BSC Parent & Swimmer Code of Conduct

As a member of the Busselton Swimming Club (BSC), I am part of a swimming organisation that believes teamwork, integrity, respect and good sportsmanship are more important than winning, and that respect extends not just to oneself, but to all other parents, swimmers, coaches and volunteers.

The following behaviour guidelines state the principles BSC expects all members to demonstrate and uphold.

BSC is fortunate to have experienced, professional coaches working to develop our children into better swimmers, and more importantly, teaching and instilling important life skills. These skills include time-management, self-discipline, and sportsmanship. Your child will reap the benefits of swimming long after his/her participation with BSC ends.

As parents, it is absolutely essential that we give our coaching staff the respect and authority they deserve to run our swim team. Our coaches are hired for that purpose and the Head Coach oversees the direction of the coaches.

PART I – PARENTS CODE of CONDUCT - PRINCIPLES

• Set the right example for our children by showing respect and common courtesies at all times to the team members, coaches, competitors, officials, parents, and for all facilities and other property used during practice or competition.
• Respect the integrity of swim officials by assuming decisions are based on honest, objective evaluations of performance. Only coaches may approach meet officials for clarification of rulings.
• Demonstrate good sportsmanship during all practices, competitions and team activities. Promote good sportsmanship by setting an example and by helping others to do likewise. BSC win gracefully, lose graciously and congratulate their opponents either way.
• Be an active participant in all fundraising events and other team activities and encourage and support your child by permitting them to be timely for practices and competitions.
• Realise that swimmers become easily confused when coached by parents and benefit most from positive reinforcement of the professional coaching staff’s instructions and advice. Your unconditional love and support before and after races will help them best.
• Recognise that BSC coaches are professionals and allow them to coach your child without interference during workouts and meets, including on pool deck within the coaching environment.
• Support your professional coaches as they strive to do what is best for each BSC swimmer. Our club abides by the requirements of Swimming Australia and Swimming WA and is operated on best current coaching methodologies.
• If you have concerns, you will address it with the appropriate coach in private. (See Grievance procedure under Part V below)
• Maintain open and honest communication among all members of the BSC family. We reach our common goals by working together.
• Insist that your child refrain from using any prohibited substances, violence, abusive or foul language, inappropriate sexual conduct, or any other behaviour deemed dishonest, discourteous, offensive or disrespectful of others both in person and on social media, or any public sphere.

PART II – PARENT – RESPONSIBILITIES

• Practice teamwork with all parents, swimmers, and coaches by supporting the values of Discipline, Loyalty, Commitment, and Hard Work.

· Assist the coaches in conducting effective practices by ensuring swimmers arrive and leave on time, and bring the proper equipment.

• Arrive at meets in time for volunteer or swimmer check in, stretching and warm-ups.
• Represent BSC with excellence, respect, team spirit, good sportsmanship, and politeness
• Maintain self-control at all times. Refrain from inappropriate behaviour that detracts from a positive image of the team or is detrimental to our performance
  objectives.
• Know your role. Swimmers – Swim / Coaches – Coach / Officials – Officiate / Parents – Parent
• Call or meet with coaches during normal business hours before or after practice/meets to discuss issues.
• Do not coach your child at practice or during meets, that is the coach’s job.
• Do not interrupt or confront the coaching staff on the pool deck during practice or meets.
• Trust and support your swimmer’s and coach’s decisions around goal-setting, training commitments, swim event entries, and meet schedules. Do not impose your ambitions on your child.
• Any questions about disqualifications, judging, etc should be directed to your swimmer’s coach.
• Get involved….be an official, work on the board, help plan a fundraiser, help plan a group social. Find something you enjoy!
• Share the burden among parents by volunteering to help at meets.
• Pay your fees on time.
• Know and uphold BSC rules, regulations, management and coach directives, and by-laws that are designed to maximize the experience for all swimmers and parents.

PART III – SWIMMER CODE of CONDUCT

The undersigned athlete participating with/for the Busselton Swimming Club (BSC) agrees to abide by the guidelines outlined below in addition to those established by the staff.

