ARAC PHOTOGRAPHY POLICY

PURPOSE:

There has been much talk about whether it is safe to have images taken of children participating in sports. While the great majority of images are appropriate and are taken in good faith, it is a fact that images can be misused and children can be put at risk if common sense procedures are not observed.

1. The publishing of a photograph of Swimmers under the age of 18 either on a Notice Board, in a Published Article, on Social Media or Video Recording (including video streaming) of swimming competitions should only be done with parents’ consent per the attached form.

1. A parent or guardian has a right to refuse to have children photographed. The exercise of this right of refusal cannot be used as grounds for refusing entry into a swimming competition. Therefore, any photo that may go to press or on a notice board, be it through a member of the club or official photographer, should receive parental consent before publishing/displaying the photo, preferably in writing. A suggested form allowing parents to indicate refusal of consent is to follow.

In the case of open meets and other competitions where the host club has an official photographer present, all parents attending will be made aware of this via the Meet Announcement.  If photos are to be published anywhere, the individual parent should be given the opportunity to withhold their consent. Their right to do so should be specifically drawn to their attention.

All photographs must observe generally accepted standards of decency in particular:

• Action shots should be a celebration of the sporting activity and not a sexualized image in a sporting context.
• Action shots should not be taken or retained where the photograph reveals a torn or displaced swimsuit.
• Photographs should not be taken from behind swimming blocks at the start of a race or exhibit a child climbing out of the swimming pool.
• Photographs should not be taken in locker-rooms or bathrooms.

ARAC Photograph Consent Form

The Amity Regional Aquatic Club may wish to take photographs (individual and/or in groups) of swimmers under the age of 18 that may include your child during their membership with the Team. All photos will be taken and published in line with club policy. The club requires parental consent to take and use photographs.

Parents also have a right to refuse agreement to their child being photographed. If you choose to refuse the agreement, please fill out the form below completely and return to our ARAC SafeSport Coordinator:

As the Parent/Guardian of _____________ I allow or disallow ARAC the following:

Take photographs to use on the Club’s secure website

Allow  ☐          Refuse ☐

Take photographs/video to use on Club’s social medial and bulletin board

Allow  ☐        Refuse ☐

Take photographs to use on Club’s secure SportsYou message platform

 Allow ☐        Refuse ☐

Take photographs/video for training/practice purposes

Allow  ☐        Refuse ☐            

Signed: _____________________________________________________

Dated: ______________________________________________________