1. Code of Conduct for Willesden Rapid Swimming Club Members
As a member of Willesden Rapid Swimming Club, you have the right to:
Feel safe, and know how to raise any concerns.
Be listened to and have your views respected.
Be actively involved in decisions within the club.
Be treated with respect and fairness by every member of the club.
Feel welcomed, valued, and not judged based on your race, gender, sexuality, faith, ability, or any other characteristic.
Receive support and encouragement to develop your skills and reach your potential.
Be cared for in the event of an accident or injury, with parents/guardians/emergency contacts informed where appropriate.
Train and compete in a positive environment, free from any form of bullying or harassment.
As a member of Willesden Rapid Swimming Club, we expect you to:
Follow the guidelines outlined in Wavepower 2024 and adhere to Swim England’s policies and rules.
Comply with the Swim England Code of Ethics, Club Constitution, and all club regulations.
Show respect to your coach or teacher by listening, behaving responsibly, and speaking up when something isn’t right.
Let a coach, teacher, or team manager know if you need to leave the premises during training or competitions. If under 18, this must be agreed upon beforehand.
Arrive at training sessions and competitions on time. If you’re running late, inform a club representative in advance.
Respect your teammates, opponents, and officials, ensuring your behaviour reflects positively on the club.
Use appropriate language and actions at all times, in line with Swim England’s expectations.
Encourage and support other club members, promoting a welcoming and friendly atmosphere.
Take care of all facilities and equipment, leaving spaces tidy and reporting any damages or issues.
Remember, being a member of Willesden Rapid means working together to foster an environment where everyone can grow, feel valued, and enjoy their swimming journey.
2. Coaches Code of Conduct for Willesden Rapid Swimming Club
As a coach or teacher at Willesden Rapid Swimming Club, you have the right to:
Be supported in your role, treated with respect, and dealt with fairly by the club.
Be informed of Wavepower 2024 and understand the club's safeguarding and reporting procedures.
Know who the Club Welfare Officer(s) is/are and how to contact them.
Be aware of the internal club complaints process and whom to contact for assistance.
Understand the club's rules and procedures.
Be actively involved in and contribute to decisions made within the club.
Access ongoing training, Continuing Professional Development (CPD), and any other learning opportunities relevant to your role.
Feel welcomed, valued, and listened to by the club and its members.
Enjoy your time at Willesden Rapid while being treated fairly by all members.
As a coach or teacher at the club, we expect you to:
Adhere to Wavepower and all club safeguarding procedures, as well as Swim England's safeguarding, equality, and diversity policies.
Be confident that anyone training or supervising your child has the necessary qualifications, checks, and training.
Be informed by the coach of any concerns or issues that arise regarding your child.
Know how to access club policies, rules, procedures, and the complaints process, along with whom to contact for further information.
Give or withhold your consent for photography, media coverage, and trips away from the club.
As a parent/guardian of a club member under 18 years old, we expect you to:
Ensure your child has the appropriate kit for training sessions and competitions.
Make sure your child arrives on time for sessions and is picked up promptly. Please refer to the safeguarding guidelines for your squad for more details on drop-off, collection, and late collection policies.
Notify the club if you will be late to collect your child, if your child will be going home with someone else, or if any alternative arrangements are made.
Complete all required consent, contact, and medical forms and promptly inform the Club Secretary of any changes.
Respect decisions made by your child's coach or teacher. If you have concerns, request a mutually convenient time to discuss them.
Encourage your child to enjoy swimming, focusing on making friends, staying active, and developing skills, rather than solely winning.
Refrain from entering the poolside or interrupting training or competitions, unless there is an emergency. Allow the coaches and club officials to manage training and competitions.
Talk to your child about club and sport rules to ensure they understand and follow them.
Ensure your child adheres to the Athlete Code of Conduct.
We expect certain standards of behaviour from parents/guardians at all times:
Behave positively as a spectator at training sessions or competitions, treating everyone with respect. Cheer for your swimmer and other swimmers in the club, but avoid calling out to swimmers while they are focused on their races, as it may distract them or the officials.
Encourage and support your child, whether they are succeeding or struggling.
Respect and celebrate differences within the club. Do not discriminate against anyone on the basis of gender, race, sexual orientation, faith, ability, or any other characteristic.
Show respect to competitors from other teams during competitions.
Treat all club volunteers, committee members, coaches, and teachers with respect. Accept the officials' decisions regarding your child’s swim and discuss any concerns privately with the coach after the competition concludes.
Understand that abusive or inappropriate language, bullying, physical violence, or any behaviour that harms others will not be tolerated.
Breaches of this Code of Conduct may lead to disciplinary action by the club, and any behaviour constituting a criminal offence will be reported to the police and other relevant authorities.
Comply with the Swim England regulations, Code of Ethics, Club Constitution, and club rules.
Follow any conditions for teaching and coaching as per the pool hire agreement.
Ensure the safety of children and adults in your sessions through appropriate staffing ratios, safe methods of instruction, and by putting swimmer safety first.
Use equipment that is fit for purpose and ensure it is safe for use at all times.
Follow club procedures in case of an accident or injury and ensure that all incidents are properly reported.
Be mindful of your behaviour with members and avoid any actions that could be perceived as abusive.
Report all safeguarding concerns to the Club Welfare Officer without delay.
Build trust with members by being honest, transparent, and respectful.
Lead by example, promoting positive behaviour, sportsmanship, and encouraging members to behave respectfully, both in and out of the pool.