• Swim for the fun of it, not just to please your parents or coach.
• Make every team practice, meet participation and activity an opportunity to learn. Enthusiasm breeds success.
• Swimmers are expected to remember that at practice, during swim meets, team activities and in public they are representing BSC. They should represent BSC with excellence, respect, team spirit, good sportsmanship, and politeness.
• Swimmers are expected at all times to follow the directions of any member of the coaching staff, respect any instructions by officials and any person who is a chaperone. Disrespect or failure to obey instructions will not be tolerated from any athlete.
• Swimmers are expected to show respect, common courtesies and good sportsmanship at all times to the team members, coaches, competitors, officials, parents and for all facilities and other property used during practices, competitions and team activities.
• Swimmers should be punctual and arrive on time for all practices and meets and team events. Pool time is very valuable.
• Swimmers are required to attend all team meetings, practice sessions and swim meets (if registered for meets), unless they have made special arrangements with their coach.
• Swimmers must notify the coach in advance if they are planning to leave practice or swim meets early.
• Swimmers are expected to wear BSC team caps at all practices and team swim suits and team caps at all swim meets. This displays team pride and also makes it easier to identify swimmers on the blocks and in the water.
• Swimmers will come to all team events in the appropriate attire.
• Swimmers should be an active participant in all team practices, competitions, fundraising events and other team activities.
• Focus on every drill and every set. Be committed to putting forth your best effort every day. An honest effort does not include cutting laps, pulling on lane lines or missing send offs/sets. Bathrooms are to be used before or after training – 1.5 hours is not too long to wait, except in emergencies.
• Disruption of practice by an athlete will be grounds for removal. Continual cheating in a practice will be considered a disruption of practice.
• The coaches are there to help the swimmers. Swimmers are expected to pay attention and follow all of the coach’s instructions completely and exactly. If any clarification is needed, they are to ask questions politely, and the coaches will encourage such questions.
• Use of profane or abusive language or obscene gestures will not be tolerated.
• Dishonestly, theft, and/or vandalism will not be tolerated.
• Indiscreet or destructive behaviour will not be tolerated whether in person or on social media platforms, or in public.
• Every effort should be made to avoid guilt by association with such activities as those listed above.
• There shall be no drinking of alcohol or use of tobacco products or illegal drugs or any substances banned by Swimming Australia or the World Anti-Doping Authority
• Swimmers are expected to respect each other. Fighting, intentional touching or striking another athlete is reportable under SAL Mandatory reportimg.

Swimmers are expected to follow the spirit of the rules as well as the specific rules. The coach must adapt this philosophy to an infinite number of situations. Swimmers are asked to respect the coach’s directions and give their full cooperation. Cooperation with teammates and staff will produce a productive practice environment and competitive environment for all.

PART IV – VIOLATION OF THE CODE – SWIMMERS

The coaches will impose the following penalties for violation of the Busselton Swimming Club Code of Conduct.

The penalties include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. The swimmer will be given a verbal warning in private, away from other swimmers that their behaviour is inappropriate and if not stopped, will result in removal.
2. The swimmer will be removed from practice and the coach will contact the parent and the BSC committee who will inform the parent of number 3 below.
3. If the swimmer continues his/her bad behaviour, he/she will be suspended for one (1) week. (There will be NO prorated fee for monthly dues.)
4. If the swimmer’s disciplinary problem continues, the swimmer and parent will meet with the BSC Member Protection Information Officer in the presence of the Coach and a BSC Committee member to discuss the problem further.

PART V – PARENTAL GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE

Should any parent believe that any coach has not carried out his/her authority diligently and in an appropriate manner, after having discussed the issue with the coach, the parent should contact the BSC committee in writing to lodge the complaint.

The Committee will investigate and resolve the concern as soon as possible.

Should there still be an outstanding concern from the parent, or if they feel that the problem is not resolved, the parent has the right to request a hearing with the independent BSC Member Protection Information Officer (MPIO) (and a BSC Committee member) where all parties can put forward their statements regarding the matter. The Member Protection Information Officer’s decision will be considered final.