We return to the pool tomorrow!
We are really pleased to announce that we return to the pool tomorrow, Saturday 25th July 2020. We are so pleased that we can finally get our swimmers back to the pool for swim training, after such a long time of enforced absence due to the COVID situation.
We are in this position thanks to a huge amount of effort behind the scenes at the club by our hard working committee and our dedicated team of coaches led by Head Coach Jo John. Jo has worked tirelessly throughout the lockdown period, and period of weeks after, to provide quality online land training sessions for our swimmers, with sessions provided across all our squads on a daily basis. This has helped to ensure our swimmers have remained engaged with the club, the coaches and each other, to maintain a level of fitness and mental well-being whilst they have been out of the pool. This has developed in recent weeks where we have been able to provide them with outdoor land training sessions at Clyst St Mary Village Hall and we are very grateful to the Clyst St Mary Parish Council for their assistance and support. This has enabled the swimmers to meet each other and engage as groups again, albeit maintaining social distance. The fresh air and socialisation has without doubt been a real benefit to swimmers, parents and coaches alike!
Our return to the pool will be phased, both in part to availability of pool time and space, but also due to the necessity to protect the swimmers from over-training, which may cause lowered immunity or injuries. However, the opportunity for the swimmers to get back to what they know, feel the water again and slowly start to re-build their fitness is fantastic.
Our issues with pools and the need for us as a club to train in so many different locations is well documented, however, this fact has benefitted us in this instance. The Council run swimming pools are not re-opening for the foreseeable future, but due to the club using a number of private facilities, which are thankfully re-opening, we have been able to get our swimmers back to the pool. We would like to take this opportunity to thank both Exeter School and Mount Kelly for working with us to enable this to happen.
We will of course be taking all necessary safety precautions as set by both the government and Swim England guidance, including an appointed COVID-19 Officer, who will oversee all our risk assessments, liaise with our pool providers and ensure compliance with all rules and protocols.
Welcome back swimmers!
(Below is the recent news item from Swim England regarding many council run public pools remaining closed).
