MBSC LOCKER ROOM/RESTROOM MONITORING POLICY

Monterey Bay Swim Club (MBSC) practices at Monterey Peninsula College (MPC) and Pacific Grove High School (PGHS).  Both facilities have public locker room / restrooms.  The use of public restrooms is intended for parents, visitors, students, staff of the schools and the general public. Such access means there are multiple groups utilizing the space simultaneously creating need for MBSC athletes to be respectful of others privacy. MBSC athletes must be diligent in monitoring the area to protect all MBSC team mates from any inappropriate conduct. The purpose of this policy is to protect our athletes, coaches and parents. We respectfully request all MBSC parents review this policy with your athletes. Safety First!

The Monterey Bay Swim Club Board of Directors believes that constant monitoring inside of all locker rooms and changing areas could be the most effective way to prevent problems, but it believes more strongly that our swimmers have a track record of behaving well and that constant monitoring would make swimmers uncomfortable and may even place our staff or volunteers at risk for unwarranted suspicion.

MBSC BEST PRACTICE LOCKER ROOM POLICY

• No MBSC athlete may leave practice without permission from a coach. (See Policy Considerations below.)
• No MBSC athlete should be in the locker room alone at any time unless absolutely necessary (excluding COVID-19 directives)
• Athletes should read and adhere to MBSC Locker Room policies.
• MBSC athletes must be aware of the other patrons utilizing the locker room and report to the coach immediately any concerning or in appropriate behavior.
• MBSC athletes should shower and dress quickly avoiding time spent without cover in front of mirrors or in front of others.
• Parents should not enter the locker room unless absolutely necessary and then with conditions. (See below for Policy Considerations.)

Character First -- MBSC athletes understand personal accountability and the expectation of being a MBSC Swim team member is always about maintaining a high level of personal character. The use of poor language, inappropriate discussions and general rough housing in the locker room is inacceptable. Please notify a coach to report any violations. 

POLICY CONSIDERATIONS

Parents should not enter the locker rooms unless it is truly necessary. If an athlete needs assistance with his or her uniform or gear (for example, a child under the age of eight), or an athlete’s disability warrants assistance, then we ask that parents let the coach know beforehand that he or she will be helping the athlete. In those instances, it should only be a same-sex parent. An opposite-sex parent needs to ask another parent to check on his/her child. If this is not an option, then the parent should let the coach know about this in advance, allow the coach to announce him or herself and allow swimmers to gather things to maintain their privacy. Following this announcement and a brief period, the coach and opposite sex parent can enter the locker room but only for the limited, specific purpose (and time needed) for which they entered.

FACILITIES

We practice at Monterey Peninsula College (MPC) and Pacific Grove High School (PGHS)

MPC: When at all possible the swimmers should come prepared to swim and dressed for practice. There are restrooms/locker rooms next to the pool with small changing areas. The entrance for swimmers is visible from the pool deck. There is an additional entrance that is NOT visible from the pool deck. There are outside showers on deck. There is a large locker room not adjacent to the pool that is NOT available to minor athletes. MPC is a college campus; students and staff have access to all restrooms and locker rooms.  Students and staff of MPC are not associated with MONTEREY BAY SWIM CLUB. 

PGHS: When at all possible the swimmers should come prepared to swim and dressed for practice. There are locker rooms adjacent to the pool with changing areas and showers. There are two entrances to each locker room and are not visible from the pool deck.  There are also outside showers on deck. PGHS is a public high school campus; students and staff have access to all restrooms and locker rooms.  Students and staff of PGHS are not associated with MONTEREY BAY SWIM CLUB.

MONITORING 

Coaches make every effort to recognize when an athlete goes to the locker room or changing area during practice and, if they do not return in a timely fashion, we will check on the athlete’s whereabouts. A swimmer leaving the water for the locker room or changing area must ask the coach first. It is impossible to record these instances, but this request allows for a better awareness.

The head coach for each site conducts a sweep of the locker rooms and changing areas before athletes arrive.  While we do not post [staff, coach, parent, other adult] inside or at the doors of the locker rooms and changing areas, we do make occasional sweeps of these areas. [Staff, coach, parent, other adult] conduct these sweeps, with women checking on female locker rooms, and men checking on male locker rooms. 

USE OF CELL PHONES AND OTHER MOBILE RECORDING DEVICES

MBSC prohibits the use of mobile devices with recording capability in locker rooms.

Cell phones and other mobile devices with recording capabilities, including voice recording, still cameras and video cameras increase the risk for different forms of misconduct in locker rooms and changing areas. The USA Swimming Athlete Protection Policies prohibit the use of such devices in the locker room or other changing area:

305.3 Use of audio or visual recording devices, including a cell phone camera, is not allowed in changing areas, rest rooms or locker rooms.

This absolutely applies to cell phones even if the person is not using the photo, video or other recording device. Please understand that the actual use of a photo, video or other recording device can violate state law as well as Monterey Bay Swim Club team policies and lead to serious consequences. Please insure that all swimmers are aware NOT to use any function on any mobile or recording device whatsoever while in a locker room and should remain in a bag or clothing pocket.

INAPPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR

Any misconduct, inappropriate behavior, questionable behavior should be reported to the head coach immediately.  Additionally please follow our full Grievance Procedure for all misconduct.

REPORTING INFORMATION

To deal with a Safe Sport concern, contact USA Swimming at (719) 866-4578 https://www.usaswimming.org/safe-sport/report-a-concern

Contact the U.S. Center for Safe Sport to make a report. U.S. Center for SafeSport 833-5US-SAFE (587-7233) or use the online reporting form at https://safesport.i-sight.com/portal or find more information at http://www.uscenterforsafesport.org/

MBSC's Safe Sport Coordinators

Christina Rodgers   831-624-8035    [email protected]