Swimming guidelines for upcoming season

 DES MOINES — The Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union recently released their return to competition guidelines for schools to follow this fall as the world deals with the global
Co-Vid 19 pandemic.
The following are some of the guidelines for the upcoming swimming
season.
General Guidelines
The IGHSAU strongly encourages all participants and spectators to practice social distancing and to wear face coverings
whenever possible.
Leave the facility as soon as reasonable possible after practice; no congregation after swimming.
Lap Counting: Only one person per lane should be permitted at turning end. Provide hand sanitizer and require lap counters to clean hands and wipe down devices.
Timers: Timers must assemble at the finish of each race, at the edge of the pool within the 6-8 feet confines of the lane which they are timing. Timers are strongly encouraged to wear cloth facial coverings.
Relay Takeoff Judges and Relays: Require
all takeoff judging from the sides of the pool. Space relay swimmers apart from one another. Timers and relay takeoff judges are strongly encouraged to wear cloth facial coverings.
Other Meet Guidance & Considerations
Swimming Warm-up Areas: Establish multiple sessions for warm-up periods to limit number of swimmers per lane. Restrict
the number of swimmers in competition
area. Limit number of swimmers per lane during warm-up and warm-down periods.
Teams Seating and Lane Placement: Keep the teams on opposite sides of the pool and require the home team to compete
in lanes 1-3 and visitors to swim in lanes 4-6.
Post race: Swimmer finishing that finish
their individual race along with relay anchors that finish in the water should swim to the opposite end of the starting blocks and exit to limit contact with timers.
Preparing Athletes for Competition: Athlete clerking areas should be eliminated.
Handshakes: No handshakes between teams.
General Considerations for Swimming
& Diving
The following are additional considerations
for coaches, student-athletes, officials,
parents, and administrators.
Considerations for Coaches
Communicate your guidelines in a clear manner to students and parents.
Consider conducting workouts in “pods” of same students always training and rotating together in practice to ensure more limited exposure if someone develops
an infection.
Keep accurate records of those athletes and staff who attend each practice in case contact tracing is needed.
Team Gatherings at Meets – Social distancing
from other teams as much as possible is strongly recommended. This would be a good reminder for parents as well.
Considerations for Student-Athletes
Consider making each student responsible
for their own supplies (water bottle, hand sanitizer, face mask, towel, etc.)
Students should wear their own appropriate
workout clothing (do not share clothing), and individual clothing/towels should be washed and cleaned after every
workout immediately upon returning home.
Hand sanitizer should be plentiful at all contests and practices.
Athletes should tell coaches immediately
when they are not feeling well.
Cloth face coverings are permitted.
Bring your own water bottle.
Considerations for Officials
Bring personal hand sanitizer. Wash hands frequently.
Do not share equipment.
Follow social distancing guidelines during
pre- and post-meet conferences and during contests.
Consider using electronic whistle.
Do not shake hands or fist bump other officials, players or coaches.
Officials may wear cloth face coverings at all times.
Considerations for Parents
Provide personal items for your child and clearly label them.
The use of cloth face coverings is strongly encouraged. In addition, social distancing is strongly encouraged as much as possible for non-participants, parents, coaches, officials, and other event volunteers.
Considerations for Administration
Facility Sanitization – Consideration should be given to which facilities are going to need sanitization, how often will sanitization be needed, who will be doing the sanitizing.
Locker rooms may be utilized however the Department of Public Health guidelines
must be adhered to.
Awards ceremonies – Consideration for options that would allow social distancing
for the athletes, coaches, and spectators – consider other alternatives such as not having awards ceremonies, strongly recommending the use of cloth face coverings for any individuals attending
the awards ceremonies if there are alternative options
Post-season – Potential options shall be considered regarding the state qualifying
contests and state tournaments depending upon the status of Covid-19.
Admission may be taken using sanitization
practices or a free-will donation container
is an option as well.