Code of Conduct for swimmers from ALL disciplines
General behaviour
1. Treat all members of the club with due respect including:
Fellow swimmers
Coaches
Officials
2. Treat all competitors and representatives from competing clubs with due respect.
3. The use of inappropriate or abusive language, bullying, harassment, discrimination or physical violence will not be tolerated and could result in action being taken through the club disciplinary or child welfare policy.
Swimming training
1. Arrive in good time to stretch, 15 – 20 minutes before start time.
2. Have all your equipment with you, i.e. paddles; kick boards, hats, goggles etc.
3. Use the lavatory before training begins and always inform the coach if you need to leave the pool during training.
4. Listen to what your coach is telling you.
5. Always swim to the wall as you do in a race, and practice turns as instructed.
6. Do not stop and stand in the lane, you may get injured.
7. Do not pull on the ropes as this may injure other swimmers.
8. Do not skip lengths or sets you are only cheating yourself.
9. Think about what you are doing during training.
Competition
1. You must swim events and galas that the Chief Coach has entered/selected you for unless agreed otherwise by prior agreement with the relevant club official.
2. At Open Meets, check when you should post your cards and be sure to post them on time.
3. Warm-up before the event. Prepare yourself for the race.
4. Warm up properly by swimming, not playing or stopping in the lane. Turning practice should have taken place during your normal training sessions.
5. Be part of the team. Stay with the team on poolside. If you leave for any reason you must tell the Coach and Team Manager where you are going.
6. Listen for your race to be announced. Go to the marshalling area in time and report in. Take your hat and goggles with you.
7. Support your team mates. Everyone likes to be supported.
8. You must wear club uniform and hats when representing the club.
9. Swim down after the race, if possible. Do not use this time to play.
10. After your race report to the coach, not your parents. Receive feedback on your race and splits.
Code of Conduct for parents
68 Wavepower 2009 – 2011 (May 09)
Parents are expected to:
1. Complete and return the Health and Consent form as requested by the club and detail any health concerns relevant to the child on the consent form. Any changes in the state of the child’s health should be reported to the coach prior to coaching sessions. And ensure the club has up to date contact details for you and any alternative person.
2. Deliver and collect the child punctually to and from coaching sessions/swim meets. Please inform a member of the committee or coaching staff if there is an unavoidable problem. If the club changes your child’s lane and changing
times, please remember the change is to provide appropriate levels of training and enable your child to progress and should be facilitated and encouraged at all times.
3. Ensure your child is properly and adequately attired for the training session/events including all required equipment, i.e.hats, goggles etc.
4. Inform the coach/WO before a session if your child is to be collected early from a coaching session/meet and if so by whom.
5. Encourage their child to obey rules and teach them that they can only do their best.
6. Behave responsibly as a spectator at training/meets and treat swimmers, coaches, committee members and parents of yours and other clubs with due respect meeting the ASA commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.
7. Ensure they do not use inappropriate language within the club environment.
8. Show appreciation and support your child and all the team members.
9. Ensure your child’s needs are met in terms of nutritional needs and listen to advice given from the club coach/nutritionist.
10. Support the club coach and committee appropriately and raise any concerns you have in an appropriate manner. Details of the club W/O can be found on
11. Do not enter poolside unless requested to do so or in an emergency. If you wish to have a discussion with the coach check with the club Welfare Officer how this can be arranged.
12. Most of all help your child enjoy the sport and achieve to the best of their ability.
The club will undertake to:
a. Inform you at once if your child is ill and ensure their wellbeing until you are able to collect him/her.
b. Ensure good child protection guidelines are followed at all times to keep your child safe.
c. Ensure all activities are properly supervised/taught/coached and consent is obtained for any activity outside of that previously agreed.
The parent has a right to:
a. Make a complaint to the club if they feel the club or a member of the club is not acting appropriate to ASA/club laws and rules. Details of how to do this can be obtained from the club Welfare Officer.
b. Make a complaint on behalf of their child to the ASA.
Any misdemeanors and breach of this code of conduct will be dealt with by the club.
Code of Conduct for swimming coaches and teachers
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This Code is an extension to the ASA Code of Ethics. Both should be followed.
The Teacher/Coach must:
• Put the well-being, health and safety of members above all considerations including developing performance.
• At all times adhere to the ASA Code of Ethics, Rules and Laws.
• At all times adhere to the ASA Child Safeguarding Policy and Procedures.
• Consistently display high standards of behaviour and appearance.
• Treat all swimmers with respect and dignity, value their worth and treat everyone equally, recognising their needs and abilities within the context of their sport.
• Develop an appropriate working relationship with swimmers based on mutual trust and respect.
• Meet the ASA commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.
• Always place the well-being, health and safety of swimmers above all other consideration including developing performance.
• Always ensure that all teaching, coaching and competition programmes are appropriate for the age, ability and experience of the individual swimmer.
