Notes on season safety & First Dive
May 15th
Woodfield families -- we're almost ready! Here are some last-minute notes to get you ready for the start of the season. As always, write me with any questions you have.
FIRST DIVE
We'll have our First Dive season kickoff on Monday. The coaches will introduce themselves, and will spend some time showing swimmers, particularly those new to the team, what to expect at swim practice. Meanwhile, parents are welcome and invited to attend, and I'll be available for Q&A and music requests. Times will be as follows:
4:30-5:30: 6 & under, 7-8 year olds
5:30-6:30: 9 & up
REGULAR PRACTICES - THIS WEEK
Afternoon practices will be in place this week and early next. They will run as follows:
- 4:30pm – 5:00pm 6 & Under (Lessons)
- 5:00pm – 5:45pm 7 & 8s and 9 & 10s
- 5:45pm – 6:30pm 11 & Up
SAFETY
We're a lot better now than we were this time last year, but we're not out of the woods yet. So I'm going to keep some common-sense measures, as recommended by the CDC, the Atlanta Swim Association and the Woodfield Board, in place for the protection of swimmers and unvaccinated coaches. (All of our older coaches are already double-vaccinated.) Safety measures will be as follows:
-Swimmers will enter at the upper gate and exit by the lower gate. They will be asked to sanitize their hands upon entering the pool. No swimmer feeling bad should come to practice, and swimmers who are exhibiting any symptoms of illness will be asked to step away from others and possibly leave the pool.
-Swimmers should come ready to swim, without the need to change in the bathrooms.
-Swimmers will be kept a reasonable distance apart and spread throughout the entire pool.
-Coaches will be wearing masks or face shields when in close contact with swimmers. Coaches will be able to get in the pool this year with little swimmers, and will wear face shields as they do.
-Parents will be allowed inside the gates for practice this year, as long as we can stay reasonably socially distanced while waiting (which, given the size of our team, likely will not be a problem).
-Per CDC guidelines, parents are not required to wear masks in the pool area when outdoors and distanced. When close to young swimmers — i.e. when timing during meets, for instance — I want to start off with masks, and we can definitely revise that downward as guidelines change.
-Per CDC guidance, we won't be sanitizing every surface the way we did last year. COVID transmission from surfaces is extremely rare.
We're fortunate in that outdoor swim activities are some of the safest possible. We're at a bit of disadvantage, though, since we have so many unvaccinated kiddos in one location. So, as with everything in this pandemic, we'll proceed with informed caution, and we may change these measures as events warrant.
Above all, if we all just use common sense combined with respect, we'll be fine. Everyone has a different risk tolerance, of course ... some people are going to want to mask up completely, some are going to want to go totally unmasked in every situation. If we can meet somewhere in the middle, that'd be perfect.
If you have ANY concerns at all, or if you see anything that you question, please do not hesitate to reach out to me. I'm happy to address any questions or concerns you have.
One note: I will be away from the pool later this week and the first part of next week. (I have two kids graduating in two states on two consecutive days.) But I'm always reachable by email, and our coaches will be there to help you with any practice questions, too.
I do believe that covers it for now! We'll see you on Monday!
-Jay
