Athlete Expectations and Responsiblities

Congratulations! You are now officially a National Team member and are amongst the best synchronized swimmers in the world. You are an incredibly talented athlete with exciting opportunities ahead of you. You are part of Canada’s rich legacy of world-class synchronized swimmers, including Olympic gold medallists, Commonwealth Games gold medallists, and World Champions.

This handbook has been put together to ensure that you, a Synchro Canada National Team Athlete, are informed and aware of your responsibilities and resources. The information included in this handbook outlines the ways in which you are supported as a National Team member, as well as the expectations placed upon you as a positive role model and ambassador for Synchronized Swimming and Canada.

Competing at such an elite level requires full commitment and dedication. You have worked extremely hard to get to where you are and are expected to continue to strive for excellence.

Full commitment to your sport and your team includes:

• Arriving at all National Team training camps healthy, in shape and prepared.
• Communicating with your National Team coach and your personal coach in your club. Are you following the training that is expected of you to arrive at your camp optimally prepared?
• Participating in all National Team activities (training programs, camps, competitions, education seminars, assessments and testing)
• Abiding by all National Team rules, regulations, policies and procedures. These are all outlined later in this handbook, read them carefully and make sure you are informed!
• Being available for media or promotional events and/or activities.

 

Communication

You are fortunate to have organizations that provide and support National Team Athletes with financial help, insurance, medical care and ethical behaviour in sport. These organizations require you to maintain constant communication with them so that they can support you to their fullest degree.

It is extremely important that you notify the National Office as well as the associated organization with any and all updates regarding your whereabouts, as well as your contact, training, and medical information.

• Keep your personal club coach informed of your whereabouts, your training, etc.
• Keep your family informed of the National Team expectations and how they can best support you.
• Do you know who to contact at the National office if you have a question?
• Do you know who to contact if you need to submit your anti-doping information?

It is your responsibility to make sure that you have all of the resources and help that you need to be the best that you can be, in and out of the water!

Travel & Billeting

Part of being on a National Team means that you are often travelling and staying in different locations for extended periods of time. While you are away, whether it is in another city, province or country, you should always be a positive representative for Synchro Canada. In these situations it is extremely important that you are on your best behaviour; showing the utmost respect for your host(s).

Often athletes are billeted by families while attending training camps. These families are volunteering their home and support to help our National Team athletes reach their goals in the pool. Billeting families do not receive a lot of money for their time and effort. Please be polite! Treat people with respect and gratitude.

Out of appreciation and respect for your hosts you should:

• Call your billet family prior to your arrival to introduce yourself and tell them any important information about you before you get there.
• Ensure that any allergies or food concerns are communicated to your coaching staff as well as your billet family right away.
• If you eat any special foods, please prepare these items to bring with you before leaving. Otherwise, please bring money for your billet family to help compensate for any groceries that go above and beyond what they already purchase.
• Please arrive at the airport/train station wearing your Canada track jacket so that your billet family or whoever is picking you up can identify you easily.

Outfitting

All National Team Athletes are required to dress in and use official National Team wear and any other National Team equipment at all times (National Team training camps, international competitions, media relations, and all other National Team activities) while representing Synchro Canada.

This outfitting is provided by our sponsors to unify the appearance of our National Team and help you stand out as professional-looking ambassadors for Synchro Canada. Please treat all National Team outfitting you receive with respect and care.

When you receive your outfitting prior to the start of your National Team camp, you will have completed an outfitting sizing form. We will have done our best to give you the sizes that you requested in your form. However, sometimes we are not able to give you the sizes that you would like best. Please make a note of the sizes that you would prefer, and we will do our best to see if it is available for you. Ask your team-mates if anyone would like to swap sizing with you. If not, you are free to have your clothing altered at your own expense.

Please remember that you have received all of this outfitting at no cost to you! You will see when travelling internationally, and even with other Canadian National Team athletes, that other competitors will not have nearly the amount of outfitting as you have. Be grateful to your sponsor for what they have provided to you.

Synchro Canada is proud to have you representing Synchronized Swimming in Canada and Internationally!

We strive to help represent you in the same positive and professional manner.