Action Plan of the Williamsburg Aquatic Club to Address Bullying
PURPOSE
Bullying of any kind is unacceptable at Williamsburg Aquatic Club (the “Club”) and will not be tolerated. Bullying is counterproductive to team spirit and can be devastating to a victim. The Club is committed to providing a safe, caring and friendly environment for all of our members. If bullying does occur, all athletes and parents should know that incidents will be dealt with promptly and effectively. Anyone who knows that bullying is happening is expected to tell a coach, board member or athlete/mentor.
Objectives of the Club’s Bullying Policy and Action Plan:
- To make it clear that the Club will not tolerate bullying in any form.
- To define bullying and give all board members, coaches, parents and swimmers a good understanding of what bullying is.
- To make it known to all parents, swimmers and coaching staff that there is a policy and protocol should any bullying issues arise.
- To make how to report bullying clear and understandable.
- To spread the word that Williamsburg Aquatic Club takes bullying seriously and that all swimmers and parents can be assured that they will be supported when bullying is reported.
WHAT IS BULLYING?
Generally, bullying is the use of aggression, whether intentional or not, which hurts another person. Bullying results in pain and distress.
Bullying is the severe or repeated use, regardless of when or where it may occur, by one or more USA Swimming members of an oral, written, electronic or technological expression, image, sound, data or intelligence of any nature (regardless of the method of transmission) , or a physical act or gesture , or any combination thereof, directed at any other member or Participating Non-Member that to a reasonably objective person has the effect of causing physical or emotional harm to the other member or damage to the other member’s property;
- Placing the other member in reasonable fear of harm to himself/herself or of damage to his/her property;
- Creating a hostile environment for the other member at any USA Swimming activity;
- Infringing on the rights of the other member at any USA Swimming activity; or
Materially and substantially disrupting the training process or the orderly operation of any USA Swimming activity (which for the purposes of this section shall include, without limitation, practices, workouts and other events of a member
