Expectations of Seals
The core values of the YMCA will be used gauging who is a champion in life exhibiting proper sportsmanship, and positive behavior.
Responsibility
All Swimmers will take responsibility for their actions, and receive the consequences with honor. The consequence of working hard in practice is improved times. The consequence of forgetting ones goggles is swimming without goggles for the day. Take the responsibility of saying, “I want to be a part of Swim team,” and come to practice ready to swim.
Honesty
All swimmers will adhere to a strict honor code at all times. The best games are ones where a judge is not needed because everyone knows the rules and follows the rules so that everyone has fun. Honesty is not just telling the truth all the time. It is doing what is right even when every one else is cheating; besides an honest win is so much sweeter.
Respect
All swimmers will treat each other, the coaches, their parents, members of other teams, the facility and anything else not specifically mentioned here with respect. Other members of the team are there to push any one swimmer to be faster. Coaches are there to prepare all swimmers for the race. Parents love and support their kids through the best and the worst of times. Other teams give competition, and the facility provides a place to practice. Without any one of the things in the list a swimmer cannot become a champion in life. A true champion in life doesn’t need a reason to treat everything with respect.
Caring
All swimmers will care about their teammates and support them anyway possible. The aspects of caring are derived from Responsibility, Honesty, and Respect. Care enough to take responsibility and cheer for teammates. This means watching every heat where there is a seals swimmer to cheer on. Care enough about other people to be honest with them. Don’t just tell someone they did a good job tell them what they did well. Care enough to exercise respect for everything. Everything has lead to a single moment, a single race. Be appreciative of it and say thank you.
Consequences of failure to model these core values will range from swimming without goggles for the day, to sitting out during the next attended practice, to sitting out at a meet, to expulsion from the team. The head coach retains full power in matters of discipline during team events.