SDAT Team Travel Policies

Team travel meets are away meets attended by swimmers, coaches and adult chaperones, traveling, dining, and lodging as a team, as distinguished from away meets where swimmers travel and stay with their families. Team travel meets will strive to bring one chaperone for every 8 swimmers on the trip. Chaperones, under direction of the head coach, will be responsible for the care of all athletes on the trip including meals, curfews, transportation and any other issues that may arise. Coaches will be responsible for all meet related aspects of the trip including meet administration and coaching. They may also be used for transportation needs but will not function as a chaperone.

SDAT selects team travel meets for the following reasons:

Provide swimmers with experience competing against swimmers from other LSCs, typically at a higher quality of individual and team competition.

Swimmers gain experience in prelims/finals competition in and outside of Utah Swimming.

The coaches are seeking competitions conducive to exceptional performance.

The swimmers experience the fun and social interactions of traveling as a team.

The swimmers learn responsibility and independence through our travel experience.

 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.

1. 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 11 & over, chaperones and/or team managers would stay in nearby rooms. When athletes are age 10 & under, a parent is required to attend the meet and stay in their own room with the athlete.
2. 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).
3. A copy of the Club Code of Conduct must be signed by the athlete and his/her parent or legal guardian.
4. SDAT will obtain a signed Liability Release for each athlete.
5. SDAT will carry a signed Medical Consent or Authorization to Treat Form for each athlete.
6. Curfews shall be established by the team or LSC staff each day of the trip.
7. 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.
8. The directions & decisions of coaches/chaperones are final.
9. 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.

 Safety

1. Additional guidelines to be established as needed by the coaches;
2. Respect the privacy of each other;
3. Must wear seat belts and remain seated in vehicles;

 Behavior 

1. Be quiet and respect the rights of teammates and others in hotel;
2. Be prompt and on time;
3. Respect travel vehicles;
4. Use appropriate behavior in public facilities;
5. All athletes will abide by designated curfew
6. Must stay in assigned hotel room;
7. Needs and wellbeing of the team come first.

 Financial

1. No room service without permission;
2. Swimmers responsible for all incidental charges;
3. Swimmers responsible for any damages or thievery at hotel;
4. Must participate in contracted group meals; and
5. Communicate travel reimbursement information and policies.

 General

1. Establish fair trip eligibility requirements;
2. Establish age guidelines for travel trips;
3. Parent(s) responsible for getting swimmer(s) to stated departure point; and
4. Requirements for families to attend "Team Travel Meets."

Code of Conduct

1. Team members will display proper respect and sportsmanship toward coaches, officials, administrators, teammates, fellow competitors and the public at all times.
2. 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.
3. The possession or use of alcohol or tobacco products by any athlete is prohibited.
4. The possession, use, or sale/distribution of any controlled or illegal substance or any form of weapon is strictly forbidden.
5. No “deck changes” are permitted. Athletes are expected to use available change facilities.
6. 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 South Davis Aquatics Team. Athlete behavior must positively reflect the high standards of the club (or LSC).
7. 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:

1. Dismissal from the trip and immediate return home at the athlete’s expense;
2. Disqualification from one or more events, or all events of competition;
3. Disqualification from future team travel meets;
4. Financial penalties; any damage done to the vehicle or hotel room
5. Dismissal from the team; and/or
6. Proceedings for a LSC or USA Swimming National Board of Review.

1. Swimmers are to refrain from inappropriate physical contact at team activities and events.
2. Swimmers are to refrain from use of inappropriate language.

Locker Room Monitoring Procedures-

At our facility it is not practical for parents to notify a coach every time they enter the locker room, especially in a public facility like ours where so many people have access to our locker room facilities. After consulting with USA Swimming’s Safe Sport Department, the following policy will be implemented at our facility:

By signing and agreeing to abide by the MAAP procedures all parents will agree to be “Locker Room Monitors”.  This will mean that any time you enter the locker room to check on your child, or go to the bathroom, etc. you agree to do a “sweep,” meaning you will check for any unusual or suspicious behavior which will put our swimmers at risk for abuse.  We ask that if you do see anything you report it immediately to a coach/administrator/Rec Center employee.  Agreeing to be a “Locker Room Monitor” will fulfill the requirement of notifying administration in advance of entering the locker rooms. 

In the event of misconduct in the locker rooms:  If it involves immediate danger to a swimmer (potential sexual or physical harm), the locker room monitors will be expected to intervene and notify the authorities, Rec Center Management and/or a Coach immediately.  If the misconduct involves reports of bullying, please follow the reporting instructions in SDAT’s bullying policy.  Other reports may be handled following SDAT’s grievance policy and reported to the Head Coach or the Safe Sport Representative. Reports that involve Rec Center patrons and Rec Center employees should be reported to one of the Rec Center Managers, as well as reports of misconduct involving damage and misuse of Rec Center facilities and property.