Tallaght Swim Team

Constitution

 

 

 

1.                    The Club shall be called Tallaght Swim Team, hereinafter called the club.

 

Objects:

 

2.                    The objects of the club are to promote and encourage the teaching and coaching of Swimming and other water sports.

 

3.                    The club is a training club with the facility to participate in competition.

 

4.                    No swimmer should enter the pool with any of the following ailments.  Athletes Foot, Verruka, Open sores, Infectious skin diseases.

 

5.                    The club shall indemnify itself from all loss or damage consequential or otherwise arising out of any of the activities organised by or on behalf of the club, by any member, parties or persons acting on behalf of the club.

 

Membership:

 

6.                    The membership of the club shall be open to all irrespective of sex, nationality, beliefs, and age.

 

7.                    A member shall be defined as an individual who joins and participates within the club.  Until they reach the age of 16, a nominated adult will represent them in voting situations, where necessary.  On reaching 16 years, they may represent themselves in all club matters to the exclusion of their previous nominated adult.

 

8.                    The membership types are “Full Membership”, “Associate Membership”, and “Guest Membership”.

 

9.                    The Officers of the Executive grant memberships on the completion of the appropriate application form and affiliation forms, subject to approval.

 

10.                 The Annual Membership Fees are set by the Executive Committee.

 

11.                 Club membership may be withdrawn or suspended by the Disciplinary Committee if behaviour is prejudicial to the interests of the club, or in violation of Club Rules, and, or the rules of Swim Ireland, subject to appeal to the Executive Committee.

 

12.                 It is deemed that all members shall have agreed to abide by the Rules of the Club, and Swim Ireland.

 

13.                 Swim Ireland rules shall have precedent over Club Rules, excepting local conditions in the day to day running of the Club..

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Management Structure:

 

14.                 The Officers of the Club shall consist of a Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Honorary Secretary and Honorary Treasurer.

 

15.                 An Executive Committee consisting of the officers, together with 4 other members shall manage the Club.  Each Officer and Committee Member must also be an ordinary member elected at the Annual General Meeting.

 

16.                 The two “Club Captains” may be invited to every committee meeting, for attendance at the discretion of the officers.

 

17.                 The Executive as required shall appoint sub-committees.  The duties of the sub-committees shall be recorded and the members of these sub-committees made familiar with these duties.

 

 

18.                 No member shall be allowed to serve more than 3 consecutive years in any one position in the executive.

 

19.                 All full members shall be entitled to attend and vote at meetings, provided they are in good standing to the satisfaction of the officers of the Club.

 

20.                 Should any member of the Executive Committee resign or his position lapse through non-attendance at meetings, the committee may fill any vacancy by co-option of an ordinary member.

 

21.                 The Committee (four of whom will form a quorum) shall meet regularly and preferably on a monthly basis.

 

22.                 No two members of any one family will be allowed to serve on the Executive concurrently

 

23.                 Duties of the Executive:

 

A)     The Chairperson will chair all meetings, represent and promote the Club as the needs arise, and have a casting vote when necessary

B)      The Chairperson shall ensure that the Date, Time and Venue of the Committee meetings are arranged both to enable the maximum attendance of all committee members and the orderly conduct of committee business.

C)      The Chairperson shall ensure that the Committee, Sub-Committees and the Club Children’s Welfare Officers carry out their functions and duties in accordance with the Club Rules and Swim Ireland Guidelines and Policies.

D)      The Secretary will be responsible for recording memberships, Club Post, Minutes of meetings, Affiliating all members, and the club governing body, and ensure in the running of the Club all decisions are governed by the Club Constitution.  The secretary will also maintain a complaint book, referred to them by any club member.

E)       The Treasurer is responsible for an accurate and audited report of the Club Finances.

F)       The Vice Chairperson accepts the responsibilities of the Chairperson in their absence.

G)      The ordinary members shall, in agreement, report to the Executive on all sub-committees business, on a monthly basis or more frequently if necessary.

 

24.                 The Annual General Meeting shall be held between the 1st of January and the 31st of March as agreed by the Executive Committee.  The notice convening the meeting shall be sent to each member not later than 14 days prior to the meeting.

 

 

25.                 The Business of the Annual General Meeting shall be as follows:

 

A)     Chairperson Report

B)      Reports from the Secretary on the activities of the previous year.                  

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Management Structure Continued:

 

C)      The Treasurer will present accounts for the 12 months ended 31st August

D)      Report of the Head Coach                                                                     

E)       General Business

F)       The election of the Officers and Committee Members

G)      A.O.B

 

26.                 A Special General Meeting of the Club shall be called by the Secretary within 14 days, if directed by the Committee, or demanded in writing by not less than 1/5th of the members, who in their notice of application, shall state the object of the meeting.

 

Liaison Officers:

 

27.                 The Code of Ethics and Good Practice details the role of the Child Liaison Officers.

 

28.                 They should not be involved in either coaching or administration.

 

 

29.                 The primary role of the Child Liaison Officer is to be available to any swimmer or parent who has concerns under the “Code of Ethic” and under the Swim Ireland Child Protection Complaints Law.

