After weeks of consultation and working with a variety of partners, Swimming Canada has released the first version of its Return to Swimming Framework.
Health and safety are the top priorities outlined in the 21-page document, which was released Friday, May 29.
A 16-person working group developed the document, with the goal of facilitating a safe return to the pool as soon as possible. Chaired by Swimming Canada operations director Brian Edey, the group includes key staff, medical personnel, representatives from provincial organizations, the Canadian Swimming Coaches Association (CSCA), and Pan Am Games medallist Jeremy Bagshaw. A sub-committee of coaches from across the country has also been engaged to provide input.
The framework is intended to develop the return of competitive swimming in Canada and will serve as a resource for all levels of the sport. It contains a number of recommendations to assist health authorities, aquatic facilities, clubs, and coaches in their roles in a safe return to swimming.
Swimming Canada has worked with Canada Artistic Swimming, Diving Canada, and Water Polo Canada on this initiative, while also communicating directly with officials at major recreation facilities, as well as with the Lifesaving Society, which sets the standard for lifeguard performance in Canada.
“Stepping away from the pool has been difficult, but the efforts of our athletes, coaches, and administrators have played an important role in combatting the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Swimming Canada CEO Ahmed El-Awadi. “While we are all anxious to see our swimmers back in the water, we have a collective responsibility to ensure a safe return to the pool. We need to be creative and flexible as we re-imagine what that looks like for our sport.”
Swimming Canada High Performance director John Atkinson is a member of the group, as well as the National COVID-19 Return to High Performance Sport Task Force, co-ordinated by Own the Podium. The recommendations of both groups will complement each other, with health and safety as the top priorities.
Phase one will focus on small, controlled groups returning to the water with a variety of adaptions around health monitoring, physical distancing, hygiene, equipment use, and entry/departure points and pathways.
“This is a Canadian-made plan to show the way forward to return to swimming training. Our top athletes will have the responsibility of being the first groups back in the water, leading the implementation of the best practices to maintain health and safety,” Atkinson said. “With a successful implementation of step one, we ask other groups to show patience so they can be part of steps two and three, and so on.”
According to Atkinson, the next step will be each provincial section’s development of their return plan. Once in place, clubs can then complete development of their specific straegies.
“We look forward to seeing a sustained return throughout Canada when the time is right from a health and safety perspective,” he said.
