BCLY Swimming

PROTECTION POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

The Brandywine Coatesville Lionville YMCAs (BCLY) Swimming experience is designed to create life changing experiences through a safe, fun and competitive environment, where we build honest, meaningful, and transparent relationships. 

We have a zero tolerance policy for abuse. The Brandywine Coatesville Lionville YMCAs and the BCLY Swimming Program abide by the USA Swimming Safe Sport requirements as well as the Safe Sport Act which was passed in 2018. Both Safe Sport and the Safe Sport Act protect our athletes and create an environment where each athlete feels safe and protected. BCLY Policies and procedures and Safe Sport requirements ensure this environment stays in place and our athletes are protected.

In April 2019, the U.S. Center for Safe Sport created the Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policies (MAAPP) to set a baseline for acceptable safety standards that limit one-on-one interactions between adults and minor athletes. All USA-Swimming participants, coaches, and clubs are required to implement MAAPP in their programs. 

BCLY Swimming coaches are held to high selection and screening standards before ever working with athletes. Coaches must pass National, State and Local Background Checks, the DOJ Sex Offenders Registry, participate in Child Sexual Abuse Prevention Trainings and additional education with the United States Olympic Committee SafeSport Center and YMCA of the USA.  Safety and Abuse Prevention are top priorities for BCLY staff.

However, creating a safe environment is a collaborative effort between staff, parents and athletes. We need your help to reinforce the BCLY culture and to ensure the safely, inclusion, and transparency outlined. Here’s what we need from you: 

  1. KNOW: understand what’s appropriate, what to look for and how to protect our athletes.
  2. SEE: be engaged in your athletes’ activities, communications and interactions.
  3. RESPOND: stop inappropriate behaviors and report immediately to the your swimmer’s coach, the Regional Director of Aquatics or through this USA Link: Safe Sport Reporting Form (formsite.com)

Working together we will ensure a safe culture and promote positive behaviors.

The following practices apply to all BCLY Swimming and USA Swimming members as well as all BCLY Swimming events.

Should there be a violation of these policies, athletes will be sent home at the parent’s expense and risk missing their meet. No refunds will be issued in these instances.


BCLY TEAM ACTIVITIES

  • All interactions should be observable and interruptible.
  • Coaches will communicate to parents if bullying incidents occur.
  • Parents are prohibited from direct communication with another athlete unless they have consent from the other child’s parent/guardian.
  • Coaches encourage parents to communicate frequently and often for any concerns, questions or feedback.
  • Horseplay of any form is not allowed in the locker rooms.
  • Videos and pictures will not be taken at practices or meets without prior permission by the BCLY Swimming.
  • Coaches will never massage (with hands or object) an athlete for any purpose.
  • Coaches will never touch an athlete in an area covered by the bathing suit.
  • When a coach touches an athlete as part of instruction, the coach should do so in open view of others and inform the athlete of what he/she is doing prior to the initial contact. Touching athletes should be minimized. 
  • Encouraged physical interactions would include high fives, fist bumps, side-to-side hugs and handshakes.
  • Coaches will not invite or have an athlete(s) to their home.
  • Athletes should not sit on the lap of or otherwise inappropriately touch any BCLY team member or coach.
  • Coaches will not date or have a personal or sexual relationship with BCLY athletes.


CONDUCT FOR TEAM TRAVEL 

  • Athletes & Coaches cannot travel one-on-one, regardless of age or other circumstance.  This includes travel trips, rides to and from practice, or any other travel.  The exception is if the coach & athlete are directly related. 
  • All interactions between athlete and coach should be observable and interruptible. 
  • When entering athletes’ rooms on travel trips, for purpose of curfew and safety checks- there will be at least 2 coaches/chaperones. 
  • If athletes are sharing a room with other athletes they will be of the same gender and similar age.
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  • There will be no male athletes in female athletes’ rooms and no female athletes in male athletes’ rooms. 
  • Athletes are not permitted in coaches’ rooms.
  • Swimmers are to remain with the team at all times during the trip. Swimmers are not to leave the competition venue, the hotel, restaurant, or any other place at which the team has gathered without the permission/knowledge of the coach and/or chaperone.

ELECTRONIC AND SOCIAL MEDIA COMMUNICATION

The BCLY Swimming recognizes the prevalence of electronic communication and social media in today’s world and that many of our swimmers use these means as their primary method of communication. While BCLY acknowledges the value of these methods of communication, we also realize that there are associated risks that must be considered when adults (coaches) use these methods to communicate with minors (athletes). Additionally, athletes need to adhere to a set of standards when communicating with one another via electronic communication and social media.

CONDUCT FOR ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION

All communication between a coach /other BCLY adult and an athlete must be professional and solely for the purpose of communicating about BCLY Swimming activities. The content and intent of all electronic communications must adhere to the USA Swimming Code of Conduct regarding Athlete Protection. 

All communication between an athlete and coach or athlete and their peers should be Transparent, Accessible and Professional. 

Transparent: Your communication should not only be clear and direct, but also free of hidden meanings, innuendo, and expectations. 

Accessible: All electronic communication between coaches and athletes should be considered a matter of record and part of the BCLY Swimming records. Whenever possible, include another coach or parent in the communication so there is no question regarding accessibility or content. The BCLY Swimming will utilize a group messaging service whenever possible. 

Professional: All communication between a coach and an athlete should be conducted professionally as a representative of the BCLY Swimming. This includes word choices, tone, grammar, and subject matter that model the standards and integrity of a staff member. 

SOCIAL MEDIA (FACEBOOK, SNAPCHAT, INSTAGRAM, TWITTER, ETC.) 

  • Coaches are not permitted to have any athlete member of the BCLY Swimming join their personal social media accounts as a “friend.” 
  • A coach should not “friend” request or accept any “friend” request from an athlete. In addition, the coach should remind the athlete that this is not permitted. Athletes should report (to a trusted Coach, the Regional Director of Competitive Swimming or the YMCA Confidential Hotline) if they receive a “friend” request from a coach. 
  • Coaches and athletes are not permitted to “private message” each other through any social media accounts. 
  • The BCLY Swimming has an official Facebook/Instagram page that athletes and their parents can “friend” for information and updates on team‐related matters.

  OTHER COMMUNICATION PRACTICES 

  • Athletes and coaches may use email to communicate; a parent or other BCLY coach should be included. 
  • Coaches may communicate electronically with an individual athlete to convey practice/program information; communication should include a second adult (preferably another BCLY coach or parent). 
  • Vulgar, bullying or sexualized communication will not be tolerated between BCLY Swimming athletes, coaches or parents via text, email, or social media. 
  • Athletes may not text, email, post, tweet, or otherwise communicate with derogatory content regarding the team, a coach, or a teammate. (This includes vulgar, bullying or sexualized language, photos, videos)
  • Athletes, parents and staff will discuss proper social media usage at the beginning of each season.
  • No one should be taking photos/videos while behind blocks or in the locker rooms at any time.
  • No one should post personal information of any kind about another member of the team without prior consent.

Violation of these policies could result in disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal from the BCLY Swimming.

 

Updated December 11, 2024.