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USA Swimming: Coronavirus (COVID-19) update 3/17/20

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Since first communicating with our members about the Coronavirus (COVID-19), we have received ample feedback, much of it focused on the safety measures being recommended. We sincerely appreciate the comments and responses you are sharing.

As of today, the CDC and White House are urging a nationwide halt to gatherings of more than 10 people for the next eight weeks, citing the risk of the coronavirus. This includes avoiding eating or drinking in bars, restaurants, and food courts, and discretionary travel, shopping trips and social visits. This should also include team training and practices.

In light of the current situation, beyond the previously announced cancellation of the TYR Pro Swim Series at Mission Viejo and the postponement of the combined Open Water National and Junior National Championships, USA Swimming is mandating the cancellation of all its sanctioned events across the U.S. through April 30, 2020. This will be continuously reassessed based on health and governmental authorities’ information.

Beyond our clubs and teams, we can all play an important part in helping to curb the spread of COVID-19.

We encourage you to visit our website often for the most-up-to-date news and information: www.usaswimming.org

Thank you,
USA Swimming

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COVID-19 Updates/Resources

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Following new CDC recommendations and the North Carolina Governor’s latest Executive Order, North Carolina Swimming has revised guidance on the use of face coverings at USA Swimming activities as follows:

  • North Carolina Swimming strongly recommends that partially vaccinated or unvaccinated individuals continue to wear face coverings and practice social distancing at all swimming activities.
  • Other individuals are welcome to continue wearing face coverings for personal comfort.
  • NCS and member clubs may require that participants wear face coverings and observe social distancing at practices, team activities, team travel, camps, clinics, and competitions.
  • NCS members are expected to comply with all COVID-19 safety guidelines from USA Swimming, North Carolina Swimming, the State of North Carolina, local jurisdictions, aquatic facilities, and member clubs.

The USA Swimming Board of Directors has extended the current COVID-related requirements for sanctioning competition through August 31, 2022.  There are a few changes to the requirements which were in place during 2020 and 2021. Specifically, the requirements to provide a statement of local protocols, plan for ingress and egress of spectators and planned numbers of people anticipated in specific spaces are no longer in place. 

LSC Sanction Requirements

All safety precautions remain in full effect. Above all else, it is important to remember that all training and competition must conform to local, state, and federal public health guidelines. 

It is every individual’s responsibility to make best efforts to stay safe in order for their athletes and teams to continue practicing and competing.

CDC Recommended Isolation and Quarantine Period

NCS Team Travel COVID Guidelines

Governor’s Executive Order No. 215 5/14/21

Employee Retention Credit Information

Athlete and Coach Mental Health and Wellness

NCS Best Practices for handling positive COVID-19 tests

Aquatics Coalition Advocacy Letter

Aquatic Coalition Top Tips for Safer Opening Procedures

USSSA COVID19 Action Plan

Facility Reopening Plan Guidelines

NCS Back in the Swim COVID-19 Relief Program

NCS Letter to Governor Cooper

NCS Return to Operations: Best Practices (as of 5/6)

NCS Return to Operations: Club Waiver Template

Facility Re-opening Messaging and Planning

Recording THEN and NOW of Pool Operation and Programming

Slides THEN and NOW of Pool Operation and Programming

Pool Opening Examples

Pool Operations Suggestions

NCS Announces COVID-19 Relief Program for Clubs

USA Swimming Coronavirus Resource Page

COVID-19 Club Resource Links

We also encourage all our members to follow healthcare recommendations to avoid infection and the spread of infection:

  1. Avoid getting closer than six feet to anyone coughing or sneezing; 
  2. Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer that has 60-95% alcohol. This is especially important after going to the bathroom, before eating, or after blowing your nose, coughing or sneezing;
  3. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth;
  4. Cover your mouth with a tissue or your elbow if you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash, and then wash your hands;
  5. Stay home if you are sick, and away from the pool and from fellow team members;
  6. Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces regularly;
  7. Monitor the WHO and CDC websites for travel advisories and follow their recommendations.

Questions or personal concerns regarding Coronavirus (COVID-19) should be directed to your local healthcare provider. North Carolina Swimming will continue to monitor the situation and advise of any additional safety measures necessary to help our members stay safe and healthy throughout this difficult time.

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YMCA Short Course Nationals cancelled

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The following message was taken from the YMCA website:

YMCA of the USA (Y-USA) is committed to the safety and well being of all attendees at our competitive events. As such, we have been monitoring the recent spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) as it relates to all attendees at our upcoming YMCA Short Course National Championship to take place at Greensboro Aquatic Center (GAC) March 30-April 3, 2020 

Out of an abundance of caution, YMCA Short Course National have been cancelled. Y-USA has made this decision in order to reduce the risk to all athletes, coaches and families. We did not make this decision in haste, and we know that this news will be disappointing to you.