• Always identify and meet the needs of the individual swimmer as well the needs of the team/squad.
• Be fair and equal in team and training squad selection.
• Never exert undue influence to obtain personal benefit or reward. In particular, coaches must not use their position to establish or pursue a sexual or improper relationship with an athlete or someone close to them.
• Encourage and guide swimmers to accept responsibility for their own behaviour and performance.
• Continue to seek and maintain their own professional development in all areas in relation to coaching and teaching children.
• Treat all information of a personal nature about individual swimmers as confidential, except in circumstances where to do so will allow the child to be placed at risk of harm or continue to be at risk of harm.
• Encourage all swimmers to obey the spirit of the rules and laws both in and out of the pool.
• Co-operate fully with other specialists (e.g. other coaches, officials, sport scientists, doctors, and physiotherapists) in the best interests of the swimmer.
• Never encourage or condone swimmers, volunteers, officials or parents to violate the rules of the club or the sport and report any violations appropriately.
• Observe the authority and the decision of the officials and only question those decisions in the appropriate manner.
• Treat all competitors and other club teams with respect, whether that is in victory or defeat and encourage all team members and fellow club members to do the same.
• Refer all concerns of a child safeguarding nature in line with the club/ASA safeguarding children policy.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
1. The ASA and British Swimming have committed themselves to tackling forms of discrimination and to strive to become inclusive of all those who want to participate in swimming (as competitors, officials, coaches and administrators)
irrespective of their race, gender, disability, age, sexual orientation and faith and ability.
2. This code of conduct includes the Association’s commitment to address equality, diversity and inclusion in swimming.
To this end the Association will not tolerate:
a. Discrimination on the grounds set out in 1 above.
b. Harassment.
c. Bullying.
d. Abusive or insensitive language.
e. Inappropriate behaviour detrimental to any individuals or groups of individuals.
3. The ASA and British Swimming are governed by UK law and will seek to ensure that its participants are committed to addressing its responsibilities under the sex discrimination Act 1975, Race Relations Act 1976, Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000, Equal Pay Act 1970, Disability Discrimination Act 1995, Human Rights Act 1998, Disability Discrimination Act (Amendment) 2005, Equality Act 2006.
4. Committees, Officials and Volunteers in all aquatic disciplines must address this responsibility to support equality, diversity
and inclusion in our sport.
Code of Conduct for those committee members, officials and volunteers
who work directly with children in the Swimming Club
70 Wavepower 2009 – 2011 (May 09)
• At all times adhere to the ASA Code of Ethics, Rules and Laws.
• At all times adhere to the ASA Child Safeguarding Policy and Procedures.
• Adhere fully to the role and job description as outlined by the club and never use that role to gain favour for yourself or any individual swimmer.
• Consistently display high standards of behaviour and appearance.
• Treat all swimmers with respect and dignity, value their worth and treat everyone equally recognising their needs and ability within the context of the sport.
• Encourage and guide swimmers to accept responsibility for their own behaviour and performance.
• Continue to seek and maintain your own development in line with your role and complete a Safeguarding Children in Sport course, if appropriate to your role.
• Meet the ASA’s commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion.
• Treat all information of a personal nature about individual swimmers as confidential, except in circumstances where to do so will allow the child to be placed at risk of harm or continue to be at risk of harm.
• Encourage all swimmers to obey the spirit of the rules and laws both in and out of the pool.
• Never encourage or condone swimmers, volunteers, officials or parents to violate the rules of the club or the sports and report any violations appropriately.
• Observe the authority and the decision of the officials and only question those decisions in the appropriate manner.
• Treat all competitors and other club teams with respect, whether that is in victory or defeat and encourage all team members and fellow club members to do the same.
• Refer all concerns of a child safeguarding nature in line with the club/ASA safeguarding children policy.
Equality, diversity and inclusion
1. The ASA and British Swimming have committed themselves to tackling forms of discrimination and to strive to become inclusive of all those who want to participate in swimming (as competitors, officials, coaches and administrators)
irrespective of their race, gender, disability, age, sexual orientation and faith and ability.
2. This code of conduct includes the Association’s commitment to address equality, diversity and inclusion in swimming. To this end the Association will not tolerate:
a. Discrimination on the grounds set out in 1 above.
b. Harassment.
c. Bullying.
d. Abusive or insensitive language.
e. Inappropriate behaviour detrimental to any individuals or groups of individuals.
3. The ASA and British Swimming are governed by UK law and will seek to ensure that its participants are committed to addressing its responsibilities under the Sex Discrimination Act 1975, Race Relations Act 1976, Race Relations
(Amendment) Act 2000, Equal Pay Act 1970, Disability Discrimination Act 1995, Human Rights Act 1998, Disability Discrimination Act (Amendment) 2005, Equality Act 2006.
4. Committees, officials and volunteers in all aquatic disciplines must address this responsibility to support equality, diversity and inclusion in our sport.