CSI TEAM TRAVEL

 

 

Team Travel Policy for COLORADO SWIMMING LSC

 

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.

 

Team Travel is defined as overnight travel to a swim meet or other team activity that is planned and supervised by the club or LSC.

 

Section 1 - USA Swimming Required Policies

Club and LSC travel policies must include these policies. These items are Code of Conduct stipulations in the USA Swimming Rulebook.

 

  1. Club travel policies must be signed and agreed to by all athletes, parents, coaches and other adults traveling with the club. (305.5.D)
  2. Team managers and chaperones must be members of USA Swimming and have successfully passed a USA Swimming-administered criminal background check. (305.5.B)
  3. Regardless of gender, a coach shall not share a hotel room or other sleeping

arrangement with an athlete (unless the coach is the parent, guardian, sibling, or spouse of that particular athlete). (305.5.A)

  1. When only one athlete and one coach travel to a competition, the athlete must have his/her parents’ (or legal guardian’s) written permission in advance to travel alone with the coach. (305.5C)

 

Section 2 - CSI Swimmer Policies

  1. A copy of the CSI Code of Conduct must be signed by the athlete and his/her parent or legal guardian.
  2. CSI officials should obtain a signed Liability Release and/or Indemnification Form for each athlete.
  3. CSI officials should carry a signed Medical Consent or Authorization to Treat Form for each athlete.
  4. Swimmers will only be allowed to leave their assigned room with my chaperone or teammate(s), or an adult who has received prior approval from the head coach or team manager in charge of the team.
  5. Swimmers parents or members of the opposite sex will not be allowed to enter swimmers room at any time.
  6. Swimmers must follow the uniform requirements of the trip.
  7. Curfews will be established by the Head Coach each day of the trip.
  8. Swimmers 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.
  9. Swimmers will show proper respect, sportsmanship, and courtesy toward coaches, officials, administrators, competitors, chaperons, and the public.
  10. Swimmers will behave in a manner that presents a positive image of Colorado Swimming and will strive to promote an atmosphere conducive to meeting the competitive performance objectives.
  11. The directions & decisions of head coach are final.
  12. Swimmers understand that the possession or use of alcohol, tobacco products, or controlled substances is prohibited
  13. Under USA Swimming rules, Decking Changing is Prohibited.
  14. 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.
  15. When visiting public places such as shopping malls, movie theatres, etc. swimmers will stay in groups of no less than three persons. 12 & Under athletes will be accompanied by a chaperone.
  16. The Head Coach or his/her designee shall make a written report of travel policy or code of conduct violations to the appropriate LSC leadership and the parent or legal guardian of any affected minor athlete.
  17. Failure to comply with the Colorado Swimming Swimmer Code of Conduct as set forth in this document may result in disciplinary action. Such discipline may include, but may not be limited to:
  1. Disqualification from one or more events, or all events of competition;
  2. Dismissal from the trip and immediate return home at the athlete’s expense;
  3. Disqualification from future Colorado Swimming-sponsored activities at the recommendation of the head coach.

 

 

Section 3 – CSI Chaperone/Coach Policies

 

  1. A copy of the CSI Code of Conduct must be signed by the Coach/Chaperone.
  2. During team travel, when doing room checks, attending team meetings and/or other activities, two-deep leadership and open and observable environments should be maintained.
  3. Perform all duties assigned under the supervision of the head coach and/or team manager in charge of the team.
  4. Understand and enforce that swimmers in possession or use of alcohol, tobacco products, or controlled substances is prohibited and must be report to head coach/team manager in charge of the team
  5. Chaperones/Coaches 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.
  6. Coaches must follow the uniform requirements of the trip.
  7. Swimmers will show proper respect, sportsmanship, and courtesy toward coaches, officials, administrators, competitors, chaperones, and the public.
  8. Swimmers will behave in a manner that presents a positive image of Colorado Swimming and will strive to promote an atmosphere conducive to meeting the competitive performance objectives.
  9. Coaches/Chaperone must understand that recruiting swimmers from Team Colorado is not allowed.  This includes discussion of any type regarding home team philosophy, practice schedules, coaching or other pertinent information.  These items should not be discussed even at the prompting of the swimmer.
  10. Athletes should not ride in a coach’s vehicle without another adult present who is the same gender as the athlete, unless prior parental permission is obtained.
  11. At no time should a Parent or Guardian of a swimmer, who is rooming with other swimmers, enter to the room of those swimmers for any reason.  In the case of a situation, the Team head coach should be contacted.
  12. 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 13 & over, chaperones and/or team managers would ideally stay in nearby rooms. When athletes are age 12 & under, chaperones and/or team managers may stay with athletes. Where chaperones/team managers are staying in a room with athletes, they should be the same gender as the athlete and written consent should be given by athlete’s parents (or legal guardian).
  13. When only one athlete and one coach travel to a competition, at the competition the coach and athlete should attempt to establish a “buddy” club to associate with during the competition and when away from the venue.
  14. Failure to comply with the Colorado Swimming Swimmer Code of Conduct 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 future Colorado Swimming-sponsored activities at the recommendation of the head coach.