757swim operates under two Codes of Conduct: USA Swimming's and 757swim's.
All members of 757swim agree to abide by both.
USA Swimming's Code of Conduct formally documents standards of behavior and the process by which all breaches of those standards are handled for all swimmers, parents, coaches, and volunteers.
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Athlete and Parent Code of Conduct
(updated 3/2024)
Introduction
757swim is dedicated to the positive and progressive development of every swimmer and provides character building opportunities in an environment that promotes team spirit and commitment. We are a family of members and coaches that recognizes the importance of individual talents, efforts, and contributions, creating success for all. Each swimmer brings to 757swim unique talents, strengths, mental stamina, physical endurance, personality, and spirit. Together as one dedicated 757swim team, we are capable of great success! Through positive communication and mutual respect, teammates, coaches, and parents of 757swim work together to accept meaningful and rewarding challenges in our quest for excellence. We must all be willing to work hard, support one another, and understand our respective roles.
Role of the Athlete
Swimmers will respect and support one another and their coaches. They will obey all the 757swim policies and procedures. They will be on time for practice and swim meets. They will remember to bring all required equipment and back up gear. Swimmers will understand their efforts and consistency at practice are directly linked to their performance. They must be willing to communicate goals and concerns to their coach as they work together to achieve goals. Swimmers are responsible for their own bodies, they must pay attention to nutrition, hydration, and rest. Swimmers who recognize their strengths and weaknesses, are willing to share and communicate positively, and are willing to take responsibility as a proud member of 757swim will be leaders and role models for their fellow swimmers. Participation, spirit, hard work, cooperation, and a positive attitude define the ideal athlete.
Role of the Parent
The parent supports the athlete with love, care, and encouragement. Armed with this support, the athlete is able to give their best effort and concentrate on what is being taught by the coaching staff. Parent support is critical to emotional and physical confidence during training and competition. Parents can help swimmers maintain good health habits (hydration, nutrition, and proper rest), present themselves appropriately, and maintain a positive outlook. Parents should be supportive of their swimmer’s efforts regardless of the outcome. Children learn and develop in different ways and at different rates. Parents should never compare their child to their teammates.
Role of the Coach
The coach is your swimmer’s and the team’s motivator and teacher. Your swimmer will develop a trust-based relationship with the coach, and this relationship will produce the best results when the swimmer, parent, and coach all respect one another’s roles. Stroke instruction and training regimen responsibilities rest with the coaching staff. Each practice at 757swim follows a positive and progressive training philosophy based on sound scientific principles and are geared to the specific goals of the group. Coaches make the final decisions about which meets swimmers will attend and which events swimmers will be entered in. At meets, coaches will conduct and supervise warm ups. Before each race, the coach will be available to prepare and focus your swimmer. After each race, the coach will be available to provide constructive feedback regarding performance. The building of a relay team is the sole responsibility of the coaching staff. The coaches reserve the right to change participant line up at any time to reflect what will be in the best interests of the team.
A successful swim program requires understanding and cooperation among parents, athletes, and coaches. In order to create a safe training environment where both individual athletes and the team as a whole can thrive.
757swim reserves the right to terminate the membership of any individual for any reason at any time, but may include those whose behavior impacts 757swim in a negative manner, jeopardizes our participation in any sporting event, or our continued partnership with any pool or facility. All athletes and parents are expected to act as appropriate ambassadors of our club and demonstrate good sportsmanship. It is everyone's responsibility to create a healthy team environment free of disrespect, hostility, intimidation, or harassment of any kind. Our swimmers should be role models to other athletes, and our parents should be role models to other parents.
757swim athletes and parents, as registered members of 757swim, will comply with the following 757swim Code of Conduct (Athlete and Parent).
Athlete Code of Conduct
Athletes will display proper respect and sportsmanship toward coaches, officials, administrators, fellow athletes, competitors, and the public. Athletes will refrain, at all times, from any conduct that is unbecoming to 757swim. This includes, but is not limited to, foul language, dishonesty, theft, violence, bullying, destruction of personal or company property, inappropriate sexual and/or discriminatory behavior, drug or alcohol use, or any criminal or unethical behavior. Additionally, athletes will refrain from excessive horseplay or actions that may cause harm to themselves or others. Examples of harm may include, but are not limited to malicious teasing, hazing, hitting, slapping, pushing, pulling, shaking, pulling hair or clothes, restricting freedom, or using an object to cause harm.
These expectations are applicable to all interactions and communication, to include in-person, verbal, written, SMS/Text messages, email, and all social media platforms.
Progressive Disciplinary Steps for Athletes
Violation of 757swim’s Code of Conduct may result in disciplinary action, including verbal and written warnings, temporary suspension, up to and including termination of membership.
In appropriate circumstances, coaches may first provide a verbal warning, then one or more written warnings, and, if the conduct is not sufficiently improved, eventual termination of membership. While 757swim is concerned with consistent enforcement of our policies, it is not obligated to follow any particular disciplinary or grievance procedure, and depending on the circumstances, athletes may be disciplined or terminated without any prior warning or procedure.
In the instance of an egregious code of conduct violation, including but not limited to a Safe Sport violation or unlawful conduct, team leadership reserves the right to take immediate action and suspend an athlete until the outcome of an investigation is completed.
757swim strives to clearly communicate policy and procedural requirements; provide frequent feedback and take corrective action when necessary. When an athlete’s conduct does not meet expectations, that athlete may be subject to a progressive discipline system. The progressive discipline system is a guide, and 757swim may depart from it and apply accelerated discipline when circumstances warrant.
