OK so not everyone is yet but we are working on it with our phased approach – below is more info on what’s been going on and how we are bring you back to the pool.
Return to Swim
Covid 19 has been, and continues to be very difficult for all of us, as a club we have been working on returning to the pool since mid-June, writing risk assessments, procedures, and juggling plans around to give us best use of the pool under the new restrictions, despite not having any indication of a return date at that time.
In several of the club’s website and FB posts reference has been made to a ‘phased start’, possibly without enough detail behind it.
Working with the Leisure Centre and within Swim England guidelines we have adopted a 3 phased start plan. This gives us a gradual return of swimmers so they, and the GD staff can understand the safety measures in place around the facility, the key points of our procedures around the pool and the new way of swimming in wide lanes etc. whilst still socially distancing in the water etc.
We appreciate that this approach takes time which may not suit everyone, but to bring you all back at one time is not possible with the social distancing rules we have in place and numbers in the pool being reduced by current guidelines. Therefore, how we put groups into the water had to be managed differently to what was to the old ‘normal’.
This aspect of the Covid 19 measures has possibly been the hardest and it took some time to arrive at a plan that was deemed to be fair to the majority of our swimmers, once we had been given the green light by the LC to return.
At the start of the month we had trial sessions to confirm our risk assessments, procedures and swim plans are effective, and these went very well which allowed us to implement Phase 1.
Phase 1 is Sharks & Piranhas, they started this last week and again sessions went well, and they will continue through next week.
Subject to no issues this week, and no change to the Swim England and Government guidelines, the plan is to implement Phase 2 and welcome back Swordfish, Penguins 3 & 4 and Masters during w/c 20th September. Again, signed documents and payment arrangements must be in place before swimmers are allowed back into the water.
Phase 3 – Penguins 1 & 2 with Goldfish are targeted to return during w/c 4th October subject to current guidelines remaining in place, packs were sent out 10th September. All signed documents must be returned and bank payments set-up by 22nd September to allow you to swim.
Sadly, under current Leisure Centre guidelines we are not able to offer a start date for the small pool return for our Tadpole swimmers
Can I personally thank our swim families for your patience and understanding during these difficult times – we have to work in a way we believe best for all, we believe the measures we have put in place and the phased return approach allows us to minimise any risk to swimmers, our staff and the LC staff.
From worrying about vulnerable people within the family, to kids going back to school, people on furlough or sadly losing their jobs, etc. it is a difficult time for all of us but hopefully with the plan we have in place we can all come together and start to see some normality in the world of swimming.
The trial nights went well and we learnt a few things making one or two adjustments for when you all start back over the coming nights and weeks. The draft video attached to this posting gives a basic guide to the measures we have to take on entering the Leisure Centre and going onto poolside.
Please view it so you can familiarise yourself with the process.
For your information … Due to circumstances beyond our control please note, we have had to change the time of the Thursday Shark and Piranha B sessions to 7:00 – 8:00.
Also, following discussions with the Leisure Centre management they have now stipulated that for any sessions ending at 9:15 all swimmers, coaching staff and parents must have exited the building by 9:25 at the latest. This means there may only be a 10 minute window for changing after such sessions. Please ensure you clear the LC as quickly as possible.
As we return to the pool, we would ask that parents do not stop and watch the sessions unless you are from over 20 to 30 mins travelling time away.
Space on the balcony is restricted and if you do stay, you must observe social distancing guidelines as well as following the Leisure Centres one way system.
Just a quick reminder to those who received their return to Swim pack, we need your signed declarations back ASAP, if you have not already returned them, please do so using the SAE provided – thank you if you have already done this.
This applies to swimmers and our staff.
The second phase packs are being prepared/at print and will be posted out shortly. If you receive one, please return your signed declarations in the SAE provided ASAP.
Sadly, if the declarations are not returned you will not be allowed to swim or work on poolside.
Small Pool – We are not able to offer small pool sessions due to the current guidance and WLLC regulations meaning they are not allowed to sub-let the pool to us or the public at the present time. We will update you when we have any positive news.
Gainsborough Dolphins Swimming Club (GDSC) Management Team hope you are all well and looking forward to returning to swimming.
After several months of no swimming, the Government have allowed leisure centres to reopen indoor swimming pools subject to suitable controls being put into place. West Lindsey Leisure Centre (WLLC) has made contact with the club and is providing information on how we could start to return, therefore the Covid Team is progressing with completing Risk Assessments, Health Surveys and Operating Procedures for swimmers, coaches and parents. All documentation will be required to be signed off by GDSC and the WLLC before swimmers can return to the pool safely.
The GDSC Finance & Membership Team are pulling together information on the future fee structure and new payment scheme that are now necessary.
We intend to issue a Return to Pool pack for all our members with details on club fee’s, payment instructions, a health check form, and our expectations on poolside. All documentation will be required to be signed by you and returned to GDSC ASAP to allow the Club to effectively plan your swimming sessions in the future. Under no circumstances will swimmers be allowed to return to the pool without completing all the paperwork.
The club is currently planning trialling our Operating Procedures and processes with the SHARKS before we consider inviting other groups in similar trials. The plan is to bring swimmers back in phases with swimmers introduced at safety related intervals. This will allow us all to get used to the new format and rules. The phased return is to ensure everyone’s safety, therefore there will be a trial before every phase.
Our current timescale for a safe return to the pool is September, however at this stage we are not able to publish the confirmed dates as we still have a number of points still to be resolved.
The coming weeks will be extremely busy, and we will try to keep you updated as much as possible.
Hello GDSC Swim Family, we hope you are all keeping well and coping with the various restrictions we have all experienced over the last few months.
The club are issuing an email to all members, please look out for it, check your Inbox and Spam folders and respond ASAP.
If you have not seen an email from us by the middle of next week, please let us know via the Contacts page on the website, it may be because you have changed your email address since January 2020 please also let us know so we can send the email to your new address.
No everyone looks at the website of Facebook so please let your friends know about this, so they are aware also.
