2023–2024 Team Policies
 
Member Conduct Policy
GSC is fortunate to have access to pools across Gainesville, and it is important that our members show respect for those facilities and for other users. We expect all of our swimmers to display sportsmanship and proper respect toward team members, coaches, officials, administrators, fellow competitors, parents, volunteers, the public, and the facilities we use and visit. The following are prohibited for team members while at practice or meets:
  • Foul language or any form of verbal abuse, including sexist, racist, homophobic, or otherwise inappropriate language.
  • Horseplay or intentional physical contact between swimmers.
  • Fighting or any form of physical abuse, and possession or use of any weapon.
  • Tampering with or causing damage to any facility.
  • Photos, audio recordings, or video recordings in locker rooms or changing areas.
  • Vaping/smoking or possession or use of illegal substances.
As a condition of membership with Gator Swim Club, the codes of conduct must be adhered to by all athletes and parents. Failure to abide by code of conduct rules may result in the suspension of the swimmer from practice or more serious consequences if warranted.
 
Drop-offs/Pick-ups
  • Swimmers should be dropped off NO EARLIER than 15 minutes before practice begins. The UF teams will be practicing up until our pool time begins, so we cannot have GSC swimmers on the pool deck too early so that we don't interfere with their practices.
  • DO NOT drop off siblings for later practices when dropping off swimmers for earlier practices. While they are running workouts, coaches cannot be responsible for supervising siblings waiting to practice in a later time slot.
  • Swimmers must be in and out of the locker rooms within 15 minutes after dismissal from practice. Swimmers should not linger in the locker rooms or on the deck.
  • Swimmers must be picked up within 20 minutes of the completion of their practice. If you have an emergency and you will be late, please be sure your swimmer is not waiting alone.
 
Pool Deck Rules for Parents during Practice
If you need to speak with your child's coach, please do so before or after practice and not during practice.
 
We ask that you keep the pool decks available for our swimmers and coaches to use as needed. To that end, please note the following:
  • Indoor practices at the O'Dome:
    • Parents can watch practice from the viewing balcony up above the pool. You can enter the balcony concourse via the entrances in the Gate 3 or Gate 2 lobby. In the case of an event at the O'Connell Center where the balcony above the indoor pool is closed, parents can sit on the pool deck following these rules:
      • Parents must sit along the bleachers, keeping as much of the deck space available to swimmers and coaches as possible.
      • Parents will not be allowed to sit on the concrete steps on the south side of the pool (opposite the bleachers). The deck on that side of the pool is very narrow and needs to be kept open for coaches and swimmers.
      • Parents can bring a folding chair or plan to sit on the deck. If younger siblings come to practice too, they must be under your direct supervision at all times.
      • Parents cannot use the locker room restrooms as they are restricted to athletes only as part of USA Swimming's Safe Sport rules. Please plan accordingly as on balcony closure days we will not have access to the restrooms in the Gate 2 and 3 lobbies; stadium restrooms will be open.
      • On days with events in the O'Connell Center we are restricted to the natatorium only. Parents (and athletes and coaches) cannot go into the hallway or building beyond the GSC office on the pool deck level.
      • Parents must not interact with their swimmers or the coaches during practice; disruptions of practice negatively impact all of the swimmers in the group.
    • The GSC team calendar notes days when the balcony is closed.
  • Outdoor practices at the O'Dome: Parents can be behind the wall at the starting-block end of the pool, between the wall and the UF team room. Parents may not sit on the wall itself as this is distracting to swimmers in the water.
  • City of Gainesville pools (Dwight Hunter Municipal Pool, Westside Pool): parents are asked to view practices from designated seating areas.
  • Sun Country: Parents can watch practice from inside the pool fence during practice but must sit at the tables in front of the changing stalls. Parents cannot sit on the benches because we need to keep the pool deck clear for use by swimmers and coaches. Parents must not interact with the swimmers or the coaches in any way during practice; anyone disrupting practice will be required to move outside the pool fence.
 
Photo/Video Policy
GSC may wish to take photographs and/or videos (individual and in groups) of swimmers under the age of 18 that may include your child during their membership in the club. By registering your child for Gator Swim Club, you agree to allow all photos/videos taken of your child by GSC staff during practices, meets, and other team events, to be made available to GSC for general use on our website, for the media, or for use at swimming meets. Parents have a right to refuse agreement to their child being photographed, but you must communicate this in writing to the team administrator at [email protected].
 
Parents may take photos and videos during practices but please be sensitive to the fact that they will almost certainly include other people's children in their swimsuits as well. Photos and videos may ONLY be taken from the side of the pool course; per USA Swimming rules, at NO time can photos or videos be taken from behind swimmers on the starting blocks at practices and meets. At meets, photos/videos may be taken only in the host team's specified "camera zones."
 
Team Suits
Members are required to wear a Speedo team suit and a GSC cap at meets. GSC contracts with Speedo for team gear, available through our team vendor at a discount. Because of the contractual arrangement, if you purchase Speedo gear at this discount, a Speedo team suit must be worn at meets.
 
University of Florida Athletic Association
Because we rent pool time from the University of Florida and are on premises belonging to the UF Athletic Association (UAA), GSC may on occasion need to supply basic member information to the UAA to ensure compliance with NCAA rules. This information will be minimal and will not endanger or compromise any of your financial or personal information.
 
Nutritional Supplements
Gator Swim Club is a USA Swimming member and as such we abide by U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) rules. All GSC members are encouraged to keep up-to-date on current rules by visiting www.usada.org. Any legal nutritional or pre/post-workout supplements should be used responsibly and with the full knowledge and consent of parents of minors. GSC does not monitor use or condone overuse of any supplements. Open mixing or consumption of supplements observed at practices or meets will be addressed and may be prohibited by GSC coaches and staff, and parents of minors will be notified as needed.
 
Team Travel
Gator Swim Club members are expected to abide by our travel policies, which can be viewed in the Team Policies section of the GSC website. Travel policies can and will be updated as necessary and will be distributed to families and swimmers before team trips. Travel policies will be in compliance with USA Swimming Safe Sport's Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policy (MAAPP).
 
USA Swimming Safe Sport
GSC abides by USA Swimming Safe Sport rules, including the Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policy 2.0 (MAAPP), as outlined on the GSC website.
 
Voluntary Account Suspension/Withdrawal from Club
If your swimmer is planning on taking a break from practices or withdrawing from the club, you must notify the team in writing by sending a message to [email protected] prior to the 20th of the month before the break. A swimmer is not considered suspended or withdrawn from the program until written notice is received by the club. It is not sufficient to inform a coach of your intent to suspend membership or withdraw from the club. If written notice is not received before a charge for the next month or season is applied to your account, there will be no refund.
 
If an account is suspended more than once per registration year, a $25 fee will be applied for reactivating the account after the first instance. Members of the Senior State and Senior National groups may be charged a fee to hold their place during a period of suspension from the team, to be determined by the head coach.