Patricia Erhardt-Lewis
Thank you to the Juniors, Seniors, Parents, Coaches and Helpers for your patience, humour and understanding as we worked out some new procedures and had a successful first week back at the pool. We learned a lot by watching, chatting with you and gathering feedback from everyone, and meanwhile we have updated BTF and Swim England guidelines.
Please check out the HOP website for any updates, and please read the following instructions carefully before attending your swim session tonight, as things have changed from last week:
1) Arrive beach-ready, ready to swim.
2) Parents of Juniors / Spectators
We’re sorry, but HOP have informed us that the only people allowed in the facility are those who have booked to swim or coaches. We’ve clarified this with HOP, and there are no parent spectators allowed. This is being kept under constant review and as things change we will let you know.
Please let us know when checking in whether you will be collecting your swimmer or if your swimmer will be going home on their own or with someone else.
The Covid-Rep (Patricia this week) will check Junior swimmers out at the back gate.
3) If you arrive early
Please wait out in the car park, maintaining social distancing at all times.
4) Start Time
Junior session starts at 7pm and ends at 7.45pm.
Senior session starts at 8pm and ends at 9pm.
There is another group ending at 6.45pm. We can enter once HOP have cleaned the facilities and say we can enter. (Last week the group in front of us ended at 7pm, so this week will be easier – we will not be waiting in the car park for as long)
5) Coaches
When Coaches arrive at HOP, please check in with the Covid-Rep (this week it’s Patricia) in the car park before going into the facility. Once you’ve checked in, please go to your lanes to wait for your swimmers.
6) Swimmer Check-In
Check in with the Covid-Rep (this week it’s Patricia) in the Car Park of HOP.
Once you have checked in, walk through the reception area and out to the pool. Turn left to follow the one-way system. Walk around the pool to the picnic tables and put your things down on one side of the bench, only where there is a free space indicated.
Continue around the pool via the one-way system to enter your lane on the shallow end.
For Juniors, Coaches will be at the shallow end of the pool and can help point swimmers in the right direction.
7) Swimming in Lanes
Juniors: lane 1 is on the grass side of the pool; lane 6 is on the reception side of the pool.
Seniors: lane 1 is on the reception side of the pool; lane 6 is on the grass side of the pool.
When you booked your swim, you booked a specific lane (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6) based on your speed & ability. To make pacing and overtaking and resting at ends easier, and to maintain bubble numbers advised by BTF, lanes will work like this:
JUNIOR LANES:
1&2: Swim out in lane 2 and back in lane 1, with those who booked lane 2 going before those who booked lane 1
3&4: Swim out in lane 4 and back in lane 3, with those who booked lane 4 going before those who booked lane 3
5&6: Swim out in lane 6 and back in lane 5, with those who booked lane 5 going before those who booked lane 6
SENIOR LANES:
1&2: Swim out in lane 1 and back in lane 2, with those who booked lane 2 going before those who booked lane 1
3&4: Swim out in lane 3 and back in lane 4, with those who booked lane 4 going before those who booked lane 3
5&6: Swim out in lane 5 and back in lane 6, with those who booked lane 6 going before those who booked lane 5
Swim on the right side of your lane. Change lanes by ducking under the lane rope.
8) Overtaking & Resting
If you need to overtake, you have 2 options:
– you can swim alongside the swimmer in front, only if you breathe away from that swimmer (to the left). If you are being overtaken this way, please breathe away from the overtaking swimmer (to the right).
– when the swimmer in front gets close to the end of the lane, and if the lane they will be entering is clear, you can duck under the lane rope early and carry on in that lane in front of them.
If you need to rest briefly, please do so in the corner out of the way so swimmers behind you can pass safely. If you need a longer rest, please exit the pool and ask the Coach for the best spot to rest to maintain social distancing.
9) Briefings from Coaches while Swimming
If coaches need to give swimmers instructions, this should happen while maintaining social distancing, which means the same instructions may have to be given to individuals or a couple people at once so there is no bunching at the end of the lane. Some people may have to stop and wait at the flags. Others may need to wait at corners. One or two people may need to get out to make room for others at the end of the lane. Please try to avoid gathering in groups in or outside of the pool.
10) Exiting the Pool
JUNIORS:
Lanes 1&2 should leave training first so they can exit the pool on the grass side, collect their things from the benches and walk out of the facility via the one-way system.
Lanes 3&4: Wait until the Lanes1&2 swimmers have left the benches. Then lanes 3&4 can get out of the water and go to the benches, pick up your things and walk out of the facility via the one-way system.
Lanes 5&6: Wait until the Lanes 3&4 swimmers have left the benches. Then lanes 3&4 can get out of the water and go to the benches, pick up your things and walk out of the facility via the one-way system.
Sign-out with Patricia before you leave, between the changing huts & the back gate.
Parents: Your swimmer will meet you at the back gate of HOP.
SENIORS:
This worked well last week as swimmers left at staggered times and not all at once. If you notice the bench area is very busy, please stay in the pool – swim another length! Use your judgement to avoid gatherings by the benches. Make your way out via the one-way system – and then head to the Beech House and meet us for Thirsty Thursday!
11) Weather
HOP will keep an eye on the weather and we will follow their guidance. If they decide to close due to lightning, HOP will inform us and we will text or phone those directly who have booked via the TTTC website.
Thank you again for reading to the end, helping us keep improving and helping us manage the changes so we can keep swimming safely.
See you later,
Patricia
TTTC H&S / Covid-19 lead