Code of conduct for swimmers

As a member of our club, we understand you have the right to:

•Enjoy the time you spend with us and know that you are safe.

•Be told who you can talk to if something’s not right.

•Be listened to.

•Be involved and contribute towards decisions within the club or activity.

•Be respected by us and other team members and be treated fairly.

•Feel welcomed, valued and not judged based on your race, gender, sexuality, faith or ability.

•Be encouraged and develop your swimming, para-swimming, diving, high diving, artistic swimming, water polo and open water swimming skills with our help and support.

•Be looked after if there’s an accident or injury and have your parents/guardians informed, where appropriate.

As a member of our club or activity we expect you to:

Essentials:

1. Keep yourself safe by listening to your coach or teacher, behave responsibly and speak out when something isn’t right.
2. Treat all members and persons associated with the Club and Swim England with due dignity and respect.
3. Take care of our equipment and premises as if they were your own.
4. Make it to training and competitions on time and if you’re running late, let a member of the club know.
5. Make your coach or teacher aware if you have any difficulties attending training or competitions.
6. Not wander off, or leave training or a competition without telling your coach or team manager.
7. Bring the right kit to training and competitions.
8. Follow the rules of the club, squad or activity at all times.
9. Respect the privacy of others especially in the changing rooms.
10. I will support my teammates in training and competition environments.
11. I will be prepared to accept constructive criticism from Coaches.

Behaviour:

1. Make our club and activity a fun, happy, friendly and welcoming place to be.
2. Respect and celebrate difference in our club or activity and not discriminate against anyone else on the grounds of age, gender, race, sexual orientation, faith, ability or nationality.
3. Understand that the use of abusive or inappropriate language, bullying, physical violence or any other behaviour which hurts others will not be tolerated by the club and will result in a referral through the disciplinary or child welfare policies.
4. Not use any device to take photographs or footage of others in the changing rooms or cubicles.
5. Report any concerns you have about others taking photographs or footage of others in the changing rooms or poolside.
6. Understand that poor behaviour may result in the club taking disciplinary action against you. Any behaviour which may be a criminal offence will be reported to police by the club.
7. Report any incidents of bullying or unkind behaviour to the club, even if you’re just a witness.
8. Treat other children with respect and appreciate that everyone has a different level of skill or talent.
9. Support and encourage your team mates, tell them when they’ve done well and be there for them when they are struggling.
10. Respect the children and adults competing for other teams at competitions.
11. Respect the committee members, coaching and teaching team and all volunteer helpers at the club.
12. Get involved in club decisions, it’s your sport too.

Social Media:

1. I will not take or share inappropriate images captured on any device at any time.
2. I will not take any images using any device where those concerned would not wish the image to be captured.
3. I will not engage in bullying on social media e.g negative comments etc including gaming platforms.
4. I will not use headphones or mobile phones once poolside for training.

Changing Areas:

1. I will treat the changing and shower areas with respect at all times.
2. I will not use mobile phones to take images while in the changing room area and I understand that the use of mobile phones should be kept to a minimum.
3. I understand that the use of the changing rooms is for changing only and I should not use the area as a social/meeting area.
4. I will leave the changing area promptly once changed.
5. I will not share use the changing area with members of the opposite sex.
6. I will respect fellow member and other users of the changing rooms.
7. I will not use foul, abusive or inappropriate language while using the changing rooms whether members of the public, fellow Club members or otherwise.

Training:

1. I will treat my Coaches and fellow Club members with respect at all times.
2. I will make my Coach aware if I have difficulties in attending training sessions as per the rules laid down for my squad.
3. I will arrive in appropriate time on poolside before the training session starts to complete poolside warm-up as directed by my Coach. I understand that if I arrive late, I must report to my Coach before entering the pool.
4. I will ensure that I have all my equipment with me at all of my training sessions e.g paddles, kickboard, hat, goggles, fins etc.
5. If I need to leave the pool for any reason during training, I will inform my Coaches before doing so.
6. I will listen to what my Coaches are telling me at all times and obey any instructions given.
7. I will always swim to the wall as I would do so in a race and I will practice turns as instructed.
8. I will not stop and stand in the lane or obstruct others from completing their training.
9. I will not pull or lean on the lane ropes as this may injure other members.
10. I will not skip lengths or sets — to do so would only mean that I would be cheating myself.
11. I will think about what I am doing during training and if I have any problems, I will discuss them with my Coach at an appropriate time.
12. When taking part in any land training activity, I will respect the instructors' environment and equipment at all times.
13. If I have any problems with the behavior, I will report them at the appropriate time to an appropriate adult.

Competitions:

1. At competitions, open meets, National events or Club galas etc I will always behave in a manner that shows respect to my Coach, the officials, my teammates and members of all competing organisations.
2. I understand that I will be required to attend events and galas that the Coaches have entered/selected me for unless agreed otherwise by prior arrangement with the relevant official/Coaches.
3. I understand that I must wear appropriate swimwear, tracksuits, t-shirts, shorts and hats as required.
4. I must report to my Coach and/or Team Manager on arrival on poolside.
5. I must warm up before an event as directed by the Coaches in charge on that day and ensure that I fully prepare myself for racing.
6. I will be part of the team and always support teammates. This means that I will stay with the team on poolside unless released by the Coach or Team Manager.
7. If I have to leave poolside for any reason, I will get the consent of the Coach/Team Manager before doing so.
8. After my race, I will report directly to my Coach for feedback.
9. I will show good sportsmanship in victory or defeat.
10. I will swim down or complete appropriate land recovery work after my race as advised by my Coach.
11. I will ensure my behaviour in the swim down facility is appropriate and respectful to other users at all times.
12. I will not leave an event until either the gala is complete or unless I have previously notified the Coach or Team Manager and obtained their consent.

Breaches of this Code of Conduct may result in disciplinary action being taken against you by the club committee. Continued issues and repeated breaches may result in swimmers being asked not to attend the club, something we never want to do. Please refer to the disciplinary procedures published on the Otters website for more information.

Signature of the child:

Signature of parent/guardian:

Date: …………………………………………