Team Wahoo,
I am so excited to say that we will be getting you and your teammates back into the water with your coaches on deck next week ... WAHOO!
On Friday we were informed that we could resume our Masters program on Tuesday, May 19th with some restrictions! I have to say thanks to our friends with Palm Beach County Parks & Recreation Aquatics for doing an incredible job getting us back in the pool!
I have so much to share with you! To start with, please review the document below, Palm Beach Masters Plan to Resume Workouts, explaining what to expect next week. It's a good overview. Then Saturday I will send you more details with specifics and how-to's.
Additionally, Saturday afternoon I will be hosting a Facebook Live & Zoom Meeting to answer many of your questions. More details will be announced asap. Please watch your email and social media.
A lot will be changing, but much will be the same. It's important you be informed. Most importantly, we will be taking precautions and measures to keep us all as safe as possible in the pool.
We are excited and can't wait to see you again. WAHOO!
~ Coach Linda
Palm Beach Masters Plan to Resume Workouts
In anticipation of our pools reopening, we developed the following document as a guide for our swimmers and coaches. Compliance with the requirements listed below will be enforced by coaches and facility staff to ensure our collective well-being. Please read the requirements carefully in order to avoid any misunderstanding.
Overview
We believe swimming is a critical healthy activity. Swimming does not require direct contact between teammates or coaches and social distancing can be maintained throughout practice. As with all exercise and activity at this time, swimming must comply with standards for social distancing and safety within aquatic facilities. We know, with collaboration between USMS coaches, public health officials, and Palm Beach County facility operators we can create safe plans for using the aquatic facilities to promote physical and mental health opportunities compliant with public health directives. The CDC has indicated that there is no evidence the disease spreads through treated water. Proper operation and maintenance of our pools should inactivate the virus in the water.
Methods
Palm Beach County Aquatics has designated Tuesday - Saturday mornings from 5:00am – 8:30am for Palm Beach Masters to run team workouts. At this time, we are unfortunately not allocated time to run our mid-day and evening workouts. Evenings from 3:00pm – 7:30pm will be assigned to the youth swim, dive, & synchro teams. Pools will be closed on Sundays and Mondays.
Swimmers must reserve lanes in advance for workout times on a first come first served basis. (Details will be sent out via email soon on how to do so.)
PBM workouts will provide time for the pool deck to clear and to maximize social distancing between sessions. Swimmers from consecutive workout sessions will not overlap.
No more than 2 swimmers will be allowed per lane with swimmers in a lane starting at opposite ends of the pool. Staggered starts in side by side lanes will also be used.
Coaches will assign lanes to swimmers based upon speed and group (Wahoo, Loggerhead, & Manatee). Swimmers will circle swim in their lane.
Requirements
Swimmers & Coaches must comply with all applicable Federal, State, County and facility restrictions and will maintain 6+ feet social distancing on deck and in lanes.
Swimmers and coaches MUST be a current USMS member. Non USMS members will be denied pool deck entry.
Swimmers must be current with payment of monthly PBM dues. Swimmers must register for automatic monthly credit card payments of PBM dues to be charged June 1st. No cash/check payments at pool will be accepted. Swimmers who are not current with payment will be denied pool deck entry.
Swimmers must check-in with Coaches before entering the pool.
Swimmers and Coaches should not come to practice if you have a fever or symptoms of COVID_19 as defined by the CDC. You must be cleared for training by a physician after being diagnosed or suspected to have COVID-19.
Swimmers and Coaches are required to wear masks when entering the facility, speaking with pool staff, and on deck before/after practices.
Swimmers and Coaches should arrive as close as possible to the workout start time and leave the facility as soon as possible after practice.
Enter and exit the facility and pool as directed by facility staff.
No changing on the pool deck or in the bathrooms is allowed. Swimmers must wear their swimsuits to and from practice.
Bathroom facilities are limited to use of toilets only. Showers in the bathroom facilities are not to be used.
Bring a full water bottle to avoid touching a tap, water fountain handle, or ice machine. Label bottle with your name. Do not share water bottles.
Bring your own swim equipment labeled with your name in a mesh bag. No use of pool owned equipment (kickboards, pull buoys, etc). No sharing of equipment.
Wash your hands with a disinfectant soap and water or use hand sanitizer before going to pool and after leaving the pool.
Workout Times
Palm Beach Masters Workout Times starting Tuesday, May 19th, 2020:
- North County Aquatic Complex - Jupiter
Tuesdays thru Fridays: 5:30am-6:45am and 7:00am-8:15am
Saturdays: 6:00am-7:10am and 7:15am-8:25am
- Lake Lytal Family Aquatic Center - West Palm Beach
Tuesdays thru Fridays: 5:00am-6:15am and 6:30am-7:45am
Saturdays 7:15am-8:25am
- Aqua Crest Pool - Delray Beach
Tuesdays thru Fridays: 5:45am-7:00am and 7:15am-8:30am
Saturdays: 6:00am-7:10am and 7:15am-8:25am
This is a starting point! We hope to move back to our regular schedule as soon as possible … adding back our mid-day and evening workout sessions … and adding back more swimmers per lane when appropriate.
Thank you for your cooperation during these unusual times!
~ Your PBM Wahoo Coaches!