 

30.                 The Child Liaison Officers must operate independently of the Clubs administrative and coaching structure.  The must operate in total confidence.

 

31.                 On Receipt of a complaint the Child Liaison Officers in contact with their counterparts, meet and access concerns with reference to the  “ Code of Ethic”, and the Swim Ireland Complaints Law.  All should keep notes on their meetings. And steps agreed.

 

32.                 The Child Liaison Officers should seek advice from Swim Ireland protection officer and if necessary from either local Social Service or organisations as the ISPCC.

 

33.                 The Child Liaison Officers and the Club have no role in investigating child abuse complaints but the chairperson must be informed of the involvement of statutory authorities in strict confidence.

 

34.                 Concerns about possible unsafe practice may be dealt with by the Club but the child liaison officer must not give details that would indicate their sources unless the complainant so indicated to the child liaison officers

 

35.                 Child liaison Officers must attend Swim Ireland Child Protection Seminars that will be run annually in each province.

 

36.                 Upon completion of all revelent forms the Child Liaison Officer are appointed for an indefinite time subject to them filling their duties as specified by Swim Ireland.

 

37.                 These positions as Child Liaison Officers are entirely voluntary.

 

 

Elections:

 

38.                 Nominations for positions on the Executive must be made in writing, by a full member, in good standing, to be with and appointed member of the Executive 3 days prior to an A.G.M.  Late nominations will not be accepted saving those asked for by the Executive at the A.G.M.

 

39.                 Those entitled to vote for the Executive positions are each family unit in good standing being entitled to one vote per person.   

 

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Delegates to Swim Ireland:

 

40.                 Two delegates shall be appointed to represent the Club at Swim Ireland General Meetings.  The Executive as needs arise will appoint these.

 

41.                 Their term as delegates at the discretion of the Executive.

 

42.                 Club members will be informed of Swim Ireland meetings and at Club meetings will decide themandate of delegates attending Swim Ireland Meetings on their behalf.

 

Poolside Staff:

 

43.                 Poolside staff shall be appointed by the Executive and shall serve on the “Swim Sub-Committee”, responsible through a current member of the Executive to the current Executive.

 

Club Coaching Staff:

 

44.                 All poolside staff must be engaged by means of written terms of employment, whether salaried or not.

 

45.                 All teachers and coaches must be members of ASTCI.

 

46.                 When appointing staff references must be obtained from previous employers.

 

47.                 All references must be checked prior to employment and the application form must include permission for a garda/RUC background check.

 

48.                 The successful applicant(s) must be provided with

A)     Their duties, functions and responsibilities in writing.

B)      Grievance and Disciplinary procedures, in writing

C)      There should be specific provision for disciplinary measures, including dismissal, for breaches of club Safety Statement, for non-compliance with Swim Ireland, Officials Code of Ethics, and with The guidelines on the training of Young swimmers, and other Swim Ireland Codes in force at the time.

 

 

49.                 Where a complaint has been made in relation to child sexual abuse by a coach, the coach should stand down while the complaint is being exainamed.

 

50.                 All coaches and poolside staff must attend a Child protection seminar as soon as practicable upon appointment. And at minimum on an annual basis.

 

51.                 No coach is permitted to coach alone.  There must always be another responsible person present.

 

52.                 Only suitable qualified coaches may undertake weights in training.  Hypnosis may only be practised by a qualified (and PSI, registered) psychologist in an appropriate clinical setting.

 

53.                 Measuring of swimmers, where a person with the appropriate medical should carry out deemed, or science qualifications, in the appropriate clinical or laboratory setting.

 

54.                 The club must, annually, submit Coach Responsibilities and Duties, completed Officials Registration, Forms signed officials Code of Ethics in respect of their coaches to Swim Ireland.

 

 

 

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Reporting Procedures:

 

55.                 Reporting shall be to an Officer of the Executive on a monthly basis, at minimum.

 

56.                 Reporting to all members shall be through Newsletters, Notice Board, or meeting.  Whichever the Executive deem appropriate.

 

Records:

 

57.                 The secretary will keep minutes of meetings in written form, proposed and adopted at meetings and signed and dated by another committee member of the Executive.  At the end of tenure the secretary shall forward all records to the new incumbent for safekeeping

 

58.                 Complaints that are dealt with at a Club level will be recorded by the secretary in a book, and any action or results arising from the complaint be recorded in writing.

 

Doping:

 

59.                 As  per Swim Ireland Rules as contained in “A guideline for Tallaght Swim Team”

 

Administration:

 

60.                 Each member shall receive a copy of the Club Rules, Swim Ireland Rules, Code of Ethics and Good Practice in Children’s Sport in Ireland, Child Protections Guidelines Booklet, Qualifications and “responsibilities and Duties” of the coaches, club safety Statement, Club Constitution, Contact details of the Club Liaison Officers.

 

61.                 Alterations to these rules may not be made other that at a General Meeting where there is a majority of two-thirds of those present voting in favour of such alterations.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revised May 2007                                                                                                                               Page 5