WTRC Sharks Swim Team Inc. Code of Conduct
Code of Conduct for the WTRC Shark’s Swim Team Inc. which governs participation in the WTRC Sharks Swim Team Inc. program at out of town or local meets, at any WTRC Sharks Swim Team Inc practice activity, and any WTRC Shark’s Swim Team Inc. member representing Ohio Swimming or USA swimming.
The purpose of this code of conduct is to promote the best possible individual, team, and program impression at all times.
Part I - Swimmer Conduct
1. All participating team members will abide by this code.
2. All participants will wear designated team suits, caps, and T-shirts during all competition.
3. All swimmers will do their best to participate in WTRC Sharks Swim Team Inc. hosted meets.
4. All athletes will participate in designated championship meets they have qualified for.
5. Curfews at team travel events as a member of Ohio Swimming, WTRC Sharks Swim Team Inc. or USA swimming sponsored events and at all related activities will be obeyed. Extension will only be granted by the head coach. Curfew is not enforced if the participant is with their parents.
6. On team travel events, male and female swimmers may not be in each other’s room on any team trip unless supervised by designated team official (chaperone or coach).
7. Use of alcoholic beverages is unacceptable at any time.
8. Use of drugs other than those prescribed by your physician is unacceptable at any time.
9. Tobacco use is unacceptable at any time.
10. Any type of physical or sexual harassment or abuse between swimmers will not be tolerated and could be considered hazing.
11. Disrespectful, indiscreet, hazing rituals, bullying or other destructive behavior will not be tolerated. It is the responsibility of each swimmer to make every effort to avoid guilt by association with such activities at any time.
12. Any suspected abuse physical, sexual, or otherwise must be immediately reported to the Head Coach or a member of the WTRC Sharks Swim Team Inc. Parent Board.
13. Respect to the coaches and team swimmers are expected at all times during practice and at meets. Horseplay or disruption during practice or at swim meet affecting other swimmers or the coaches’ ability to coach will not be tolerated.
14. All participants will comply with all the rules and regulations of the WTRC Rec Center as well as those of host aquatic facilities.
15. All Participants and their parents have a responsibility to do their best to ensure this and USA Swimming’s code of conduct is adhered to and help to ensure safety of the program participants.
Part II - Parent Conduct
1. Cursing, slandering or verbally abusing coaches, athletes or other parents will not be tolerated and is grounds for immediate removal from the team.
2. If you have feedback (positive or negative) for your child’s coach please speak with your child’s coach first.
3. All families will do their best to pick-up and drop off athletes in a timely manner.
4. All parents must be respectful of each other and other athletes.
5. If you have a question ask regarding practices, meets, or policies of the team, please speak to the coach.
6. Please do not interrupt coaches during practice. Questions can be asked through email, before or after practice or a separate meeting can be scheduled.
7. Support of the team by volunteering for the requisite needed sessions and meeting fundraising commitments is required to retain membership.
8. Timely payment of team dues is required to retain membership. Athletes with dues delinquent 60 days or more will not be permitted to swim in practices or meets.
9. All Participants and their parents have a responsibility to do their best to ensure this and USA Swimming’s code of conduct is adhered to in order to ensure safety of the program participants.
10. Any suspected abuse physical, sexual, or otherwise must be immediately reported to the Head Coach or a member of the WTRC Sharks Swim Team Inc. Parent Board.
11. Parents and family members will comply with the rules and regulations of the WTRC Rec Center and host aquatic facilities.
Part III – Violation of the Code of Conduct
At the discretion of the coach any one or all of the following penalties will be applied.
1. Swimmer may be scratched from a meet.
2. Swimmer may be sent home immediately from practice or meet at his own extra expense. If there is an extra expense, it will be the swimmer’s responsibility.
3. Swimmer may be suspended from the team until the swimmer and the parents have had a conference with the head coach and appropriate disciplinary actions have been implemented. This is automatic with violations of General Conduct rules 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and or 14. Disciplinary action may include suspension and/or permanent removal from the team.
4. Violation of the General Conduct rules 4, 5,6,7,8,9,10 will result in the swimmer being suspended from ALL team trips for the remainder of the swim year and/or a specific period of time determined by the head coach.
All athletes and their parents agree to abide by the rules of conduct as set forth in part I above and acknowledge that, should the parent (or swimmer) violate any provision in Part I, the parent(s) (or swimmer) will subject to disciplinary action as set forth in Part II, including suspension and/or team membership termination.
WTRC Sharks Swim Team Inc. Coach Code of Conduct
The Coach Code of Conduct for the WTRC Sharks Swim Team Inc. governs participation in the WTRC Sharks Swim Team Inc. program at out of town or local meets, at any WTRC Sharks Swim Team Inc. practice activity, at any WTRC Sharks Swim Team Inc. sanctioned team and/or community event, and at any other Ohio Swimming or USA Swimming events/functions.
The purpose of this code of conduct for coaches is to establish common expectations for all members of the WTRC Sharks Swim Team Inc. coaching staff. It is to be used as a guide to promote a safe, positive team environment and good sportsmanship.
All members of the WTRC Sharks Swim Team Inc. coaching staff agree to adhere to all of the following requirements:
- At all times, adhere to USA Swimming’s rules and code of conduct.
