The following is the Code of Conduct for Pittsburgh Elite Aquatics (PEAQ), which governs participation in the program at out of town or local meets, at any PEAQ practice activity, and for any PEAQ team member representing AMS Swimming or USA Swimming.
 
The purpose of this code of conduct is to promote the best possible individual, team, and program impression at all times. 
 
PART I - SWIMMER CONDUCT
  1. All participating team members will abide by this code.
  2. All participants will wear designated team suits, caps, and T-shirts during all competitions.
  3. All swimmers will do their best to participate in PEAQ hosted meets.
  4. All athletes will participate in designated championship meets they have qualified for.
  5. Curfews at team travel events as a member of PEAQ, AMS, or USA Swimming sponsored events and at all related activities will be obeyed. Extension will only be granted by the head coach. Curfew is not enforced if the participant is with their parents.
  6. On team travel events, male and female swimmers may not be in each other’s room on any team trip unless supervised by a designated team official (chaperone or coach).
  7. Use of alcoholic beverages is unacceptable at any time.
  8. Use of drugs other than those prescribed by your physician is unacceptable at any time.
  9. Tobacco use is unacceptable at any time.
  10. Any type of physical or sexual harassment or abuse between swimmers will not be tolerated and could be considered hazing.
  11. Disrespectful, indiscreet, hazing rituals, bullying or other destructive behavior will not be tolerated. It is the responsibility of each swimmer to make every effort to avoid guilt by association with such activities at any time. 
  12. Bullying, hazing or disrespectful behavior through social media outlets will not be tolerated. Please click HERE to view PEAQ's action plan to address bullying which has been adopted by the coaches and members.
  13. Any suspected abuse physical, sexual, or otherwise must be immediately reported to the Head Coach or a member of the PEAQ Board.
  14. Respect to the coaches and team swimmers is expected at all times during practice and at meets. Horseplay or disruption during practice or at swim meet affecting other swimmers or the coaches’ ability to coach will not be tolerated.
  15. All participants will comply with all the rules and regulations of our home facilities (Chartiers Valley HS, Upper St. Clair HS, & Scott Township Park) as well as those of other host aquatic facilities. 
  16. All participants will conduct themselves appropriately in the locker rooms at all times. Please click HERE to view PEAQ’s locker room policy. 
  17. All swimmers have a responsibility to do their best to ensure this and USA Swimming’s code of conduct is adhered to and helps to ensure the safety of the program participants.
  18. The athlete may only be a member of one AMS club at any one time. While registered with PEAQ, the athlete agrees to exclusively be a member of PEAQ. The athlete understands that he/she cannot at any one time be registered as a member of both PEAQ and PEAQ at Pitt.
PART II - PARENT CONDUCT
  1. Cursing, slandering, or verbally abusing coaches, athletes or other parents will not be tolerated and is grounds for immediate removal from the team.
  2. If you have feedback (positive or negative) for your child’s coach please speak with your child’s coach first. We have a "24-Hour Rule" which simply states that coaches will not discuss a meet/practice or situation in a meet/practice until at least 24 hours after the fact. Parents/guardians are not allowed to confront a coach, parent volunteer, or swimmer to discuss any negative meet or practice situation with the coach until at least 24 hours has passed from the completion of the meet or practice. 
  3. All families will pick-up and drop off athletes in a timely manner.
  4. All parents must be respectful of each other and other athletes.
  5. If you have a question regarding practices, meets, or policies of the team, please speak to the coach.
  6. There are no parents on deck or in the pool locker rooms during practices and meets. Please do not interrupt coaches during practice. Please refrain from interfering with practice, including refraining from speaking to your swimmer during practice. Questions can be asked through email, before or after practice or a separate meeting can be scheduled. Please allow up to 24-48 hours for the coach to respond to a communication.
  7. Support of the team by volunteering for the requisite needed sessions and meeting fundraising commitments is required to retain membership.
  8. Timely payment of team dues is required to retain membership. Athletes with dues delinquent 60 days or more will not be permitted to swim in practices or meets.
  9. All parents have a responsibility to do their best to ensure this and USA Swimming’s code of conduct is adhered to in order to ensure the safety of the the program participants.
  10. Any suspected abuse, physical, sexual, or otherwise must be immediately reported to the Head Coach or a member of the PEAQ Board.
  11. Parents and family members will comply with the rules and regulations of our home facilities (Chartiers Valley HS, Upper St. Clair HS, & Scott Township) as well as those of other host aquatic facilities.
  12. No parent shall use the PEAQ names and/or logos, including, but not limited to "PEAQ", "Pittsburgh Elite Aquatics", Team Pittsburgh Elite Aquatics, and any abbreviations or variations thereof, in any manner, including in the making of apparel or spiritwear, without written permission from the President of the Board.  
PART III – VIOLATION OF THE CODE OF CONDUCT
At the discretion of the Head Coach any one or all of the following penalties will be applied.
  1. Swimmer may be scratched from a meet.
  2. Swimmer may be sent home immediately from practice or meet at his own extra expense. If there is an extra expense, it will be the swimmer’s responsibility.
  3. Swimmer may be suspended from the team until the swimmer and the parents have had a conference with the Head Coach and appropriate disciplinary actions have been implemented. This is automatic with violations of General Conduct rules 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, and/or 15.  Disciplinary action may include suspension and/or permanent removal from the team.
  4. Violation of the General Conduct rules 4,5,6,7,8,9,10 will result in the swimmer being suspended from ALL team trips for the remainder of the swim year and/or a specific period of time determined by the Head Coach.
All athletes and their parents agree to abide by the rules of conduct as set forth in Part I and  Part II above and acknowledge that, should the parent or swimmer violate any provision in Part I or Part II, the parent(s) or swimmer will subject to disciplinary action as set forth in Part III, including suspension and/or team membership termination.