Code of Conduct

All club members are expected to comply with the following 'Code of Conduct' guidelines while taking part in any club activities. Above all, it is expected that all members of Sutton and Cheam Swimming Club, coaches, volunteers, poolside officials and parents alike; when attending any training session, event or tournament will:

• Behave without discrimination on the grounds of age, gender, race, religion, sexual identity, or disability as set out in the club's Equity statement
• Respect the rights and dignity of each member of the club and all other competitors/swimmers
• Treat other competitors and teams with respect in victory and defeat
• Comply with the codes, rules and laws within the guidelines set out by the ASA
• Observe the authority and decisions of all officials

To assist these aims, this document establishes a set of guidelines and procedures which outline the responsibilities and behaviour of swimmers, staff and parents associated with the club; and lays down what members and parents can expect of the club, together with the club's expectations of its members.

The document is sub-divided as follows:

• Members
  • Training and pool discipline
  • General behaviour expected of all staff and club members representing the club at galas, training camps, tournaments and any other related activity
  • Sanctions
• Club coaches, officials and volunteers
• Parents, guardians and carers

Members - Training and Pool Discipline

Please remember to:

• Attend all the training sessions as required by the coach. The more you get to, the better you'll become. We expect at least 75% attendance so be warned! Failure to meet this without a good reason could result in your place being lost to someone else on the waiting list!
• Be punctual for training sessions and galas. Arrive in plenty of time for a gentle 5 minute stretching and flexibility routine on poolside before starting swimming. In future, late arrivals without a good reason will mean you could spend the first 20 minutes doing land work.
• Arrive in a positive frame of mind, ready to train at the level your coach requires
• Bring all your equipment with you - goggles, pull buoys, kick boards, hand paddles, swim fins and water bottles, especially to Downsend and Old Palace. Look after them.
• Respect coaches, poolside helpers, officials and other club members.
• Concentrate on what your coaches tell you and do as they ask. Coaches are there for your benefit, not their own. They are there to make you a better swimmer. With 50 or more in the pool on some nights, coaches can't always see everything and so you are trusted to do as they ask at all times.
• Please keep your log-books up to date to record how well and how often you have trained, and to register your improvement in both training and competitions. Swim training log books are inexpensive and are usually on sale on the desk but you can easily use a diary if you wish.
• Please observe and respect the local rules of the various swimming pools we train in, for example no outdoor shoes in the changing rooms at Old Palace. The club is very fortunate to have access to those facilities and would be badly affected if they were withdrawn as a result of poor behaviour by its members. Please therefore keep the changing rooms tidy and inform coaches of any problems.
• Please do your best to make yourself available to swim in galas and water polo competitions when selected.
• Please remember to wear club colours, hats, costumes and T-shirts at all competitions, swimming and water polo.

When you are in the pool, particularly at squad sessions, please remember:

• Try to end each session having accomplished something.
• Practice makes perfect. The more you put into training sessions, the more you will get out of them. What you have missed in practice, you will find difficult to do when it really matters, in a race!
• Winning is not necessarily the goal in practice. Winning is for competition. There are times in practice when other things such as technique or training correctly at the right intensity are more important.
• There are no shortcuts to success. If you cheat by taking shortcuts such as missing out sets, not taking the required rest, pulling on the lanes ropes, missing out on correct turns, turning before the end of the pool, walking the first and last few metres of every length in the shallow end; you are only cheating yourself. If you can't finish sets, you shouldn't be there!
• Pace your self properly, do all the repetitions your coach asked for, and take the rest your coach requires, no more and no less
• Finish each length correctly. Swim hard into the wall. No stopping at the end, putting your feet on the bottom and chatting during sets.
• Turns are very important. They can make up to a quarter of the race. Please make sure you do all the turns correctly and quickly.
• Think about streamlining at all times, it is very important.
• Think about your technique at all times, it is equally important
• In future, sets swum badly will be repeated by the individuals concerned.
• Drink plenty of fluids during training to avoid dehydration.
• Behave in the manner expected both on poolside at training and particularly at galas.
• Do not interfere with other swimmers in your lane. Get on with what you are supposed to be doing and let other swimmers get on with their training. If others are faster than you, let them overtake without hindering them. If you are overtaking someone, then overtake properly, not by pulling him or her back.
• Poor behaviour in the pool will not be tolerated, especially if it affects others. Throwing or hiding kick boards, pull buoys, drink bottles etc is unacceptable. Be aware that swimmers consistently interfering with others training will risk being demoted to another lane or asked to leave the pool.

