Wakefield Chapel Wahoos

Wahoos & NVSL Standards of Conduct

As proud members of the Northern Virginia Swim League (NVSL), all Wahoos Swim Team athletes, parents, and volunteers must follow the Standards of Conduct that guide swimming and conduct within the NVSL.

The following Standards of Conduct guide swimming within the NVSL. The Standards of Conduct promote respect, fairness, civility, honesty, responsibility, and appropriate behavior. These standards foster a positive environment at all swim meets; establish an atmosphere of respect for all participants, officials, and spectators; produce positive learning outcomes for all; build participant and team spirit; and enhance the sport of swimming.

All Athletes, Coaches, Team Representatives, Officials, Parents/Spectators, & NVSL Leadership will:

• Abide by the established rules of the NVSL.
• Respect all officials at all times and address them in a courteous manner.
• Avoid using inappropriate language, profanity, humiliating or intimidating remarks or behavior, verbal or physical assault toward any athlete, coach, team representative, official, NVSL leadership or spectator.
• Follow applicable management, pool, and facility rules, respecting others’ property at all times
• Display respect, courtesy, and good manners toward athletes, coaches, team representatives, and spectators. Team representatives will assist officials in maintaining control of spectators during meets.
• Demonstrate humility in victory and courtesy in defeat.

Spectators will also:

• Maintain appropriate distance from the competition area by remaining in established viewing areas and will not encroach the pool deck or interfere with any officials.
• Not engage in loud, intimidating, disrespectful, or negative behavior towards officials, athletes, other spectators, support personnel, or pool staff (including lifeguards).

The NVSL stresses the importance of safety and sportsmanship. Please keep in mind that both swimmers and their parents are representatives of our Wakefield Chapel neighborhood and are expected to conduct themselves in a responsible and respectful manner.

The Wahoos have established the following additional standards:

• Warm-up time should be used seriously. Horseplay is not allowed.
• Diving is only permitted in sprint lanes. In sprint lanes, swimmers must dive in, sprint the lane, exit the pool, and walk back to the start on the deck; swimmers may NOT swim back.
• Swimmers may not leave the team area without the permission of the coaches. This ensures that a swimmer will not miss scheduled events.
• Only current coaches and swimmers are allowed in the team area. Parents are not permitted in the team area during practices and meets.
• Swimmers must report to the Clerk of Course on time and remain in the Clerk of Course area until they are directed to their event.
• All swimmers should report to their coaches before and after they swim.
• At the conclusion of the meet, swimmers are responsible for cleaning up the team area by helping to remove any trash.
• All persons attending the meet must show proper respect and behavior during the playing of “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
• Swimmers are expected to attend the entire swim meet as an active part of the team, including the team handshake at the conclusion of the meet. This is a team sport and we want the team to support all individual swimmers and cheer for all events.