Greater Baltimore Swim Association

GBSA is fortunate to have highly enthusiastic, experienced, and knowledgeable coaches working to develop our children into better swimmers, and more importantly, teaching and instilling important life skills. These skills include time management, self-discipline, and sportsmanship. Your child will reap the benefits of swimming long after his/her participation with GBSA ends.

As parents, it is absolutely essential that we give our coaching staff the respect and authority they deserve to run our swim team. Our coaches are hired for that purpose.

Notes To Parents

• At CCBC, please park in white spaces only, and respect any signs where applicable.
• Parents are not permitted on deck during practice time. The only exceptions to this are:
  1. the first 10 minutes of practice
  2. the last 10 minutes of practice
• Please do not approach coaches while practice is in progress. They are actively watching their swimmers as a second layer of safety beyond the lifeguards, and it can cause a disruption to practice.
• If you must discuss something with any coach, you must FIRST see Coach Patrick during the 15 minutes prior to start time or during the time after practice ends (or please email him), but not DURING practice as this can cause major disruptions in the flow of practice.
• The area outside the pool deck (beyond the glass doors) is open to parents to observe practice at any time.
• Swimmers and siblings need to be supervised while at CCBC when not actively practicing. Any equipment, classrooms, or electronics are not for our use unless permission is given by a coach.
• If lightning is forecasted, parents should stay near the pool in case your swimmer needs to be picked up early.

Conduct Expected of All Parents

• Set the right example for our children by showing respect and common courtesies at all times to the team members, coaches, competitors, officials, parents, and for all facilities and other property used during practice or competition.

• Demonstrate good sportsmanship during all practices, competitions and team activities.

• Be an active participant in all fundraising events and other team activities and encourage and support your child by permitting them to be timely for practices and competitions.

• Recognize that GBSA coaches are professionals and allow them to coach your child without interference during workouts and meets, including not being present on deck during practice or meets, unless you are working in a designated volunteer role at the meet.

• If you have concerns, you will address it with the appropriate coach in private.

• Insist that your child refrain from using alcohol, tobacco, drugs, other prohibited substances, violence, abusive or foul language, inappropriate sexual conduct, or any other behavior deemed dishonest, discourteous, offensive or disrespectful of others.

Basic Responsibilities

• Practice teamwork with all parents, swimmers, and coaches by supporting the values of Discipline, Loyalty, Commitment, and Hard Work.

• See that your swimmer is on time for practice and arrives on time for meet warm-ups.

• Maintain self-control at all times.

• Know your role. Swimmers – Swim / Coaches – Coach / Officials – Officiate / Parents – Parent (positive support at ALL times)

• Call or meet with coaches during normal business hours before or after practice/meets to discuss issues.

• Do not coach your child at practice or during meets, that is the coaches’ job.

• Do not interrupt or confront the coaching staff on the pool deck during practice or meets.

• Trust and support your swimmer’s and coach’s decisions around goal-setting, training commitments, swim event entries, and meet schedules. Do not impose your ambitions on your child.

• Any questions about disqualifications, judging, etc should be directed to your swimmer’s coach.

• Get involved….be an official, help plan a fundraiser, help plan a group social. Find something you enjoy!

• Share the burden among parents by volunteering to help at our club-hosted meets, and be a timer at ‘away’ meets.

• Pay your fees on time.

• Read and understand the “10 Commandments for Swim Team Parents”.