1. Purpose of this policy
Lane 9 ("we", "us") is an Australian swimming scouting and coaching platform built for regional and rural swimmers. Because most of the swimmers we serve are children, protecting personal information is not a compliance exercise for us — it is the foundation of the product.
This policy explains what personal information we collect, why we collect it, how we store it, how we use it, and the choices you have. It is made in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs).
By providing your personal information to Lane 9, you consent to its collection, use, storage and disclosure in accordance with this policy. We may update this policy from time to time; the current version will always be available on this page.
2. What information we collect
Personal information
- Contact details — your name and email address when you join our mailing list, register for the beta, or contact us.
- Swimmer details — a swimmer's name, date of birth, age group, gender (for event categories), town, club or training pool, and swimming results and times.
- Parent / guardian details — name, contact details, and records of consent, where the swimmer is under 18.
- Video — swim videos uploaded for analysis.
- Biomechanical data — stroke metrics, pose data and Potential Scores generated by our AI from uploaded video.
- Communications — messages you send us by email, our contact form, or during online scout meetings.
Sensitive information
We do not seek sensitive information. If it is reasonably necessary for coaching safety — for example, an injury or medical condition that affects training load — we will only collect it with explicit consent (from a parent or guardian where the swimmer is a minor), and only use it for that purpose.
3. Why we collect it
- To analyse swim videos and generate Potential Scores, technical reports and drill recommendations.
- To track a swimmer's progress over time and across tiers.
- To arrange and run online scout meetings where the AI flags strong potential.
- To make a swimmer visible to schools, academies and state pathway bodies — only where the swimmer's family has opted in.
- To send news and beta updates to people who have joined our mailing list.
- To improve our analysis models and methodology, using de-identified data.
- To comply with our legal obligations, including child-safety law.
If you choose not to provide requested information, we may not be able to provide some or all of our services — for example, we cannot generate a Potential Score without a video, and we cannot accept a video from a minor without parental consent.
4. How we collect it
We collect information when you:
- register your interest or join our mailing list on this website;
- upload a swim video via the Lane 9 app or a QR code at a participating pool;
- create or manage a swimmer profile (parents/guardians for swimmers under 18);
- attend an online scout meeting;
- contact us by email, the contact form, or social media.
Where practicable, video analysis runs on your own device — meaning raw stroke extraction happens on your phone, and only the resulting metrics need to leave it. We may collect information about a minor from their parent or guardian; we do not knowingly collect a minor's information from anyone else.
5. How we store and protect it
- Data stays in Australia. Swim videos, pose data and swimmer profiles are stored in Australian data-centre regions. We do not process or store children's video content offshore.
- Access is gated. Any Lane 9 personnel or scout who can view content involving minors must hold a current Working with Children clearance (Blue Card in Queensland or the state equivalent).
- Security controls. Information is held on access-controlled, encrypted systems. Staff and service providers are bound by confidentiality obligations.
- Retention. When we no longer need your information, we destroy or de-identify it in accordance with the Privacy Act. You can request deletion at any time (see section 9).
If a data breach occurs that is likely to result in serious harm, we will notify affected individuals and the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner as required under the Notifiable Data Breaches scheme.
6. How we disclose it
We do not sell personal information. We may disclose personal information to:
- Pathway organisations — schools, swimming academies, clubs and state pathway bodies — but only for swimmers whose families have switched on pathway visibility. Visibility is off by default and can be turned off again at any time.
- Research partners — de-identified biomechanical data may be shared with the University of Queensland's Human Movement research program to validate and improve our Potential Score methodology. De-identified data cannot be traced back to an individual swimmer.
- Service providers — companies that provide us with hosting, communications and administrative services, under contractual confidentiality obligations.
- Authorities — where required or authorised by law, including child-protection law.
Overseas disclosure
Our mailing list is operated by Kit (ConvertKit), a provider based in the United States. If you join the mailing list, your email address is stored on Kit's systems. Swim videos and swimmer profile data are not sent to Kit or any other overseas provider.
7. Marketing and communications
If you join the mailing list, we will send roughly one email a month about the beta and Lane 9 news. Every email includes an unsubscribe link, and you can opt out at any time by using that link or emailing us. We will never use a swimmer's video, image or results in marketing material without explicit written consent from their parent or guardian.
8. Website and cookies
This website logs basic, non-identifying visit statistics. We do not use advertising trackers. Any cookies used are limited to making the site function and remembering preferences. You can disable cookies in your browser without losing access to the information on this site.
9. Access, correction and deletion
You may ask us at any time to:
- access the personal information we hold about you or your child;
- correct information that is inaccurate, incomplete or out of date; or
- delete information — including every video and derived metric for a swimmer's profile.
Send requests to hello@lane9.com.au. We will respond within 30 days. Deletion requests are subject only to records we are legally required to keep.
10. Complaints
If you have a concern about how we have handled personal information, contact us at hello@lane9.com.au with "Privacy" in the subject line. We will respond within 30 days and aim to resolve any complaint within 90 days.
If you are not satisfied with our response, you can contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner at oaic.gov.au or on 1300 363 992.