Bullying Policy

All prospective members of the Gulliver Swim Team are required to read, understand and sign the bullying action plan before they are allowed to join the team. 

What Is Bullying?

The USA Swimming Code of Conduct prohibits bullying. Generally, bullying is the use of aggression, whether intentional or not, which hurts another person. Bullying results in pain and distress.

The USA Swimming Code of Conduct defines bullying in 304.3.7.  Bullying is the severe or repeated use by one or more USA Swimming members of oral, written, electronic, or other technological expressions, images, sound, data, or intelligence of any nature (regardless of the method of transmission)or a physical act or gesture, or any combination thereof, directed at any other member that to a reasonably objective person has the effect of:

  • causing physical or emotional harm to the other member or damage to the other member's property:
  • placing the other member in reasonable fear of harm to himself/herself or of damage to his/her property;
  • creating a hostile environment for the other member at any USA Swimming activity; or
  • materially and substantially disrupting the training process or the orderly operation of any USA Swimming activity (which for the purposes of this section shall include, without limitation, practices, workouts, and other events of a member club or LSC).


Bullying of any kind is unacceptable at Gulliver Swim Team and will not be tolerated. Bullying is counterproductive to team spirit and can be devastating to a victim. The team is committed to providing a safe, caring, and friendly environment for all of our members. If bullying does occur, all athletes and parents should know that incidents will be dealt with promptly and effectively. Anyone who knows that bullying is happening is expected to tell a coach, another parent, or the Head Coach.

 

Objectives of the Team’s Bullying Policy and Action Plan:

  • To make it clear that the team will not tolerate bullying in any form. 
  • To define bullying and give all coaches, parents, and swimmers a good understanding of what bullying is. 
  • To make it known to all parents, swimmers, and coaching staff that there is a policy and protocol should any bullying issues arise. 
  • To make how to report bullying clear and understandable. 
  • To spread the word that Gulliver Swim Club takes bullying seriously and that all swimmers and parents can be assured that they will be supported when bullying is reported.

 

Report Procedure:

An athlete who feels that he or she has been bullied is asked to do one or more of the following things:

  • Talk to your parents;
  • Talk to a coach or supervisor;
  • Write a letter to a coach or supervisor or other designated individual;
  • Make a report to the USA Swimming Safe Sport staff.                                                                                                                

There is no express time limit for initiating a complaint under this procedure, but every effort should be made to bring the complaint to the attention of the appropriate club leadership as soon as possible to make sure that the memories are fresh and behavior can be accurately recalled the bullying behavior can be stopped as soon as possible.