap.
305.2  Any rubdown or massage performed on an athlete by any adult member or Participating 
Non-Member, excluding the spouse, parent, guardian, sibling, or personal assistant of such athlete, is prohibited unless such adult is a licensed massage therapist or other certified professional.  Any rubdown or massage performed at a swim venue by a licensed professional must be 
conducted in open/public locations and must never be done with only the athlete and licensed 
massage therapist in the room.  Even if a coach is a licensed massage therapist, the coach shall 
not perform a rubdown or massage of an athlete under any circumstances.
305.3  Use of audio or visual recording devices, including a cell phone camera, is not allowed in 
changing areas, rest rooms or locker rooms.
305.4  Employees and volunteers of USA Swimming, LSCs and member clubs who interact 
directly and frequently with athletes as a regular part of their duties and individuals with any ownership interest in a member club must be non-athlete members of USA Swimming and satisfactorily complete criminal background checks as required by USA Swimming.  This does not apply to 
volunteers such as timers, marshals, computer operators, etc. who only have limited contact with 
athletes during a meet. 
305.5  Travel
.1 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.    
.2 Team managers and chaperones must be members of USA Swimming and have successfully 
passed a USA Swimming-required criminal background check. 
.3 When only one athlete and one coach travel to a competition, the athlete must have his/her 
parent's (or legal guardian’s) written permission in advance to travel alone with the coach.  
.4 Clubs and LSCs shall develop their own travel policies.  USA Swimming will provide a model 
club travel policy as an example.  Club travel policies must be signed and agreed to by all 
athletes, parents, coaches and other adults traveling with the club.2012 Rules & Regulations 93
 
306.1
ARTICLE 306
SEXUAL MISCONDUCT REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
306.1  It is every member’s responsibility to promptly report any incident regarding sexual 
misconduct by a member as described in Article 304.3.8 to USA Swimming’s Athlete Protection 
Officer.  Reporting must occur when an individual has firsthand knowledge of misconduct or 
where specific and credible information has been received from a victim or knowledgeable third 
party.  Various state laws may also require reporting to law enforcement or to a designated child 
protection agency.
306.2  No member shall retaliate against any individual who has made a good faith report under 
306.1.
306.3  Filing a knowingly false allegation of sexual misconduct is prohibited and may violate state 
criminal law and civil defamation laws.  Any person making a knowingly false allegation of sexual 
misconduct shall be subject to disciplinary action by USA Swimming.
306.4  Neither civil nor criminal statutes of limitation apply to reports of cases of sexual abuse.
 
Team Travel Policy
  • I hereby agree to abide by and follow section 305.5D of the USA Swimming Code of Conduct stipulations in the USA Swimming Rulebook.  A signature on this document constitutes an unconditional agreement to comply with the team rules and the USA Swimming Code of Conduct.
  • Team managers and chaperones must be members of USA Swimming and have successfully passed a USA Swimming administered back ground check. (305.5B)
  • Regardless of gender a coach may not share a hotel room or other sleeping arrangement with an athlete (unless the coach is a parent, guardian, sibling, or spouse of that athlete) (305.5A)
  • When only one athlete and one coach travel to a competition, the athlete must have his/her parents (or legal guardian’s) permission  in advance to travel alone with the coach (305.5C)  As a general policy MCAT coaches do not travel alone with MCAT athletes.
  • MCAT Coaches are not allowed to transport or drive any athlete, at any time without the express written consent of the legal guardian (parent) and the written permission of the Head Coach.  This must be filed in advance of transportation with the head Coach at the MCAT office. Coaches who drive athletes assume liability, must provide proof of insurance, and understand that they are not indemnified by the club.  MCAT parents are not allowed to transport other athletes without a written consent from the swimmer’s parent or legal guardian.   The MCAT club assumes no liability for transportation of athletes, and all parties agree to hold harmless and indemnify MCAT . and its agents and directors from liability arising out of any and all claims. As a general Policy, MCAT Coaches and chaperones do not transport or provide transportation for swimmers.  This is a parent responsibility.
  • During overnight team travel, if athletes are paired with other athletes the athletes should be of same gender and should be similar age. Athletes who are 13 and over will have chaperones staying in rooms that are of close proximity.  Athletes, who are 12 and under traveling on MCAT team meets, must be accompanied by their parent or legal guardian. LSC meet conduct and policy shall be followed when team members attend those meets.
  • Curfews shall be established by the staff each day of the meet.  Athletes agree to abide by curfews.
  • When visiting public places, swimmers must stay in groups of no less than 3 and must be accompanied by two chaperones.
  • The Head coach shall report any code of conduct violation to the appropriate club/LSC leadership and legal guardian of any affected minor.
  • Athletes are to refrain from any inappropriate physical contact at team activities and events.
  • Team members and staff will refrain from any illegal or inappropriate behavior that would detract from a positive image of the team or would be detrimental to its performance objectives
  • Parents and swimmers agree to follow team rules while traveling.
  • Team members and parents are reminded that when they are traveling on trips, competing in team meets, and attending other meet-related functions, they are representing both themselves and MCAT. Athlete and parent behavior must positively reflect the high standards of the club and pacific Swimming.
  • Failure to comply with the Honor Code and team rules as set forth in this document may result in disciplinary action.  Such discipline may include but may not be limited to:
    1. Dismissal from the trip and immediate return home at the expense of the athlete and their parent.
    2. Disqualification from one or more events of a competition.
    3. Disqualification from future team travel meets.
    4. Dismissal from the team
    5. Proceedings for a LSC or USA Swimming Board of Review

I agree that my child (swimmer) and I will follow USA and Pacific Swimming procedures and rules. Failure to abide by these guidelines will result in the termination of my swimmer's membership with MCAT 

       

Swimmer signature____________________________________date______

 

Parent signature____________________________________date_______

 

 Coach witness______________________________________date________