- Set a good example of respect and sportsmanship for participants and fans to follow.
- Act and dress with professionalism and dignity in a manner suitable to the profession.
- Respect officials and their judgment and abide by the rules of the event.
- Treat all coaches, participants, and spectators with respect.
- Instruct participants in sportsmanship and demand that they display good sportsmanship.
- Coach in a positive manner and do not use derogatory comments or abusive language.
- Win with humility and lose with dignity.
- Treat every athlete fairly, justly, impartially, intelligently, and with sensitivity.
- Always place the well-being, health, and safety of swimmers above all other considerations, including developing performance.
- Continue to seek and maintain their own professional development in all areas in relation to coaching and teaching children.
- Always maintain a professional separation between coach and athlete.
USA Swimming Code of Conduct
304.1 The mission of USA Swimming is to encourage participation and the pursuit of excellence in all aspects of swimming. USA Swimming grants the privilege of membership to individuals and organizations committed to that mission. The privilege of membership may, therefore, be withdrawn or denied by USA Swimming at any time where USA Swimming determines that a member or prospective member's conduct is inconsistent with the mission of the organization or the best interest of the sport and those who participate in it.
In order to assist all members to better serve the interests of those who participate in swimming, USA Swimming has adopted this Code of Conduct.
304.2 Any member, former member, or prospective member of USA Swimming is subject to the jurisdiction of the Board of Review. Any member, former member, or prospective member of USA Swimming may be denied membership, censured, placed on probation, suspended for a definite or indefinite period of time with or without terms of probation, fined or expelled from USA Swimming for life if such person violates the provisions of the USA Swimming Code of Conduct, set forth in 304.3, or aids, abets or encourages another person to violate any of the provisions of the USA Swimming Code of Conduct. USA Swimming shall initiate an investigation of any former member of USA Swimming when a report required under 306.1 is received.
304.3 The following shall be considered violations of the USA Swimming Code of Conduct:
.1 Violation of the right to compete provisions set forth in Article 301.
.2 Discrimination in violation of the Amateur Sports Act which requires that USA Swimming must provide an equal opportunity to athletes, coaches, trainers, managers, administrators, and officials to participate in the sport of swimming. Athletes must be allowed to participate and compete to the fullest extent allowed by the Rules and Regulations. Discrimination against any member or participant on the basis of age, gender, race, ethnicity, culture, religion, sexual orientation, gender expression, genetics, mental or physical disability, or any other status protected by federal, state or local law, where applicable, is prohibited.
.3 Repeated violation of any of the Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policies.
.4 Any violation of the FINA Rules on the Prevention of Manipulation of Competition as found in the current FINA Manual, including (i) betting; (ii) manipulating competitions; (iii) corrupt conduct; (iv) misuse of inside information; (v) failure to report; and (vi) failure to cooperate..5 Violation of any of the Sexual Misconduct Reporting Requirements set forth in Article 306 or the Prohibitions Against Retaliation for Good Faith Reporting of Abuse set forth in Article 307.
.5 The sale or distribution of illegal drugs or the illegal sale or distribution of any substance listed on FINA's recognized list of banned substances.
.6 The use of illegal drugs in the presence of an athlete, by a coach, official, trainer, or a person who, in the context of swimming, is in a position of authority over, that athlete.
.7 The providing of alcohol to an athlete by a coach, official, trainer, manager or any other person where the athlete is under the legal age allowed to consume or purchase alcohol in the state where the alcohol is provided.
.8 The abuse of alcohol in the presence of an athlete under the age of eighteen (18), by a coach, official, trainer, or a person who, in the context of swimming, is in a position of authority over that athlete.
.9 Any act of fraud, deception or dishonesty in connection with any USA Swimming-related activity.
.10 Any non-consensual physical contact, obscene language or gesture, or other threatening language or conduct directed towards any meet official and which is related to any decision 2022 Rules & Regulations 90 made by such official in connection with a USA Swimming sanctioned competition
.11 Action, other than through general advertising, by a coach, owner, officer, volunteer, representative, or employee of a swim club, or a USA Swimming or LSC employee, either through direct contact with an athlete or the encouragement of others, to recruit or otherwise encourage an athlete who is already a member of a USA Swimming member swim club to leave that club, unless the acting party receives prior written approval to recruit or encourage the athlete to change affiliation from the designated club representative of the athlete's existing USA Swimming-member swim club or contact is initiated by the athlete, the athlete's parent or authorized representative. General advertising includes any information that is:
A Distributed to an identifiable general population where there is a reasonable expectation that the majority of that population are not current members of USA Swimming; or
B Placed in or on any item that is sold. In the event of a violation of this section, a sanction may be imposed against any coach, owner, officer, volunteer, representative or employee of a swim club, or against any such club, or any combination thereof, as appropriate.
.12 Any other material and intentional act, conduct or omission not provided for above, which is detrimental to the image or reputation of USA Swimming, a LSC or the sport of swimming. Measure to be adjudicated by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency
Measure to be adjudicated by the U.S. Center for SafeSport
.13 Violation of the anti-doping provisions set forth in 303.3.
Measure to be adjudicated by the U.S. Center for SafeSport.
.14 Violation of the SafeSport Code.
