Market Harborough Swimming Club

Club Philosophy & Ethics

MHSC exists to provide the community of Market Harborough and surrounding villages with a swimming club and to promote the sport of swimming in our area.

MHSC aims to provide an experience for people of all ages and abilities, to learn to swim and enjoy watersports of all disciplines to any level to which they aspire. To develop a lifetime involvement in swimming thereby learning to reap, and sow, the rewards of a healthy and life enhancing activity and all that it encompasses.

You can download our ASA approved constitution here and our Equity Policy here.


Code of Conduct

The Club has put in place codes of conduct which apply to all stakeholders of the Club. You can download them below.

MHSC Code of Conduct for Swimmers here.
MHSC Code of Conduct for Swimming Coaches and Teachers here.
MHSC Code of Conduct for Committee Members, Officials and Volunteers here.
MHSC Code of Conduct for Parents here.


Disciplinary Procedure

If there is an occasion when a problem such as fighting between members during a training session occurs, immediate action from the coach, teacher or a club official (committee member) may be required. At this point they have the power to invoke a temporary exclusion from that training or teaching session, and they are then required to make a report to the club welfare officer who will then observe the procedure described in the document below.

Additionally, any member of the club (committee/swimmer/coach/teacher/parent) can also make a written complaint about any incident, regardless of whether a coach or club official has taken action at that time. On receipt of the written dispute every effort will be made to resolve the matter by informal discussion. If this fails, or it is clearly necessary to discipline a member, then the club has to set up a panel to deal with the matter.

You can download our Complaints and Disciplinary Procedure here.


MHSC is first and foremost a teaching club - we are swim21 accredited

The Club had its Swim21 and Clubmark Certificates officially handed over at the Presentation event on 9th December 2007. Recently, we have received our reaccrediation for 2010/2011.

We take pride in our Swim21 accreditation. What does that mean?

Swim21 is the asa quality mark and Club Development model, a planning tool based on the principles of Long Term Athlete Development, enabling clubs to help athletes, teachers, coaches and administrators to achieve their full potential. It focuses particularly on the needs of the athletes-striving to provide the best possible support environment. Swim21 is not just endorsed by the asa but also by Sport England. Swim21 Accreditation includes Sport England Clubmark, a kite mark set across all sports.

The accreditation is available to asa clubs of any aquatic discipline.

Market Harborough S.C. gained their Swim21 Accreditation in 2007 as a Teaching Club. This is where the emphasis is on quality teaching using a multi-skilled approach, underpinned by sound governance.

There was a lot of work involved and the two bulky files of evidence, development and information are available for members to view should they so wish.

In "Areas of good practice" the Club was congratulated on their Handbook being very well put together and organised, providing relevant information for their members.

One of the major areas for recommendation is that ALL poolside personnel must take the "Safeguarding and Protecting children" course (no exceptions). A list of all who have taken this course will shortly be included on the website.

Revalidation occurs every year until the 4 year anniversary when the process will need to be repeated, in order to demonstrate the club’s continuing development.

For more information on Long Term Athlete Development and Swim21 visit the British Swimming Website (see the top menu Links).


Child Welfare Policies in Swimming

Procedures and guidelines were first produced by the ASA Child Protection Working Party in conjunction with the NSPCC.

The ASA believes that the welfare of children is everyone's responsibility, particularly when it comes to protecting children from abuse. Everyone in swimming - administrator, club official, coach, parent, friend, children themselves, everyone - can help.

If these procedures are to help to protect children, everyone involved in swimming needs to apply them. Market Harborough Swimming Club is committed to fully respecting and implementing the current ASA Child Safeguarding scheme called Wavepower. Our Child Protection Officer is Val Dunton who is to be contacted to report any suspected infringement or misconduct.

You can read or download the Club's safeguarding policy statement here and the Swimline poster here.

You can find further information regarding Child Safeguarding and Wavepower on the ASA website here.

The Club adopts the ASA Wavepower Anti-bullying policy, with any resulting disciplinary action covered by the Club's constitution (Clause 6). You can download the ASA policy as a PDF document here.


Late collection of children & duty of care

Parents/Carers are advised that MHSC ‘duty of care’ only covers the duration of the child’s teaching/training session. For away galas, MHSC ‘duty of care’ ends on the return of the transport/bus/coach.Parents/Carers are advised that it is not the responsibility of MHSC volunteers/coaches and team managers to transport children home on behalf of parents/carers who have been delayed. For galas, parents MUST provide two alternative contact names or numbers for MHSC volunteers to use when they are not available on their usual number.

Failure to collect children within a reasonable period of a given time, without notifying MHSC may be considered abandonment and the relevant authorities will be informed. Appropriate action as accordingly advised will then be followed.

In the case of late collection MHSC volunteers:-

Will

Attempt to contact the child’s parent/carer on their contact number.

Use alternative contact name/number if necessary.

If there is no reply from the emergency contact, ask the child if there is another family member who may be contacted.

Wait with the child, with other MHSC volunteers present if at all possible.

If no one is reachable, contact the local police to enquire about the best course of action.

Remind parents/carers of the policy relating to late collection.

Will Not

Take the child home or to another location.

Send the child home with another person without permission from a parent/carer.

Ask the child to wait in a vehicle or the club with them alone.

Parents Must

Provide two emergency contact numbers for MHSC use when necessary.

Make note of the contact numbers provided by MHSC.

Contact MHSC immediately, if it is known that they will be late in collecting their child/children and inform them of alternative arrangements.