Committee members, officials and volunteers who work directly with children in the Swimming Club are expected to:

1. Put the well-being, health and safety of members above all considerations including developing performance.

2. At all times adhere to the Swim England Code of Ethics, Rules and Laws

3. At all times adhere to the Swim England Child Safeguarding Policy and Procedures.

4. Consistently display high standards of behaviour and appearance.

5. 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.

6. Meet the Swim England’s commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion.

7. Always ensure that all teaching, coaching and competition programmes are appropriate for the age, ability and experience of the individual swimmer.

8. Always identify and meet the needs of the individual swimmers as well as the needs of the team/squad.

9. Be fair and equal in team and training squad selection.

10. 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.

11. Encourage and guide swimmers to accept responsibility for their own behaviour and performance.

12. Continue to seek and maintain their own professional development in all areas in relation to coaching and teaching children.

13. 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 or harm or continue to be at risk or harm.

14. Encourage all swimmers to obey the spirit of the rules and laws both in and out of the pool.

15. Co-operate fully with other specialists (e.g. other coaches, officials, sport scientists, doctors and physiotherapists) in the best interests of the swimmer.

16. Never encourage or condone swimmers, volunteers, officials or parents to violate the rules of the club or the sport and report any violations appropriately.

17. Observe the authority and the decision of the officials and only question those decisions in the appropriate manner.

18. Treat all competitors and other club members with respect, whether that is in victory or defeat and encourage all team members and fellow club members to do the same.

19. Refer all concerns of a child safeguarding nature in line with the club/ASA safeguarding children policy.

Equality, diversity and inclusion

1. The Swim England 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:

• Discrimination on the grounds set out in 1. above.
• Harassment.
• Bullying.
• Abusive or insensitive language.
• Inappropriate behaviour detrimental to any individual or group of individuals.

3. Swim England 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.