The purpose of this code of conduct is to establish a common set of expectations for swimmers, coaches, and parents to promote and support the Iowa City Eels' mission to provide a successful competitive age-group swimming program for the Iowa City community.

General Expectations for All Swimmers, Coaches, and Parents

1. Because of their affiliation with the club, the actions of swimmers, coaches, and parents at practices, meets, and ICE gatherings inherently reflect upon the club. Individuals are expected to demonstrate respect for all members of the club and members of opposing teams. Behaviors that are destructive to the club or contrary to the club's mission are not acceptable.

2. Swimmers, coaches, and parents must display good sportsmanship toward other athletes, coaches, officials, volunteers, and spectators at practices and meets.

3. Swimmers, coaches, and parents must act in a safe manner during all ICE activities, follow pool/venue rules, and not endanger the safety of others.

4. Language or gestures that are offensive or that include sexually inappropriate or racially biased references will not be tolerated.

5. Illegal possession or use of alcohol (including any underage use) or of any controlled substance is strictly prohibited. Swimmers, coaches, and parents are obliged to report illegal activities immediately.

6. Stealing or theft of any kind is not permitted.

7. Swimmers are prohibited from using tobacco products of any kind at any time. Coaches and parents are not permitted to smoke in the presence of athletes.

8. Proper care for and use of equipment and facilities is expected. Vandalism and other intentional damage at any facility will not be tolerated.

9. Individuals will be responsible for any financial harm that their behaviors cause to the club.

Additional Expectations for Swimmers

10. Swimmers are expected to follow all coach instructions for training and competition. Coaches will establish individual behavior expectations related to swimming performance based on mutually agreed upon individual goals.

11. Swimmers are expected to arrive and be ready for practice on time and with the required equipment.

12. Swimmers must adhere to any additional expectations in their practice groups' "Group Expectations."

Additional Expectations for Swimmers While Traveling

13. At no time will male and female athletes, regardless of team affiliation, be permitted to be in the same hotel room together unless a coach or chaperone is present.

14. Swimmers must get approval from the Head Coach prior to purchasing movies or incurring any other incidental hotel expenses.

15. Swimmers are expected to know all travel and meeting schedules and strictly adhere to them. Swimmers must be on time for all team meetings and warm-ups.

16. Hotel curfew times will be strictly enforced. Lights-out and assigned bedtime will be set by the Head Coach depending on accommodations, travel, and meet conditions. Telephone use, text messaging, and other electronic communications after curfew are not permitted. Swimmers are expected to be quiet and respect the rights of their roommates and other hotel guests.

Additional Expectations for Coaches

17. All coaches, regardless of membership in the American Swimming Coaches Association, must comply with the Code of Ethics and Conduct of the ASCA and USA Swimming.

18. Coaches shall model good behavior and sportsmanship and promote team cooperation and morale.

19. Coaches must maintain group discipline during practices, meets, and team trips, and will punish misbehaving offenders in accordance with team policies.

Additional Expectations for Parents

20. Only swimmers, coaches, officials, and meet workers are permitted in the deck area during competition. Parents not acting in an official capacity should remain in the stands and in spectator areas. At no point is a parent to be in the area directly related to the competition or warm-up, except in an emergency.

21. Parents should not interfere with coaches on the pool deck except in an emergency. Parents are welcome to contact coaches by e-mail, phone, or in person during office hours or before or after practice.

22. Parents who are not registered coach members of USA Swimming working at the direction of the Head Coach must not engage in private training, teaching, or coaching (paid or unpaid) with other competitive swimmers (whether or not the swimmers are affiliated with ICE or any other club). Parents are strongly discouraged from providing advice on technique or race strategy except in coordination with the Head Coach or Assistant Head Coach. Technical instructions inconsistent with those provided by the coaches can interfere with a swimmer's progress.

23. Any questions or concerns regarding meet results, decisions made by meet officials, or the conduct of a meet should be referred to coaching staff. Parents should address officials via the coaching staff only.

Additional Rules Incorporated by Reference

24. Swimmers, coaches, and parents are responsible for knowing and adhering to the information and policies included in the ICE Parents' Handbook and Club Bylaws or communicated through the Club's web site and Club-wide communications via email or placed in swimmers' folders in the filing cabinet near the ICE office at Mercer, or posted on the ICE office door or bulletin board.

25. As a club member of Iowa Swimming, Inc., anyone affiliated with ICE must follow the ISI Code Book and USA Swimming Rules and Regulations, including Article 304 - USA Swimming's Code of Conduct.

26. Swimmers must adhere to the anti-doping rules of the USOC and FINA, as administered by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA).

Disciplinary Action and Appeals

1. Individuals who fail to comply with the expectations detailed in this Code of Conduct and other rules and policies referred to above shall be subject to disciplinary action. Potential disciplinary measures include the following actions:

A swimmer may be required to sit out during a set or portion of practice, be suspended from practice(s)/meet(s) or for the duration of the season, or be expelled from the Club;

Members may be asked to leave the venue, withdraw from the Board or other leadership roles (if applicable), or be suspended or expelled from the Club;

Coaches shall be disciplined or terminated in accordance with their coaching contracts.

2. The lead coach on deck shall have the authority to remove from the venue anyone whose actions are disrupting the orderly conduct of a practice or meet. Any such incident shall be reported to the Head Coach.

3. ICE members suspended or expelled from the Club may be required to pay any remaining seasonal fees and the cost of physical or financial damages to equipment, property, or the Club. Members leaving the team are required to submit a Withdrawal from ICE Form.

4. Appeals: A swimmer, parent, or coach may appeal the disciplinary decision incurred by a conduct infraction by notifying the ICE Board President in writing of the desire to appeal. The Board President can bring the matter to the Board or empower an ad-hoc committee to investigate and report back to the Board. The disciplinary action assigned for the infraction shall be upheld during the appeals process, until a final decision is reached.