Coronavirus – No training yet, but hopefully soon! Update 25/07/2020

Update 25/07/2020

As you are all aware work has been ongoing with regards to securing a date for our swimmers to return to the pool and we have now received news from Lex Leisure, the operator of Breckland Leisure Centre regarding our return.

The centre is to re open in a phased approach from next week, with the swimming pool opening to Swim Clubs from 7th September and public swimming in early October. However, potentially the pool can reopen to our club earlier in August upon the club completing risk assessments, lifeguard returning to work training and formally agreeing a schedule of training sessions with the leisure centre.

Training sessions will look and feel much different than the swimmers are use to. Along with the social distancing that we are all now living with, sessions will see swimmer numbers reduced and initially a reduction in hours per week. These changes are in line with Swim England guidance, focusing on the safety and physical fitness of the swimmers.

We now have a period of preparation and members of the committee are hard at work to ensure a safe return to the pool. Julie Malcolm emailed a copy of the Swim England club guidance for members to not only understand the extent of the work required, but to be assured that the safety of all members is paramount.

Julie also recently emailed a ‘return to the pool survey’, we have had a good response to this and would ask that anyone who has not replied to do so as soon as possible.   

Dan Clucas and Dawn MacDuff will use the feedback from the recent survey to look at squad and lane numbers and a schedule of training will soon be published, along with the cost of subscriptions.

Julie Malcolm is investigating ‘funding’ and ‘grants’ from various bodies nationally. She is finding this difficult as many projects have closed their applications due to demand.

As you may have seen in the press, Dereham swimming pool is to remain closed until late November and as this is run by the same pool operator, we are being asked to accommodate Dereham Otters Swimming Club at Breckland Leisure Centre. We are assured that our hours of training will not be affected.

I’m sure you are all delighted to receive this news and I hope you will continue to offer your support to the club through this difficult time.

Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns regarding the return to pool training.

Kind regards

Mark Flood

Chair

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Parents and Swimmers,

As promised the Executive Committee of the club has acted on advice around the competing and training of our swimmers while the country is in the grip of COVID-19.

Swim England, the governing body for swimming disciplines in the United Kingdom, Swim England East Region and Norfolk ASA will take the advice issued by the government, we also, as a club have to act on the decisions of the pool operator at the same time.

As a result of a series of meetings from swimming’s governing body’s late yesterday and today it has been decided to issue the following information to parents and swimmers.

All training at Waterworld Swimming Pool Thetford will cease with immediate effect until the end of May, this will, as you would expect be reviewed by the Executive Committee of the club on a regular basis. It is not a decision which we as a group take lightly but we must think of the health, welfare and safety of all our swimmers and their parents at this difficult time for our country.

Dan, as head coach, will be sending out land based exercises for swimmers to undertake at home.

As ever, we will endeavour to keep all parents and swimmers up to date with the latest developments as and when they occur and we thank all parents and swimmers for their support and patience while decisions are made at this difficult and fast moving time.

In the next day or so we will be looking at the financial implications and we will advise on monthly subscriptions shortly.