Parents are the backbone of our organization. They drive the swimmers to workouts and meets; they work at all our home meets and some away meets and are involved in other matters to support the team. Parents should encourage their swimmers and constantly give positive support.

Parents of swimmers on the Fox Mill Estates Swim Team (“FME”) are required to read and agree to abide by the following Parent Code of Conduct. 

• Fox Mill Swim Team is governed by the rules and by-laws of the Northern Virginia Swim League (NVSL). 
• Parents will cooperate with coaches, team members, opponents and officials at all times.
• Swimmers are in the care of FME staff and coaches during all practices and meets.
• Parents should leave coaching to the coaches.
• Parents and/or family members will refrain from approaching coaches on deck or interfering with instruction during practice hours except in the case of an extreme emergency. Parents should respect coaches’ need to focus on training the swimmers. However, parents can expect coaches to respond to an email in a timely manner within 24-48 hours except perhaps on meet weekends.
• During swim meets, only swimmers are allowed in the team area except for adults supervising their younger swimmers, or designated people assisting with the meet.
• Parents should not engage in any negative discussions in the pool facility during practice or meets that is detrimental to the swim team.
• It is the responsibility of the parent to have their his/her swimmer at the practice/meet facility 15 min prior to the start/warm-up time as informed by the coach so that his/her child is prepared to get in the water on time.
• FME Parents shall provide positive support, generally in terms of cheering, and clapping for all swimmers, both FME and its opponents.
• If a parent has a problem with any coach or official within the FME, it may be brought to the attention of the FME team representative or coach.If that response is unsatisfactory, then the parent(s) may submit a formal complaint to the FME Swim Team Advisory Committee (STAC) for review.
• FME parents should teach and encourage their children to exhibit good sportsmanship as well as demonstrate good sportsmanship themselves.
• Consumption of alcohol, tobacco products or illegal drugs at the facility of any NVSL sanctioned event which you are attending is prohibited.
• FME parents  will not tolerate any sexual or racial harassment or intolerance.
• FME parents encourage an atmosphere of openness, cooperation and consultation.
• FME parents encourage loyalty within the team and the Club.

Any violation of this code by a parent will be brought to the attention of the FME Swim Team Advisory Committee, which will issue the appropriate response.This response could include one or more of the following:

• Verbal warning by Team Representatives
• Formal Letter of Complaint
• Temporary Parental Practice and/or Meet Suspension (possibly be up to two weeks from practice and 1 meet) and a formal meeting with a STAC representative
• Permanent Suspension

By registering a swimmer(s), parents agree unconditionally to abide by this FME Parent Code of Conduct, as well as the FME Safe Sport Policy and USA Swimming Code of Conduct, which are linked below:

FME Safe Sport Policy

FME Electronic Communications Policy

Northern Virginia Swim League (NVSL) Rules and Code of Conduct

Aspects of the USA Swimming Code of Conduct also apply: 

USA Swimming Code of Conduct 2026

CONSEQUENCES

The coach will handle behavior contrary to the Swimmers Code of Conduct,  during practices in a manner appropriate to the swimmer’s age.

Under no circumstance will the coach, while coaching on deck, engage in a conversation with a parent concerning an individual disciplined during a practice session.

If the behavioral infraction jeopardizes the safety of swimmers, or if a swimmer continues to violate the Code of Conduct after repeated and documented attempts to re-educate as to the Code, an immediate and temporary suspension may be imposed.

The coach will inform the parent following any 2nd infraction reprimand or, if the coach deems the violation to be of a serious nature, on the 1st infraction. This may be done verbally or in writing. The coach will maintain records of any serious violation or 2nd infraction violations to include the date, incident description, and swimmer's signature. A copy of this record should be forwarded to the Team Representative.

Violations of the Code of Conduct that occur on the pool deck during a swim meet will be adjudicated by the referee and/or the Team Representative. Under no circumstance will the referee be obligated to delay the meet to discuss the issue with parents. One of the Team Representatives will relay information to the parents, but discussion will be postponed until after the conclusion of the swim meet.

Parents who violate the Code of Conduct during practice or a meet will be asked to leave.

APPEALS

Prior to the first practice of the swim season, the Swim Team Advisory Committee of the Fox Mill Swim and Tennis Club (STAC) will appoint a Code of Conduct Appeals Committee. This committee will consist of at least one (1) member of the FMSTC pool board, one (1) certified official from the FME swim team and one (1) FME swim team parent volunteer as well as an alternate for each position.

Parents who are dissatisfied with the disciplining of their child have the right to appeal to this committee. In such an instance, the parent(s) will notify the Team Representative, who will assemble the Appeals Committee. The decision of this committee will be final. Should this committee find grounds for the expulsion of any swimmer for the remainder of the season, there will be no refund of swim team fees.