Team Travel Policy for [Lifetime Iowa Swim Team]  

Purpose: Athletes are most vulnerable to misconduct during travel, particularly overnight stays. This includes a high risk of athlete-to-athlete misconduct. During travel, athletes are often away from their families and support networks, and the setting – new changing areas, locker rooms, workout facilities, automobiles and hotel rooms – is less structured and less familiar.  

Team Travel is defined as overnight travel to a swim meet or other team activity that is planned and supervised by the club or LSC.   

Section 1 - USA Swimming Required Policies  a. Club travel policies must be signed and agreed to by all athletes, parents, coaches and other adults traveling with the club. (305.5.D) b. Team managers and chaperones must be members of USA Swimming and have successfully passed a USA Swimming-administered criminal background check. (305.5.B) c. 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). (305.5.A) d. When only one athlete and one coach travel to a competition, the athlete must have his/her parents’ (or legal guardian’s) written permission in advance to travel alone with the coach. (305.5C)  

Section 2 - Recommended Policies a. During team travel, when doing room checks, attending team meetings and/or other activities, two-deep leadership and open and observable environments should be maintained. b. Athletes should not ride in a coach’s vehicle without another adult present who is the same gender as the athlete, unless prior parental permission is obtained. c. During overnight team travel, if athletes are paired with other athletes they shall be of the same gender and should be a similar age. Where athletes are age 13 & over, chaperones and/or team managers would ideally stay in nearby rooms. When athletes are age 12 & under, chaperones and/or team managers may stay with athletes. Where chaperones/team managers are staying in a room with athletes, they should be the same gender as the athlete and written consent should be given by athlete’s parents (or legal guardian). d. When only one athlete and one coach travel to a competition, at the competition the coach and athlete should attempt to establish a “buddy” club to associate with during the competition and when away from the venue. e. To ensure the propriety of the athletes and to protect the staff, there will be no male athletes in female athlete’s rooms and no female athletes in male athlete’s rooms (unless the other athlete is a sibling or spouse of that particular athlete). f. A copy of the Club Code of Conduct must be signed by the athlete and his/her parent or legal guardian. 
   
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g. Team or LSC officials should obtain a signed Liability Release and/or Indemnification Form for each athlete. h. Team or LSC officials should carry a signed Medical Consent or Authorization to Treat Form for each athlete.  i. Curfews shall be established by the team or LSC staff each day of the trip. j. Team members and staff traveling with the team will attend all team functions including meetings, practices, meals, meet sessions, etc. unless otherwise excused or instructed by the head coach or his/her designee. k. The directions & decisions of coaches/chaperones are final.  l. Swimmers are expected to remain with the team at all times during the trip. Swimmers are not to leave the competition venue, the hotel, a restaurant, or any other place at which the team has gathered without the permission/knowledge of the coach or chaperone. m. When visiting public places such as shopping malls, movie theatres, etc. swimmers will stay in groups of no less than three persons. 12 & Under athletes will be accompanied by a chaperone. n. The Head Coach or his/her designee shall make a written report of travel policy or code of conduct violations to the appropriate club or LSC leadership and the parent or legal guardian of any affected minor athlete.  

Code of Conduct / Honor Code Required: All team members, team staff, and parents of minors are apprised in writing of this Code of Conduct and the attached USA Swimming Code of Conduct. A signature on this document constitutes unconditional agreement to comply with the stipulations of both documents.  
Recommended: a. Team members will display proper respect and sportsmanship toward coaches, officials, administrators, teammates, fellow competitors and the public at all times. b. Team members and staff will refrain from any illegal or inappropriate behavior that would detract from a positive image of the team or be detrimental to its performance objectives. c. The possession or use of alcohol or tobacco products by any athlete is prohibited. d. The possession, use, or sale/distribution of any controlled or illegal substance or any form of weapon is strictly forbidden. e. No “deck changes” are permitted. Athletes are expected to use available change facilities. f. Team members are reminded that when competing in meets, traveling on trips, and attending other meet-related functions, they are representing both themselves and the (Lifetime Arizona Swim Team). Athlete behavior must positively reflect the high standards of the club (or LSC).  

For Consideration: a. Failure to comply with the Honor Code as set forth in this document may result in disciplinary action. Such discipline may include, but may not be limited to: i. Dismissal from the trip and immediate return home at the athlete’s expense;\ 
   
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ii. Disqualification from one or more events, or all events of competition; iii. Disqualification from future team travel meets; iv. Financial penalties; v. Dismissal from the team; and/or vi. Proceedings for a LSC or USA Swimming National Board of Review. b. Swimmers are to refrain from inappropriate physical contact at team activities and events. c. Swimmers are to refrain from use of inappropriate language.  
Transportation Permission: I hereby authorize the following individuals to provide automotive transportation for my athlete at the 2015 Iowa Sectionals Swim Meet: Head Coach Nate Moore Senior Coach Tyler Fox Transportation at this meets includes driving in any capacity to and from the meet, any capacity to obtain food during the meet, and transportation to and from the airport.   

Parent Signature _______________________________________________       Date _________  

Swimmer Signature _____________________________________________      Date _________