Locker Room Policy

Locker Room and Locker Room Monitoring Guidelines 

Sunrise Swim Club have adopted guidelines concerning locker rooms and locker room monitoring procedures. Locker room policies are NOT required by USA Swimming, but we have determined a need to implement guidelines derived from resources provided by USA Swimming. These guidelines are intended to be proactive and must be reviewed by swimmers, coaches, parents, volunteers and other adults affiliated with the club. 

PURPOSE: To maintain personal privacy as well as to reduce the risk of misconduct of the Sunrise Swim Club, its swimmers, coaches, parents and volunteers in locker rooms and changing areas. 

FACILITIES: The following is a list of our current practice and home competition facilities. 

  • Springfield College
  • Chestnut Community School

Springfield College has restrooms adjacent to the pool. The use of these public restrooms is intended for parents, volunteers, students, etc. Swimmers are not to use the hallway restrooms except in the event of an emergency. Since these restrooms are. likely to be utilized by people who are not associated with Sunrise Swim Club around practice times. 

While we understand that with younger swimmers there may need for assistance in the locker rooms, 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. This is to protect the athletes and parents from potential uncomfortable situations. 

Swimmers’ use of locker rooms is intended to be swift: get in and get on deck, or get in and get out to travel home. Swimmers lingering in the locker rooms will be encouraged to speed things along. 

Note: When we travel to other facilities where different locker room policies or guidelines are in effect, our members are expected to follow them. 

Misconduct

Misconduct and monitored problematic behavior in the locker rooms will not be tolerated. 

  • First offense: The swimmer, parent, and coach will meet to discuss the behavior and explore strategies for improvement.
  • Second offense: The swimmer will lose access to the locker room area, must arrive at practice already changed and ready to participate, and will leave practice without entering the locker room.
  • On a third offense, the swimmer will face suspension from the team. Any misconduct or problematic behavior by an adult in the locker rooms will result in immediate notification of SUU Campus Police and will not be tolerated.

MONITORING: Sunrise Swim Club does not provide locks for locker rooms. Swimmers are highly encouraged not to leave their personal belongings in the locker rooms during practice, but instead to bring their belongings onto the pool deck. We do not promise or warrant that the locker rooms are secure from theft or that articles will not be lost. 

Coaches 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. 

Sunrise Swim Club has overlapping practices, with different groups arriving and departing throughout the day. While we do not post coaches inside or at the doors of the locker rooms and changing areas, we do make occasional sweeps of these areas. Coaches conduct these sweeps, with women checking on female locker rooms, and men checking on male locker rooms. 

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. Again, this assistance should be provided by the same sex parent. 

USE OF CELL PHONES AND OTHER MOBILE RECORDING DEVICES: Cell phones and other mobile devices equipped with recording features, such as voice recording, still cameras, and video cameras, heighten the potential for various forms of misconduct in locker rooms and changing areas. To address this risk, the USA Swimming Athlete Protection Policies strictly prohibit the use of these devices in locker rooms or other changing spaces.

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. 

Sunrise Swim Club prohibits the use of mobile devices with recording capability in locker rooms. This absolutely applies to cell phones even if the person is not using the photo, video or other recording device. Please understand that the actual use of a photo, video, or other recording device can violate state law and lead to serious consequences. Your child should be specifically advised that cell phones are not things that they require at practice. Further, if they bring a cell phone to a practice or meet, it should be locked in a locker or must remain in a gym bag or pocket the entire time until that swimmer leaves the locker room. Please ensure that all swimmers are aware NOT to use any function on any mobile or recording device whatsoever while in a locker room.