Members - General Behaviour

• Behaviour and Personal Conduct must at all times be of high standard and reflect favourably on the club and the sport. Language in public or relevant group situations must always be appropriate and socially acceptable. Politeness at all times to your fellow squad members, coaches, opposition match and pool officials.
• Bullying will not be tolerated in any form.
• Consumption of alcohol is totally forbidden for athletes under age as defined by UK law. It must not be consumed by swimmers or staff members, prior to, or following a competition event, training camp, training or team activities without specific consent of the Team manager. During competition, alcohol is strictly forbidden to all swimmers and staff.
• Smoking is prohibited by swimmers and staff whilst en route, prior to, during or following a competition event, training session or team activities
• Personal appearance shall be appropriate to the circumstances and as indicated by the team manager. Team kit and equipment shall be worn as directed by the Team Manager when competing and training, when assembling or travelling, at official team functions on other occasions as notified.
• Attendance at all activities is expected unless agreed by the Team Manager. Throughout the duration of any trip swimmers should inform staff of their whereabouts. Punctuality on all occasions is essential.
• The use of any drugs or substances other than for medical reasons is prohibited.
• Medication. It is important that information on all medication being currently taken should be reported to the Team Manager who will report it to the relevant personnel. Allergies to any medication must be reported to the team manager.
• Illegal and performance enhancing drugs and substances are strictly forbidden. Swimmers are expected to be aware of the current list of banned substances and particular care must be exercised if anyone is on medication prior to or during a meet. Please refer to the ASA's Doping Control. Swimmers are reminded to check that any drugs used for medical purposes are not on the ASA 'banned' list. (if in doubt checks should be made with the ASA Medical Officer).
• Illegal drugs and substances, the use of these, even though they may not appear on the banned list in respect of performance enhancing drugs, is nonetheless prohibited.
• Travel: When travel is organised for the squad as a whole, everyone must travel together using the organised facilities. Seat belts will be worn.
• Accommodation at hotels or equivalent must be directed by the club staff and at no times must anyone extra be accommodated in swimmers' rooms. Squad members will not be allowed out of the hotel without permission from the Team Manager and any curfew must be observed.

Sanctions

With limited training times, we cannot afford coaches wasting session time continually disciplining swimmers and if necessary, we will enlist the support of parents in resolving behavioural issues.

• Swimmers disrupting sessions for whatever reason will be issued an initial warning by the coach. Swimmers continuing to ignore the warning will be asked to leave the pool. A letter will be sent home and the offender will only be allowed to attend subsequent sessions with a parent present, while the problem continues.
• More serious breaches of the Code of Conduct will be reported to the Chairman/Secretary of the club and the matter will be discussed at the next committee meeting.
• The Committee have the right to decide on any matters not covered in the Code of Conduct.
• The failure of any squad member to continually comply with all of the code of conduct will result in sanctions being taken under the club rules which may result in permanent exclusion from the squad.

Club Coaches, Officials, Volunteers

The club promotes a high standard of ethical conduct and practice. All club coaches, officials, poolside helpers and volunteers must follow the principles set out below:

• Behaviour and Personal Conduct must at all times be of high standard and reflect favourably on the club and the sport.
• Be a positive role model, set good examples
• Recognise the importance of fun and enjoyment in coaching
• Consider the well being and safety of swimmers before development of performance
• Develop an appropriate working relationship with swimmers, based on mutual trust and respect
• Ensure all activities are appropriate to the age, ability and experience of those taking part
• Promote the positive aspects of the sport
• Follow all guidelines laid down by the Amateur Swimming Association and the club
• Ensure swimmers and water polo players are selected for competition on their ability
• Work to gain and maintain the appropriate valid qualifications
• Undertake the continuing Professional Development (training) necessary to discharge your duties to the best of your ability in the light of current knowledge
• Never exert undue influence over swimmers to gain personal benefit or reward
• Never condone rule violation, rough play, or use of prohibited substances
• Encourage all swimmers to value their performance, and not just results
• Recognise and celebrate good performance
• Respect the basic human rights, worth and dignity of all members
• Take appropriate and timely action on behavioural problems
• Keep parents updated on their child's progress
• Start and finish training sessions on time

Code of Conduct for Parents/Guardians/Carers

The club recognises the vital role that parents play and realises it cannot meet its aims and objectives without the help and support of its parents. An important aim of the club is to encourage appropriate ethical behaviour amongst its members. Parents, guardians and carers are important role models and in this respect, they can best support the membership by displaying the behaviours set out below:

• Remember children swim and play for their own enjoyment, not their parents
• Encourage your child to learn the rules and play within them
• Ensure children behave in a manner that does not interfere with other swimmers
• Encourage your child to follows the coaches' advice
• Discourage unfair play and arguing with officials
• Keep winning and losing in perspective. Help your child recognise good performances, not just results
• Never force your child to take part in sport
• Set a good example and applaud the good performances of competitors, teams, with respect in victory and defeat
• Never punish or belittle a child for a poor swim, making mistakes or losing
• Accept officials' judgements and comply with the codes, rules and laws within the guidelines set out by the ASA
• Encourage your child's involvement and help them enjoy the sport
• Use correct and proper language at all times

In addition, for the guidance of parents, and to prevent possible misunderstanding, we set out the club's basic expectations of parents below.

• Bring your child to training sessions regularly and on time and ensure they have the correct equipment.
• Arrive in time to collect their children at the end of training sessions
• Familiarise yourself with the organisation and rules of the club
• Keep up to date with club information posted on the notice board and club web site
• Pay membership, training and registration fees regularly and on time.
• Inform the club promptly of any change in contact information and any other relevant information we need to know about to facilitate your child's participation, safety and welfare.
• Do not allow your child to swim if they are unwell, particularly if they have any open wound or have an upset stomach
• Inform the club of any health concerns your child may have, whether permanent or temporary
• Please share your concerns with club coaches and officials
• Be involved with club activities either as a Committee Member or swimming official and share your expertise
• Support the club at club championships, galas and other functions
• Be aware of fixture dates and keep them available for selection as far as possible (we will publish fixture lists and give plenty of notice of selection for galas to enable parents to arrange lives around swimming and water polo commitments)
• Inform the Competition Secretary or Team Manager in good time if your son or daughter is unavailable for selection to enable substitutes to be arranged.