BLUE MARLINS AQUATIC CLUB

PHOTOGRAPHY POLICIES

PURPOSE

There has been much talk about whether it is safe to have images taken of children participating in sports. While the great majority of images are appropriate and are taken in good faith, it is a fact that images can be misused and children can be put at risk if common‐ sense procedures are not observed.

POLICY

The publishing of a photograph of swimmers under 18 either on a notice board or in a published article or video recording (including video streaming) of swimming competitions should only be done with parents’ consent.

A parent or guardian has a right to refuse to have children photographed. The exercise of this right of refusal cannot be used as grounds for refusing entry into a swimming competition. Therefore, any photo that may go to press or on a notice board, be it through a member of the club or official photographer, should receive parental consent before publishing/displaying the photo, preferably in writing. 

All photographs must observe generally accepted standards of decency in particular:

• Action shots should be a celebration of the sporting activity and not a sexualized image in a sporting context.

• Action shots should not be taken or retained where the photograph reveals a torn or displaced swimsuit.

• Photographs should not be taken from behind swimming blocks at the start of a race or exhibit a child climbing out of the swimming pool.

• Photographs should not be taken in locker‐rooms or bathrooms.

Parents can opt in or out of having their child photographed at team functions, including meets. Please notify Coach Pizarro or Coach Javier, by email, your desire to have your swimmer as opting out of being photographed. Thank you.