Shenandoah Marlins Aquatic Club Public & Mixed-Use Facility Safety Guidelines

As required by the USA Swimming’s Safe Sport program, Shenandoah Marlins Aquatic Club has adopted the Minor Athlete Abuse Prevention Policy (“MAAPP”). These guidelines are provided in ADDITION to the MAAPP required policy.

PURPOSE - The following guidelines are designed to maintain personal privacy as well as to reduce the risk of misconduct in locker rooms and changing areas and the facility at large.

FACILITIES - SMAC practices at several facilities: Crozet Park, Augusta Health, Waynesboro YMCA and War Memorial. These locations have a changing area that is shared with the general public. As such, there are likely to be people who are not associated with SMAC  in the changing area around the time of practice. Please use your best judgment as to whether or not you allow your athlete(s) to use the locker rooms during their participation with SMAC practices, swim meets and other events.

ATHLETES DROP-OFF/PICK-UP GUIDELINES - Parents need to be mindful that drop-off should occur approximately 15 minutes before practice and arrive for pick-up no later than 15 minutes following the end of practice. SMAC is not responsible for athletes prior to the start time for the athlete’s practice and after the completion of the athlete’s practice.

REPORTING - As a reminder, should an athlete encounter an uncomfortable situation, or be in imminent danger, the athlete should tell a coach, facility personnel, or a parent immediately. This includes situations in the locker rooms or public areas, including the immediate area outside the building. Coaches and facility personnel are trained to implement a reporting protocol, which in many instances includes law enforcement. ​

Note to parents: Should a child report anything to you, please notify a coach or facility personnel immediately so the situation can be addressed and remedied.

MONITORING

General Policy Considerations -

Coaches and staff make every effort to recognize when an athlete goes to the locker room or changing area during practice and competition and, if they do not return in a timely fashion, we will check on the athlete’s whereabouts.

We discourage parents from entering locker rooms and changing areas unless it is truly necessary. In those instances, it should only be a same‐sex parent. If this is necessary, parents should let the coach or administrator know about this in advance.

If an athlete needs assistance with his or her uniform or gear (for example, a child under the age of eight), or an athlete’s disability warrants assistance, then we ask that parents let the coach or an administrator know beforehand that he or she will be helping the athlete.

If there is a reported or observed misconduct or behavior problem in the locker room, the swimmers causing such problems will be subject to suspension of team privileges.

USE OF CELL PHONES AND OTHER MOBILE RECORDING DEVICES

Cell phones and other mobile devices with recording capabilities, including voice recording, still cameras and video cameras increase the risk for different forms of misconduct in locker rooms and changing areas. The USA Swimming Athlete Protection Policies prohibit the use of such devices in the locker room or other changing area:

305.3 Use of audio or visual recording devices, including a cell phone camera, is not allowed in changing areas, rest rooms or locker rooms.