Swim Canada Policy Associations

SWIMMING ASSOCIATIONS

SNC embraces the concept of Associations as a means to exercise “economies of scale” in providing an enhanced training and competitive atmosphere for swimmers. PSO’s will be tasked with reviewing their respective Association applications and ensuring annual compliance related to the Operating Structure. The following policies govern the formation and function of Member Swimming Associations:

1. Clubs and University teams must register with their PSO as individual clubs

2. Two or more Clubs and/or University teams may apply to their respective PSO to form an Association

3. A Club and/or University team may be a member of only one Association at any given time

4. A registered Association will not be granted voting status within the provincial or national jurisdictions

5. Athlete transfer procedures are not affected by the existence of an Association; however, swimmers moving within clubs in an association may still compete for the Association during the 30-day unattached period

6. PSOs will set their own annual association fees, payable no later than October 31st of each year, or upon approval of new Association status by the Executive Director / Technical Director

Operating Structure:

1. All Associations must be legal entities (a registered ‘not-for-profit’ society or a registered incorporation)

2. All Associations shall have formal written agreements, signed by the President and Head Coach of each program

3. All Associations must have a constituted Board of Directors and a formal decision-making structure

4. A Technical Director or Consultant must be named whose role is to improve the quality of swimming in the Association; specifically, the Technical Director will create an annual plan that includes regularly planned Association training sessions, training camps, coaching education/mentoring opportunities, ancillary activities and a competition schedule, to be submitted to the PSO Executive Director/Technical Director prior to September 30 of each year

5. A Club and/or University team may join an Association at any time

6. A Club and/or University team may not transfer or change Associations except after Summer Nationals and prior to September 30 each year

7. A Club and/or University team may compete as an individual club/team, or their respective Association at any competition, but all swimmers of the program must compete as that entity for the entire competition
Annual Review:
Associations will be reviewed on an annual basis by the Executive Director / Technical Director of the PSO. The purpose is to ensure compliance to requirements stated in Operating Structure. The Executive Director will give non-compliant Association(s) a three-month period to make the appropriate changes to their operating structure. Failure to comply will result in suspension of the Association.

Application Process:

1. When applying for status as an Association, the application must submit to the Executive Director of their PSO:Proof that the Association is a legal entity within their province.

2. A formal written agreement signed by the President and Head Coach of each Program

3. A list of the Association’s Board of Directors and Technical Director/Consultant

4. An outline of the Association’s formal decision making structure.

5. An outline of the Association’s Annual Training Plan, incorporating the Association training opportunities, training camps, coaching education/mentoring opportunities, ancillary activities and a competition schedule.

6. Expected results and Performance Measures for Years 1, 2 and 3.