As a club, we are affiliated to the Amateur Swimming Association and as such, we are expected to conduct our activities within the rules of the Association. These rules include the ASA Code of Conduct, Code of Ethics and an Equity Policy. Full copies of these documents can be obtained from the ASA Web Site.

The club presents the following as a summary “Code of Behaviour” which we ask our members to follow. This code is not presented as an “all inclusive” list, but as one which highlights some of the major areas as a guideline. You will see that the code is broken down into a number of categories and while as a member you may fit into one main category, from time to time, your role may change and you will find yourself fitting into another. We would ask you to therefore to read each category carefully so you know what is expected of you as a member of our club.

GENERAL CODE OF BEHAVIOUR FOR ALL MEMBERS OF THE CLUB

As a member of the Gloucester City Swimming Club, you are will be expected to meet the following requirements in regard to your conduct during any activity held or sanctioned by the club:

1. Maintain high standard of personal behavior at all times.

2. Respect the rights, dignity and worth of others, regardless of their gender, abilities, cultural background or religion.

3. Be fair, considerate and honest in all dealing with others.

4. Be professional in, and accept responsibility for, your actions.

5. Make a commitment to being a member of a club whose objective is to provide a quality service in a safe environment for the conduct of the sport.

6. Be aware of, and maintain an uncompromising adhesion to the standards, rules, regulations and policies of the sport and at all times, operate within the rules of the sport including national and international guidelines, which govern the sport.

7. Do not use your involvement with the club to promote your own beliefs, behaviors or practices where these are inconsistent with those of the club.

8. Refrain from any acts of aggression towards or harassment of others.

9. Refrain from any behavior that may bring the club into disrepute.

SWIMMERS CODE OF BEHAVIOUR

As a swimmer / athletic member of the club, you are expected meet the following requirements in regard to your conduct during any activity held or sanctioned by the club:

Respect For Others:

1. Respect the rights, dignity and worth of fellow swimmers, coaches, officials and spectators.

2. Respect the talent, potential and development of fellow swimmers and competitors.

3. Abide by the rules and respect the decision of the official, making all appeals through the formal process and respecting the final decision.

4. Do not tolerate acts of aggression.

Personal Conduct:

5. Be honest in your attitude and preparation to training. Work equally hard for yourself and your team and cooperate with coaches and staff in their endeavor to prepare you for competition at the highest level. Be frank and honest with your coach concerning illness and injury and your ability to train fully within the program requirements.

6. Conduct yourself in a considerate manner relating to language and temper. Language in a public place or relevant group situation must always be appropriate and socially acceptable.

7. Alcohol and smoking is totally forbidden for athletes under age as defined by law.

8. The use of performance enhancing drugs and illegal substances is totally forbidden.

9. It is your responsibility to check that any medication you take, does not contain a banned substance. The A.S.A. continually updates their list of banned substances so you must be vigilant. When away with the team, all medication being currently taken must be reported to the team staff prior to traveling.

Personal Appearance:

10. Take pride in your appearance. At all time, your appearance shall be appropriate to the circumstances as indicated by the team staff.

11. Team kit should be worn if directed by the team staff.

Team Requirements:

12. A willingness to adopt, develop and sustain a “positive attitude” towards team goals and objectives is required, together with a high level of team co-operation with other team members and team staff.

13. Punctuality on all occasions is a desirable quality.

14. When required, team accommodation and transport as allocated by the team staff shall be used.

15. When away with the team, members must attend all team meetings and other functions as directed by the team staff and any team curfews must be observed.

Team Sanctions:

16. Breaches of this code shall be dealt with in the first instances by the team staff. Where necessary, the team staff will follow this up with a report to the Executive Committee of Gloucester City Swimming Club who shall take further action as is deemed necessary.

COACHES AND POOLSIDE STAFF CODE OF BEHAVIOUR

As a member of the coaching or poolside staff you must meet the following requirements in regard to your conduct during any activity held or sanctioned by the club:

Personal Conduct:

1. Be conscious of always presenting a professional appearance on the poolside and be conscious of the example this sets to the swimmers and the image this presents of the club.

