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Swim England has issued new recommendations on land training and open water club activity after the Coronavirus lockdown was eased by the Government. From Monday 1 June, Government guidelines allow groups of up to six people from different households in England to meet outside. This opens up the opportunity, for example, for outdoor land training with one coach and five athletes.

Swim England can confirm that insurance cover will apply as long as clubs and their members are adhering to the Government guidelines and the national governing body’s latest land training guidelines are followed. This includes coaches only delivering activity for which they have been trained and clubs ensuring that they have acquired the relevant permit, if necessary, for the outdoor space they are using.

Additionally, Swim England has issued specific guidance on open water swimming training for clubs. This outlines how in certain circumstances, where it is safe to do so, clubs will be able to run open water training sessions in small groups of up to six (including the coach). To do so, coaches must have an appropriately recognised open water coaching qualification, such as the Swim England Qualifications Level 2 Coaching Open Water Swimming Qualification. If this is not the case, then the club’s Swim England insurance policy will be void.

Ever-evolving guidance

A Swim England spokesperson said: “In all instances, risk assessments must be carried out and risk management put in place covering Covid-19 requirements and participant/coach safety. Please note, these are ever-evolving documents which take into account the most up-to-date Government guidelines which have been set out. Risk assessments are key to evidencing that the risk is being assessed and managed and this is something that the Government has highlighted must be taking place. It is essential that the club record and evidence that they are working to and controlling the social distancing measures expected by the Government. It is also important to remember that should any member act illegally, criminal actions would not be insured by the insurance policy. This includes breaking the Government lockdown restrictions and social distancing requirements.”

Issued 1 June 2020

Swim England has announced all its remaining national events in 2020 have now been cancelled. The decision has been taken to allow the national governing body to start planning for its competitions in 2021. It will also ensure athletes do not rush back to full fitness and potentially put themselves at the risk of injury when pools are eventually reopened. Swim England had already called off events in all disciplines until the end of August because of the Covid-19 pandemic  – which included the National Summer Meet.

Now it has been confirmed the following national competitions will not take place:

• September: Swim England Open Water National Masters Championships (Nene Park, Peterborough).
• October: Swim England National County Team Championships (Ponds Forge); Swim England Masters National Championships (Ponds Forge).
• November: Swim England Water Polo National Age Group Championships U15s Finals (Ponds Forge); Swim England Artistic Swimming National Masters Championships (K2 Crawley); Swim England Masters Swimming Inter County Team Event (various venues).
• December: Swim England Winter Championships (Ponds Forge).

Plan for the future

George Wood, Swim England Director of Sport Development, said: “We know our athletes will be saddened to hear we’ve called off the remainder of our events this year – we’re extremely disappointed too. It was a decision we deliberated long and hard over but felt that with the current uncertainty still surrounding the Covid-19 pandemic, and with no knowledge as to when mass gatherings will be allowed, we were better off starting to prepare for next year’s competitions.”

He continued; “We appreciate open water swimming is currently taking place but it would be difficult to stage the National Masters Championships due to the social distancing measures that are in force. We hope our members, clubs and competitive athletes in all disciplines will all be back in pools soon, enjoying the sports they love. But we have to be realistic and understand that getting ready for competitive action isn’t something that’s going to happen overnight, which was also a factor in our decision. Now at least we can start to plan for the future.”

The issuing of event licences is currently suspended and will continue to be so until further notice. Any licences that have already been issued are provisional in status.

The Swim England Discipline Leadership Groups will publish guidance for the reintroduction of competition, licensed or otherwise in their respective discipline once appropriate information is known.

Meanwhile, the Swim England National Awards, which was scheduled to take place in November, has also been cancelled.

Issued 27 May 2020

Robust guidance to help the aquatics sector prepare for the reopening of pools will be released by Swim England on Monday 15 June.

The National Governing Body has been working in collaboration with industry partners to produce the detailed document, which has been developed in consultation with Sport England and Public Health England for all areas of aquatic activity, including pool operations, learn to swim plus community and club swimming. There is also specific information for all the aquatic disciplines – swimming, diving, artistic swimming and water polo.

Jane Nickerson, Swim England Chief Executive, said: “Government guidance clearly states that pools in England cannot reopen before 4 July and it is still unknown whether that will be the date that this happens – that is a decision for the Government. However, we want to be in a position where the aquatic sector has clear, effective and high quality guidance to support its preparation for reopening.”

The work is being led by the Swim England team, who are consulting with key stakeholders such as leisure operators and home country partners, to ensure the guidance is practical and applicable. A Review Group is also in place, with specialists from within Swim England and a range of partner organisations to ensure that the information is as robust as possible. The final draft will be made available to sector organisations for comment before it is finalised.

Also in the documentation are details around pool programming, observing social distancing, pool water treatment, air handling and circulation, risk assessment tools around social distancing and the customer journey.

Jane added: “I am grateful for the support that we are receiving from so many of our partners in the development of this guidance. We know it will evolve over time based on the emerging scientific and government information but we want to make sure that we have the best possible starting point, taking into account our own specific conditions and challenges.”

The guidance information will be released by midday on Monday 15 June and will be in a format which can be updated as more scientific knowledge and data is obtained. In the meantime, the Coronavirus (COVID-19) FAQs page continues to be updated regularly.

The announcement follows the release of the Best Practice Guidelines to Prepare Swim Schools Re-Openings document by the Swimming Teachers Association on 20 May.

Issued 22 May 2020