Beyond the Whistles
Editorial Standards & Reporting Policy
Effective Date: 1 January 2026
Beyond the Whistles (“BTW”) is an independent swim media platform dedicated to telling authentic stories about swimmers, teams, coaches, and programs. These Editorial Standards outline how content is selected, developed, reviewed, and published to ensure accuracy, fairness, athlete safety, and trust within the swimming community.
Purpose and Scope
Beyond the Whistles exists to highlight the human side of swimming, including effort, growth, resilience, character, and community. We are not a recruiting service, marketing agency, or investigative outlet. Our work is editorial in nature and guided by respect for athletes and the sport.
These standards apply to all written, visual, and digital content published by Beyond the Whistles.
Data Privacy and Information Use
Beyond the Whistles does not sell, license, rent, trade, or otherwise distribute personal information.
Information submitted to BTW is used solely for editorial purposes on
• The Beyond the Whistles website.
• BTW controlled social media channels.
We do not provide athlete, parent, coach, or team contact information to third parties under any circumstances.
No NIL, Recruiting, or Commercial Representation
Beyond the Whistles does not engage in
• Name, Image, and Likeness NIL activities.
• Recruiting facilitation or brokerage.
• Sponsorship negotiations on behalf of athletes.
• Athlete or program representation.
• College placement or advisory services.
BTW is not an agent, intermediary, or commercial representative. Editorial coverage is not connected to financial gain from individual athletes.
Editorial Integrity and Independence
Beyond the Whistles maintains full editorial independence.
• Editorial decisions are based on story merit, not payment, influence, or affiliation.
• Advertising, sponsorships, or business relationships do not influence coverage.
• We do not guarantee coverage, placement, or visibility in exchange for anything of value.
• Content is written to reflect real experiences, not exaggerated or misleading narratives.
If a submission does not meet our standards for accuracy, tone, or athlete well-being, it will not be published.
Feature Development and Review Process
Beyond the Whistles does not engage in investigative, adversarial, or surprise reporting.
For features involving swimmers, teams, or programs
• We remain in communication with the subject throughout the process.
• The subject is aware of the nature and scope of the feature.
• Content is reviewed before publication.
• For youth athletes, parent or guardian consent is required.
Our approach is collaborative and transparent. There are no hidden angles, surprise quotes, or last-minute changes.
Public Meet Coverage
Beyond the Whistles may independently cover publicly available information, including
• Meet schedules.
• Results.
• Performances.
• Event summaries.
This coverage is based on information already in the public domain and does not require direct coordination with teams or athletes. Such reporting is conducted objectively, accurately, and with respect for the effort and commitment behind each performance.
Even in independent coverage, BTW prioritizes the athlete, team, and sport. Content is never intended to embarrass, exploit, or diminish participants.
Free Participation Policy
All editorial features published by Beyond the Whistles are offered at no cost to participants.
There are
• No fees.
• No required affiliations.
• No future obligations.
Beyond the Whistles does not generate revenue from individual athlete features.
Athlete Protection and Content Removal
Beyond the Whistles is committed to maintaining a safe, respectful platform. If at any time a family or coach raises concerns about published content, we will address them promptly and in good faith.
At the request of a parent, guardian, or coach, BTW will edit or remove a feature involving a youth athlete.
Editorial Mission Statement
Swimming has no shortage of results, rankings, and time standards.
Beyond the Whistles exists to tell the stories behind them told honestly, responsibly, and with respect for the people who make the sport what it is.
Beyond the Whistles is an editorial platform. We tell swim stories with integrity, transparency, and an athlete-first approach.