TARNSFIELD SWIM TEAM CODE OF CONDUCT POLICIES AND PROCEDURES

PURPOSE

To provide for the best possible individual, team and program responsibility which promotes the sport of swimming, helps to develop the athletic ability and character of the individual swimmers, and helps maintain Tarnsfield’s Swim Team’s (TST) reputation and standing.

CODE OF CONDUCT POLICIES

All members and extensions of the team, including coaches, officials, volunteers, parents and athletes, must not only protect, but also improve the excellent reputation that TST has earned. Members of TST must, at all times whether during official team activities or simply at Tarnsfield Swim Club, follow appropriate code of conduct policies including but not limited to the following rules.

• Behave in such a way that their action reflects positively on themselves and the team at all team practices, meets, team trips, team or individual group outings and any team functions.
• Display proper respect and sportsmanship toward coaches, officials, administrators, fellow competitors, parents, and the general public in attendance at practices, meets or team functions.
• Follow the directions of the coaching staff during practice, meets, and other team activities.
• Do not purchase, possess, sell, or use alcohol, tobacco, or any illegal non-prescription drugs.
• Do not illegally purchase, sell or misuse prescription drugs.
• Do not remove or take any article that does not belong to them, such as clothing, jewelry, money or any other items regardless of value.
• Respect the property of TST and any other facility the team may visit or use. No swimmer shall tamper with or cause damage to any such facility.
• Promote positive team spirit and morale, which includes being humble in victory and courageous in defeat. Deal justly, kindly and impartially with all fellow team members.
• Refrain from all illegal or inappropriate behaviors that would detract from a positive image of the team or be detrimental to its performance objectives.
• Never interfere with the progress of another swimmer at any time.
• Obey applicable pool safety rules, including but not limited to the following:
  • No running on deck.
  • No diving except where permitted and in the manner permitted.
  • No unruly or disruptive behavior, such as pushing, shoving, yelling on deck.
  • No towel snapping or hitting.
  • No fighting or roughhousing.
  • It is the swimmer’s responsibility to familiarize themselves with and abide by pool safety rules applicable to the facility where a practice or swim event is being held.
• Refrain from verbal or physical abuse/assault or inappropriate touching behavior towards other teammates, coaches, officials, or fellow competitors.
• Swimmers must practice/compete to the best of their ability at all times.
• Never endanger the safety of another participant, coach or administrator.
• Never leave the supervision of the coaching staff without their direct approval.
• Never participate in inappropriate or unsupervised activities between participants.
• Come ready to practice and meets with all necessary equipment and on time.
• Swimmers must stay in practice area during entire practice.
• Swimmers must wear designated team suit, cap, and other clothing as prescribed by the coaches.
• Parents should remain within spectator areas unless volunteering in an official capacity that requires them to be on deck during swim competitions. Only swimmers, coaches, and designated volunteers shall be allowed on pool deck during team practices.

Swim team parents, officials, coaches, volunteers, and anyone in attendance at any TST event on behalf of any TST member is expected to maintain compliance with applicable Tarnsfield Swim Team Code of Conduct Policies and Procedures and will be subject to appropriate disciplinary actions for any events of noncompliance.

ADMINISTRATION

The Tarnsfield Swim Team Code of Conduct Policies and Procedures will be governed by the TST Parent Committee. All decisions made by the TST coaching staff, at the site of any infraction will initially prevail.

Appeals, if necessary, can be made in writing within 48 hours and in a rational, constructive, and fair manner and will be heard by the TST Parent Committee as soon as possible. Parents shall have the right to request to have an appeal heard on an emergency basis in situations which are time sensitive. All decisions made by the TST Parent Committee will be final.

TST Parent Committee Members will not be permitted to participate in processes which represent direct personal conflicts of interest in any way. In such a case a replacement(s) will be appointed to fill in for that process by the TST Parent Committee.

TST Safe Sport Policies and Guidelines
(adapted from USA Swimming’s Safe Sport Guidelines)

SWIMMER DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURES AND POLICIES

All members (swimmers, coaches, swimmers’ families, volunteers, and officials) of the Tarnsfield Swim Team (the “Team”) are required to comply with the Tarnsfield Swim Team Code of Conduct Policies and Procedures (the “Code”). Parents and swimmers must understand that each swimmer is responsible for his/her own actions. During practice sessions and meets the coaches’ primary responsibility is to train and coach the swimmer, not act as a disciplinarian.

Any member who violates any portion of the Code will be subject to the following disciplinary measures.

• Dismissal from practice or team events
• Disqualification from one or more events, or all events of competition
• Suspension from practices or events or reassignment to other groups
• Dismissal from the Team

Final determination of any disciplinary action may be subject to the sole discretion of the TST Parent Committee.

LEVEL II (MAJOR INCIDENCES)

• Purchase, sale, possession or use of alcoholic beverages or tobacco of any kind
• Purchase, sale, possession or use of illegal non-prescription drugs
• Illegal purchase, sale or misuse of prescription drugs
• Verbal or physical abuse/assault or inappropriate touching behavior towards other teammates, Team coaches or other staff members
• Destruction of any kind at the TST facility or any other facility we attend as a Team
• Theft of any article, such as clothing, jewelry, money or any other items regardless of value
• Misrepresentation of swimmer’s age by parent and/or swimmer
• Any other incident not specifically defined herein but deemed to be a Level II incident by the TST Parent Committee

All Level II (major incidences) will be subject to the following disciplinary procedures

• First Offense - The swimmer will be dismissed from the practice or event immediately and a disciplinary note will be emailed to the swimmer’s parents, the TST Parent Committee, and the Head Coach. The swimmer will be automatically suspended from the Team pending a meeting.
• Second Offense - The swimmer will be dismissed from the practice or event immediately, and the swimmer will be dismissed from the Team with no refund of Team fees.

There will be a one year probationary period from the date of the first Level II offense.

If a swimmer commits three Level II offenses in total, regardless of time period lapsed, then that swimmer will be immediately dismissed from the Team with no refund of team fees.

LEVEL I (MINOR INCIDENCES)

All incidences not identified as Level II (major incidences) above will be considered as Level I (minor incidences) pursuant to the Code.

All Level I (minor incidences) will be subject to the following disciplinary procedures

• First Offense - The swimmer will be notified by the swimmer’s coach and a disciplinary note will be emailed to the swimmer’s parents and the TST Parent Committee.
• Second Offense - The swimmer will be suspended from the next scheduled practice session or event.
• Third Offense - The swimmer will be suspended from the next two scheduled practice sessions or event.
• Fourth Offense - The swimmer will be dismissed from the Team with no refund of Team fees.

There will be a one year probationary period from the date of each Level I offense.

All incidents of disciplinary action will be recorded in the swimmer’s Record of Disciplinary Action.

***TST Parent Committee will maintain all disciplinary notes and measures in the swimmer’s file.