We will continue to share more information as we work quickly to expand on more action steps and respond to frequently asked questions. If you have immediate questions about this decision please contact aquatics@ymca.net.

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Senior Champs Updates: Moving Thursday Events to Friday

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On behalf of our Meet Referee, Beth Burge, and our Operations Vice Chair, Jon Jolley, I am passing along updates based on the discussions and voting at the General Meeting.

All sessions will be swum in two pools and will be contested as timed finals.  The Friday (the ones that were always on Friday) events will be the first session and the Thursday events (the ones we missed today) will be during the second session Friday evening.

Friday Events (1st Session – Later Start Time)

Warm-Up            11:00 AM

Meet Begins       12:30 PM

Thursday Events (Now 2nd Session – NOW FRIDAY EVENING)

Warm-Up            5:00 PM

Meet Begins       6:00 PM

WOMEN’s events will be in the main SCOREBOARD pool

MEN’s events will be in the deep end DIVEWELL pool

Click here for the the Revised Timelines.

Revised check-in times for distance events and relays are listed below.  Time trials will be offered in the scoreboard pool at the conclusion of each session on Friday and the signups will close one hour after the start of each session. 

Individual Events Check-In Deadline  
400Y IM Friday 12:00 PM    
1000Y Freestyle Friday 5:30 PM    
500Y Freestyle Saturday 8:30 AM    
1650Y Freestyle Sunday 8:30 AM    
         
Relay Events Check-In Deadline Relay Cards Due
200Y Medley Relay Friday 11:00 AM Friday 11:30 AM
400Y Freestyle Relay Friday 12:00 PM Friday 1:30 PM
800Y Freestyle Relay Friday 5:00 PM Friday 6:00 PM
200Y Freestyle Relay Saturday 7:30 AM Saturday 7:30 AM
400Y Medley Relay Sunday 8:30 AM Sunday AM Sunday PM 9:30 AM 5:30 PM

Saturday and Sunday will run as previously planned unless the weather is uncooperative.

As always, please let me know if you have any questions and have a good evening!

Lynn

Lynn Tippets-Fazen

NCS OME Entry Coordinator

858-735-8803

Ltippets@MLStech.com

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Submitting Legislation: Spring 2020 HOD

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REMINDER:

If you would like to propose legislation for the NCS Spring HOD meeting on April 19, 2020 in Wilmington, please mark up the existing Rule or By-Law with the proposed wording and submit your proposal to Wayne Shulby  wayne.shulby@gmail.com using the  HOD Legislation Template below.  The deadline for submitting legislation is Feb 28, 2020.

HOD Legislation Template

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GAC celebrates new pool opening

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Olympian Hali Flickinger was the first one to jump in the new pool.

A ribbon cutting ceremony was held Sept. 24 to celebrate the opening of the new fourth pool at the Greensboro Aquatic Center (GAC).

The 27,000-square-foot addition provides 19 additional lanes, making the Greensboro Aquatic Center the largest facility of its kind in the country. Hotel occupancy revenues funded the $8.3 million project.

“This new pool is a direct result of the tremendous success of the GAC since its grand opening in 2011,” said Greensboro Coliseum Complex managing director Matt Brown. “We are thrilled to have the fourth pool to help meet the intense demand for bookings, including meets, practice time for local teams and clubs and our incredibly diverse array of GAC programming, including the phenomenal growth of our ‘Learn to Swim’ program with Guilford County Schools.”

The additional lanes will serve myriad uses, including providing increased pool time/swimming lanes for GAC members, clubs and high school teams. The fourth pool will also create more opportunities for members to participate in exercise, fitness and therapeutic classes, swim and water safety lessons and general recreational swimming.

The addition of a fourth pool also further enhances the GAC’s ability to host championship competitive swimming and diving meets. To date, the local economic impact from Aquatic Center events since its opening in 2011 has exceed $150 million (source: Greensboro Area Convention & Visitors Bureau).

The ribbon cutting ceremony included remarks from Brown, Greensboro Mayor Nancy Vaughan and Greensboro Aquatic Center manager Susan Braman. Immediately following the ceremony, special guest Olympic swimmer Hali Flickinger helped open the new pool by participating in a swim lesson with students from Greensboro’s Archer Elementary School as part of the GAC’s nationally renowned ‘Learn to Swim’ program in conjunction with Guilford County Schools.

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