2. Excessive alcohol is unacceptable when in charge of or responsible for the welfare of swimmers.

3. When dealing with persons under 18 years of age, avoid unaccompanied and unobserved activities with such persons, and wherever possible, demonstrate a high degree of individual responsibility as your words and actions are an example.

Relationship With Swimmers:

4. Treat all swimmers fairly within the context of their sporting activities, regardless of gender, race, place of origin, athletic potential, colour, sexual orientation, religion, political beliefs, socio-economic status and other conditions.

5. Provide feedback to swimmers and other participants in a manner sensitive to their needs. Avoid overly negative feedback.

6. Where possible, involve the swimmers in decisions that affect them.

7. Be acutely aware of the power that you as a coach develop with your swimmers in the coaching relationship and avoid any intimacy with swimmers that could be construed as compromising.

Personal Commitment:

8. When dealing with young swimmers, at all times be conscious of and fully embrace the concepts for “Long Term Athletic Development”.

9. Ensure that the tasks and/or training set are suitable for age, experience, ability, and physical and psychological conditions of the swimmers.

10. Encourage swimmers to respect one another and to expect respect for their worth as individuals regardless of their level of play.

11. Encourage and facilitate swimmers independence and responsibility for their own behavior, performance, decisions and actions.

12. Recognise swimmers rights to consult with other coaches and advisers. Cooperate fully with other specialists (for example, sports scientists, doctors and physiotherapists).

13. Actively discourage the use of performance enhancing drugs, and the use of alcohol, tobacco and illegal substances.

14. Do not exploit any coaching relationship to further personal, political or business interests at the expense of the best interest of your swimmers.

15. Accept and respect the role of officials in ensuring that competitions are conducted fairly and according to established rules. Know and abide by rules, regulations and standards, and encourage swimmers to do likewise. Accept both the letter and the spirit of the rules.

PARENTS / GUARDIANS CODE OF BEHAVIOUR

As a parent / guardian of a swimmer / participant in any activity held by or under the auspices of the club, you are expected to meet the following requirements in regard to your conduct during any such activity or event:

1. Remember that your child participates in sport for their own enjoyment, not yours.

2. Focus on your child’s efforts and performance rather than winning or losing.

3. Never ridicule or yell at your child and other children for making a mistake or losing a competition.

4. Show appreciation for good performance and skilful performances by all athletes (including opposing players).

5. Demonstrate a high degree of individual responsibility especially when dealing with or in the vicinity of persons under 18 years of age, as your words and actions are an example.

6. Respect officials’ decisions and teach children to do likewise.

7. Do not physically or verbally abuse or harass anyone associated with the sport (swimmer, coach, umpire and so on).

8. Be a positive role model.

SPECTATORS CODE OF BEHAVIOUR

As a spectator in any activity held by or under the auspices of the club, you are expected to meet the following requirements in regard to your conduct during any such activity or event:

1. Respect the decisions of officials and teach young people to do the same.

2. Never ridicule or scold a young swimmer for making a mistake. Positive comments are motivational.

3. Condemn the use of violence in any form, whether it is by other spectators, coaches, officials or players.

4. Show respect for your team’s opponents. Without them there would be no competition.

5. Do not use violence, harassment or abuse in any form (that is, do not use foul language, or harass swimmers, coaches, officials or other spectators).

ADMINISTRATORS CODE OF BEHAVIOUR

As an administrator of the club, you are expected to meet the following requirements in regard to your conduct during any activity held by or under the auspices of the club:

1. Resolve conflicts fairly and promptly through established procedures.

2. Maintain strict impartiality.

3. Be aware of your legal responsibilities.

OFFICIALS CODE OF BEHAVIOUR

When appointed as an official of the club, it is expected that you will meet the following requirements in regard to your conduct during any activity held or sanctioned by the club:

1. Place the safety and welfare of the swimmers / participants above all else.

2. Accept responsibility for all actions taken.

3. Be impartial.

4. Avoid any situation, which may lead to a conflict of interest.

5. Be courteous, respectful and open to discussion and interaction.

6. Value the individual in sport.