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First or minor offense, verbal warning from coaching staff accompanied by parent notification via email or phone call
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Second or major offense, written warning and disciplinary meeting with the lead coach, athlete’s coach (or 2nd coach), parent, and the athlete
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Egregious offense, suspension/expulsion meeting with parent(s), head coach, lead coach, athlete, parent(s), Human Relations consultant, and any other relevant parties. The athlete will be required to attend the meeting. The meeting will occur within a reasonable time frame from the date of the incident. The athlete will be permitted to present any relevant information or evidence at that time and the head coach will render a disciplinary outcome (written or final warning, temporary suspension, up to and including termination of membership) within 7 days of the meeting.
Steps outlined above will be documented on a 757swim Incident Report, signed by the head coach, and saved in the athlete’s electronic file until they are no longer an active member of 757swim.
Parent Code of Conduct
Parents will display proper respect and sportsmanship toward coaches, officials, administrators, athletes, board members, competitors, and the public. Parents will refrain, at all times, from any conduct that is unbecoming to 757swim.
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Parents will support 757swim team values of commitment, hard work, team spirit, and positive encouragement. Parents will not criticize, name-call, or use abusive language or gestures towards any coaches, athletes, officials, or other parents either in person or via social media. Parents must model positive communication, good sportsmanship, and self-control at all times.
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Parents will treat all officials and meet volunteers with respect. Any issue involving a meet official decision or action will be resolved by the coaching staff only. Parents will never interfere with officials on the pool deck. Parents will follow the directions of swim meet volunteers who are in positions of authority.
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Parents will respect all coach decisions.
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Parents will not disrupt practices in any way. Parents will remain off deck during swim practices and may observe practices from designated areas away from the immediate pool deck. Communications with coaches during practice is unsafe and ineffective, and it detracts from the athlete-coach-team relationship and training environment.
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Parents will not coach or instruct the team or any athlete in any way at practices or meets. Parents understand that any swimming advice they give their athlete may only confuse the athlete. Parents should discuss any coaching concerns with the coach.
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Communication between parents and coaches is required. Parents will communicate with their athlete’s coach at the coach-prescribed times and in the method preferred by the coach. Parents may request phone calls or in-person conferences after reaching out via email. Your child’s lead coach should always be the first line of contact should an issue arise. See Club Communication Policy for more details.
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The 757swim coaching staff decides which meets will be attended by the team each year. Families will not attend local or away meets not approved by 757swim.
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Parents understand they are expected to assist the team with timing requirements at meets and additional volunteer positions throughout the year. Parents agree to abide by the team Volunteer Policy.
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Parents will ensure that non-swimming children are supervised by a responsible adult while present at any USA Swimming or 757swim sanctioned activity.
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Parents will drop off and pick up their athletes on time.
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Parents understand that conduct bringing discredit or discord to 757swim will not be tolerated. This includes, but is not limited to slander, defamation, solicitation of other parents about an issue with an athlete, coach, board member, official, or team policy, publicly maligning an athlete/coach/official/team/policy, or utilizing social media to spread misinformation or complain about an athlete, coach, board member, official, or team policy, criminal, dishonest, immoral, or other behavior that would reflect unfavorably upon 757swim or damage its reputation. The communication policy outlines the appropriate steps to seek resolution for any concern that may arise.
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Membership with 757swim is a privilege and not a right. 757swim maintains the right to terminate any membership with or without cause in the interest of its mission and objectives.
Progressive Disciplinary Steps for Parents
Violation of 757swim’s Code of Conduct may result in disciplinary action, including verbal and written warnings, temporary suspension of family membership, up to and including termination of family membership.
In appropriate circumstances, 757swim leaders may first provide a verbal warning, then one or more written warnings, and, if the conduct is not sufficiently improved, eventual termination of membership. While 757swim is concerned with consistent enforcement of our policies, it is not obligated to follow any particular disciplinary or grievance procedure, and depending on the severity of the circumstances, parents may be subject to membership termination without any prior warning.
757swim strives to clearly communicate policy and procedural requirements; provide frequent feedback and take corrective action when necessary. When a parent’s conduct does not meet expectations, that parent may be subject to a progressive discipline system. The progressive discipline system is a guide, and 757swim may depart from it and apply accelerated discipline when circumstances warrant.
All parents are apprised in writing of this policy. Annual signature of the Waiver, Release, Authorization and Agreement Form constitutes unconditional agreement to comply with the Code of Conduct as set forth by 757swim.
757swim is not liable for a refund or pro-rate of membership fees due to a suspension or termination.
If a 757Swim Club member (coach, employee, athlete or family) has observed a possible violation of the 757Swim Code of Conduct or other team policies, the below process will be followed:
Reporting and Investigation:
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It is the responsibility of the individual concerned about the potential violation to escalate their concern to their lead coach first, followed by the head coach or CEO, or in appropriate circumstances, the 757swim Human Relations consultant, Angela Walker (via email [email protected]) within a reasonable timeframe.
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The Lead Coach, Head Coach, and or CEO along with the 757swim Human Relations consultant will review the information provided including any evidence and determine if the concern has merit.
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If merit is determined, the Human Relations consultant will notify the parent(s) of the alleged infraction and request a meeting with a panel of appropriate participants to discuss the concern. Participants may include, but are not limited to, the human relations consultant,a representative(s) from the board of directors, coaches, and parents.
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The parent(s) involved in the incident will be allowed to present any relevant information or evidence at that time and a decision will be rendered as to any course of disciplinary action within 7 days of the meeting.
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The decision of the panel is final.
Documentation:
The lead facilitator will keep a full record of the complaint, which will include a summary of the complaint, evidence collected, and a summary of the outcome. On a quarterly basis, a summary report of all resolved complaints will be shared with the 757Swim Board of Directors by the CEO.
Steps outlined above will be documented on a 757swim Incident Report, signed by the head coach, and saved in the family’s electronic file until they are no longer an active member of 757swim.
