Player’s Code of Conduct
1. Players are expected to conduct themselves in a manner that reflects the common courtesies of decency, morality, honesty, and respect for the rights and properties of others. Athletes should be tolerant, supportive, and respectful of their fellow team members and coaches. The following behavior will not be tolerated:
a. Hazing, taunting, or verbally abusing another athlete, coach, referee, or any person participating in or conducting an Greenwich Aquatics event
b. Making derogatory comments about a person’s race, sex, religion, age, disability, national origin, or sexual orientation
c. Spreading rumor or gossip that could be detriment to another athlete, parent or coach
d. Using obscene gestures, profanity, or unduly provocative language
2. Athletes are expected to conduct themselves in an exemplary manner at all times and will abide by all federal, state and local laws, and the Greenwich YMCA policies and regulations. Use of illegal drugs, alcohol or weapons will not be tolerated.
3. Although water polo is a physical sport, athletes are expected to refrain from engaging in any act with the intent to cause injury to another athlete.
4. Players are expected to arrive on time and prepared to practice, games, scrimmages, and team meetings. Athletes are expected to remain quiet while the coach is speaking and will not disrupt the coach or behave in any manner that interferes with the coach’s communications with other athletes. Players should have all necessary gear at practices, games, and scrimmages.
5. Athletes will diligently and timely perform tasks as requested by the coaching staff such as course set up, warm up, stretching, returning balls and other equipment to storage.
6. Athletes are required to keep locker rooms, team rooms, practice areas, and the pool deck clean and orderly.
7. Athletes are expected to adhere to the Code of Conduct set forth by the Greenwich YMCA and USA Water Polo.
8. Athletes are not allowed to play for a competing club in games or tournaments.
Parent’s Code of Conduct
1. The importance of parents behaving as role models cannot be overstated. Parents who support the rules of conduct provide a model for other parents and athletes alike. Of particular concern are parents who harass coaches, officials, and/or other athletes and parents by making negative comments toward one or all of the aforementioned groups. This is counterproductive and undermines the values of sportsmanship, fair play, and our philosophy. The Greenwich Aquatics coaching staff dedicates their time and efforts to developing the young athletes of our club. All of our coaches welcome and value open lines of communication with their players. If there is an issue that needs to be resolved, the following steps should be taken:
1. The athlete discusses the situation with the coach.
2. If that meeting does not produce what is interpreted as a fair resolution, the parent(s) and player should meet with the coach.
3. Lastly, if deemed necessary, the Director of Operations will be present for a follow-up meeting in which the matter will be discussed further and a decision and /or resolution reached.
Email exchanges are discouraged when trying to resolve conflicts. In summary, the coaching team encourages open communication with its players and requests that athletes discuss with coaches first; live meeting with parent, athlete, and coach second; live meeting with parent, athlete, Director of Operations third and final resolution.
2. Practice groups, scrimmage rosters, tournament rosters, and playing time should not a topic of discussion as the determination is made by the coach and the coach alone. There are multiple factors that the coaches utilize to determine the practice groups, scrimmage rosters, tournament rosters, and playing time. It is the desire of Greenwich Aquatics that coaches have the freedom to balance the goals and skill of an individual player with giving the team a successful competitive experience. In order to achieve this balance, practice groups, scrimmage rosters, tournament rosters, and playing time will be based on the following factors:
1. Player’s attitude, focus, attendance, and sportsmanship
2. Player’s effort and responsiveness to coaching instruction
3. The number of players on the team
4. The level of play and skill for a competitive tournament and/or special competition
These factors may increase or decrease a player’s time, including no playing time at all, in any particular game, scrimmage, or tournament. Certain tournaments may be more developmental and allow for more playing time for players, whereas other tournaments may be more competitive where playing time is more limited. Playing time is not distributed equally and is under the direction of the coaching staff exclusively. There are no guaranteed spots, and playing time and tournament participation will be adjusted as necessary.
3. We respectfully ask that all travel team practices remain closed to parents. Coming on the pool deck to pick up your child at the end of practice is fine. Parents should also refrain from discussions with coaches during practice sessions. Closed practices allow for increased focus for the players and less distractions for the coaches. Parents are welcome to attend scrimmages. Please note that our house league practices are open to parents.
4. Parents are expected to behave responsibly and respectfully as spectators during the open practices/scrimmages/games and should refrain from making inappropriate comments towards their sons/daughters, other players, referees, or coaches. They should also refrain from "coaching" their children from the sidelines, as that is solely the coaches' job. Speaking negatively or gossiping about coaches, other parents, or players can be very damaging to our club and will not be tolerated. Parents and players are asked to speak directly with a coach regarding any issue they see as unresolved.
Investigative Procedures
The Greenwich Aquatics coaches and Director of Operations will be responsible for investigating violations and enforcing the Greenwich Aquatics Water Polo’s Codes of Conduct for registered athletes and parents. The Greenwich Aquatics Director of Operations shall first be notified of conduct that would constitute a violation of the Code of Conduct. The Director of Operations along with the coaches should make every reasonable effort to learn about both sides of the allegation and whenever possible and practical, interview independent witnesses. This Director of Operations shall have the authority to issue a reprimand or suspend any athlete or parent if his or her conduct is in violation of the Code of Conduct and is considered detrimental to the best interests of Greenwich Aquatics.
Disciplinary Steps:
1. Reprimand: the offending player or parent is to be advised of the offense and informed either verbally or in writing that further misconduct will result in a more severe penalty.
2. Suspension: The offending player or parent will be advised in writing that he or she is suspended from all Greenwich Aquatics activities for a specific number of games or days.
3. Dismissal: The offending player or parent will be advised in writing, that he or she has been dismissed from Greenwich Aquatics for the remainder of the current season.
4. Barred: The offending player or parent will be advised in writing, that he or she has been barred from the present and future participation in Greenwich Aquatics permanently or for a time period to be determined by Greenwich Aquatics at the Greenwich YMCA.
We thank you for your participation and strive every day to provide the highest level of aquatics training in the world. We cannot emphasize enough the importance of remaining positive for our athletes. Positive energy around our program will help and continue to build the finest water polo community in the nation.