NPSC Guidance for Swimmers and Parents

As the Club returns to training, NPSC’s first priority is to ensure the health and safety of swimmers, parents and those around them in the pool. We have been following Swim England’s guidance and have spoken with the pools and other clubs to prepare the following guidance. This guidance must be followed by all members and anyone who does not follow this guidance will be told to leave the pool and will not be able to return for that session and possibly future sessions.

• In line with social distancing guidelines, when arriving at the pools you must be aware of others in the car park and keep your distance and wear masks as appropriate – the wearing of masks is not mandatory
• NPSC recommends that swimmers do not car share to reduce the risk of infection.
• When swimmers arrive at the pool, floor markings and/or signs will be visible, and the designated route must be followed. Similarly, when leaving the pool, the designated route must be followed. Please note that this may not be the usual route. For the entry and exit route for each pool, a video has been prepared and is available on the NPSC website.
• Parents will not be able to spectate and must drop off and pick up swimmers at the pool entrance. On collection, parents can wait in the Reception areas following social distancing guidelines.
• Parents must remain nearby so that if a swimmer becomes ill or needs to leave the session early, they can be collected promptly.
• Swimmers will not be able to use the changing rooms or showers so must arrive beach ready and remove outer clothes on poolside and put them in their swim back packs to keep separated and dry.
• Swimmers must also leave beach ready but will be able to use towels to dry off on poolside before dressing.
• Swimmers must maintain social distancing guidelines of 2m whilst on poolside.
• Face masks are not required whilst on poolside, but it is advised to wear them to and from poolside as some of the access routes are quite narrow.
• When swimmers arrive, they will be asked to give their name and to confirm that they don’t have any illness (as Covid symptoms are vague). If they are not well, they will be asked to leave. If they arrive late, they will not be allowed to attend the session. If a swimmers’ name is not on the list, they will not be allowed to attend the session.
• Swimmers must enter and leave the pool only when directed to do so and following the route shown by the coach. If a swimmer needs to stretch during a session, or leave the pool for any other reason, they must obtain permission from the coach before exiting the pool.
• Swimmers will be advised before the session which equipment to bring. Swimmers must bring their own, named equipment and must not use any equipment which is not their own.
• Swimmers must bring sufficient water bottles for the session as these cannot be topped up during the session and they cannot ask anyone else to fill them.
• Swimmers in the middle lanes should place their bottles at the pool end, split equally, and can only stop for a drink if no other swimmer is there.
• Swimmers are expected to wash their equipment before and after the session by rinsing it in the pool.
• Swimmers must be able to fit and adjust their own hats and goggles. They cannot ask anyone else to do this for them. If necessary, spares should be brought along as well.
• Swimmers will be assigned to bubbles (as far as possible by squad) and must remain in that bubble and in their assigned lane for the duration of that session. They may not be in the same lane for each session. The coach / covid liaison will direct swimmers to the correct lane for each session.
• Swimmers will be allocated stations around the lane and will be expected to start and stop at the allocated station. There must be no congregating at the end of a lane.
• There will be a limited number of coaches and helpers on poolside and due to the spacing of swimmers, it is imperative that there is no noise between sets so that the coach can be heard. The coach may also be wearing a visor which will restrict their ability to be heard.
• In the early weeks, training will be limited to skills and technique and there will be no high intensity work.
• Swimmers must not overtake.
• Swimmers are not allowed to dive.
• Swimmers must not splash other swimmers.
• Swimmers can use the toilets but only one at a time by gender. Permission must be obtained from the coach before using the toilet and they must wash their hands and / or use hand sanitiser before re-entering the pool.
• If any swimmer is identified as having a Covid-19 symptom, all parents of swimmers in that session will be notified. Swimmers can decide whether to continue training or isolate themselves. Swimmers will be informed if the test is negative. If the test is positive, swimmers will be informed and all those in the session to remain isolated for 14 days.
• If more than two swimmers in a bubble report a symptom, the bubble will be asked to isolate until the result comes back either negative or positive.