Be clear and transparent in decisions regarding stage or squad selection, ensuring fairness and equality.
Use positive and constructive methods in teaching and coaching to ensure that the training programmes are appropriate to the age, ability, and experience of each swimmer.
Always put the wellbeing, health, and safety of members before performance or competition outcomes.
Support everyone's right to take part, celebrating diversity by not discriminating against anyone based on gender, sexual orientation, faith, ability, or any other characteristic.
Address instances of negative, aggressive, or bullying behaviour among members and seek advice from the Welfare Officer where necessary.
Keep your coaching and teaching qualifications and CPD up to date to maintain high standards of coaching.
Complete Swim England safeguarding training every three years to ensure the safety of all participants.
Maintain a current Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) certificate, renewed every three years, processed through Willesden Rapid or another Swim England affiliated club.
Ensure that the environment you create is inclusive, safe, and supportive, encouraging swimmers to enjoy and make the most of their time in the sport
3. Code of Conduct for Volunteers at Willesden Rapid Swimming Club
As a volunteer at Willesden Rapid Swimming Club, you have the right to:
Be supported in your role and treated with respect and fairness by the club.
Know who the Club Welfare Officer(s) is/are and how to contact them.
Be informed of Wavepower and understand the club's safeguarding and reporting procedures.
Be aware of the internal club complaints process and know whom to contact for advice regarding complaints.
Understand the club's rules and procedures.
Be involved in and contribute to decisions within the club.
Feel welcomed, valued, and listened to by the club.
Enjoy your time volunteering while being treated fairly by all club members.
As a volunteer at the club, we expect you to:
Adhere to Wavepower and all club safeguarding procedures, as well as Swim England's safeguarding, equality, and diversity policies.
Comply with Swim England regulations, the Code of Ethics, the Club Constitution, and all club rules.
Follow any conditions specified under the pool hire agreement.
Help ensure the safety of children during sessions and competitions by maintaining appropriate staff ratios.
Report all safeguarding concerns involving children or adults at risk to the Club Welfare Officer.
Make sure that any equipment used is fit for purpose, safe, and accessible for all participants.
Show respect and courtesy to all swimmers, parents, coaches, committee members, and other volunteers.
Lead by example and promote a positive and encouraging atmosphere at all club activities.
Uphold the values of the club, ensuring that all individuals are treated with respect regardless of their background, ability, or other characteristics.
Maintain confidentiality regarding sensitive club matters and respect the privacy of all members.
Be reliable in fulfilling your volunteer role, and communicate promptly if you are unable to attend a scheduled commitment.
Your role as a volunteer is vital in ensuring a positive and supportive environment for all members of Willesden Rapid Swimming Club. By following this Code of Conduct, you help to create a safe and enjoyable experience for everyone involved.
WILLESDEN RAPIDS SWIMMING
CLUB CONSTITUTION
September 2024
Photography Policy for Willesden Rapid Swimming Club
Introduction and Wavepower 2024
The aim of this policy is not to ban photography, images, or videos, but rather to help Willesden Rapid Swimming Club avoid potential misuse of photography and protect children from harm, in line with best practices and Wavepower 2024. This policy applies to all photographs taken on mobile phones, digital cameras, or film, as well as any form of moving pictures, including video and streaming. The term "Child" or "Children" refers to anyone under the age of 18 years.It should be acknowledged that the majority of images are appropriate and taken in good faith, celebrating and publicising sporting endeavours and achievements. However, images can be misused, which could put children at risk if proper procedures are not followed.
Swim England's Recommended Best Practice
It is recognised that most leisure centres and events have specific procedures regarding the use of equipment capable of taking photographs or videos. Parents and carers are asked to respect these procedures.
Publishing a photograph of swimmers, whether on a notice board, publication, or social media, should only be done with parental consent and in line with Swim England guidelines and Wavepower 2024.
A parent or guardian has the right to refuse to have their child photographed, and a child or member also has the right to refuse to be photographed. Any photo or video that will be published or posted should have received parental consent, preferably in writing.
Under Swim England's photography guidance, once a parent has signed the Club's Photography Consent Form (included in the annual membership agreement), the parent agrees to have their child's image captured as long as the swimmer is the main subject of the photograph. Other competitors may appear in the background but should not be the focus of the image.
In the case of open meets and competitions where the host club has an official photographer, all parents attending should be informed through the event details. If images are to be published, parents should be made aware of their intended use and how they can withdraw their consent.
Standards for Photography
All photographs must adhere to generally accepted standards of decency:
Action shots should celebrate sporting activity and should not be sexualised in any way.
Action shots should not be taken or retained if they reveal a torn or displaced swimming costume.
Poolside shots of children should normally be above the waist only, except for fully clothed shots.
Photographs should not be taken from behind the swimming blocks at the start of a race, nor should they depict children climbing out of the pool.
Published photographs may identify the swimmer by name and club but must not include information such as the swimmer's place of residence or the school they attend.
Parent and Club Responsibilities
Swim England does not wish to prevent parents from photographing their children if they wish, but all clubs must take necessary steps to safeguard every child’s wellbeing.
The club will support parents in understanding best practices for safeguarding, including guidance on not including other individuals without their consent.
Parents are encouraged to report any concerns they may have regarding inappropriate use of photography or breaches of this policy.
By adhering to this policy, we aim to create an environment that celebrates our swimmers’ achievements while ensuring their safety and privacy.
