Some States Open, Some Continue to Cancel Seasons - Athletes Share During Mental Health Awareness Month

High School Team Swimming Deemed as Moderate Risk Activity 

In regard to the current state of the Covid-19 pandemic, high school team swimming has been placed in the “moderate risk” group of sport activities by the National Federation of State High School Associations, while individual swimming is in the ‘lower risk’ category.

The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFSHSA) published guidance on how to reopen sports programs for its 51-member associations to follow, defining sports as either lower risk, moderate risk, or higher risk as it pertains to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The document, developed by the federation’s Sports Medicine Advisory Committee, is in response to the coronavirus pandemic that has crashed the sporting calendar the world over and caused the likes of Water Safety USA and partners to put keen minds to work on exit strategies and safe practices.

Read more on the NFSHSA plan of action below.

USA Swimming California LSCs Pen Letter to Governor Requesting Pools Open

The fight to get back in the water has begun in many places around the world, but it has gotten stronger in California. Already with some clubs getting back in the water because local COVID-19 guidelines allow it, several USA Swimming California Local Swimming Community (LSC) directors have written a letter to the California Gov. Gavin Newsom, respectfully asking for pools to be declared safe to use for USA Swimming athletes.

The letter is signed by five LSC general chairs: Mark Brown of Sierra Nevada Swimming, Mike Carpenter of Central California Swimming, David Cottam of Pacific Swimming, Terry Stoddard of Southern California Swimming and Sally Taggart of San Diego Imperial Swimming. It was also sent to local USA coaches in California.

The letter states that more than 40,000 athletes, 440 small businesses and 3,400 employees in California are registered members of USA Swimming.

Read the full letter below!

Diving Back In: Preparations for the Return to Pools

How can pools open safely as lockdown measures starts to ease? The Pool Management Group, which updates COVID-19-related guidance to pool owners and users on a regular basis, has set out its view of how pools could gradually start to open up again after stay-at-home orders are lifted in the United States.

With permission, we replicate PMG’s guidance on how they see pools opening up safely in a controlled process.

In response to the comments left on this article, here are some further-reading recommendations from Craig Lord:

• Coronavirus And Swimmers: CDC Issues Guidance On Water Transmission & COVID-19
• Potential Risks Of COVID-19 For Open Water Swimmers Highlighted By UNC Research Paper
• San Francisco Had 1918 ‘Flu Under Control … Then It Lifted
• Wilful Blindness – by Prof. Margaret Heffernan

Click the button below to read more on USA Swimming's reopening guidelines!

Michael Phelps Asks Self “How Are You?” In Pandemic Then Answers During Mental Health Awareness Month

Michael Phelps has been extremely open about his mental health struggles in the past, and has been an advocate for mental health awareness since opening up about his own dark days.

The COVID-19 pandemic is giving everyone around the world a mental health struggle — some bigger than others — but it is a global issue affecting everyone on the planet in some way.

Phelps released a first-person look at the question “How are you?” on Monday as told to ESPN’s Wayne Drehs.

“We are asked that question every day. But how often do we just say ‘fine’ or ‘good’ and move on? How often do we actually admit the truth — to ourselves as well as others?”

Phelps, a 23-time Olympic gold medalist the most decorated Olympian of all time with 28 total medals, said he wanted to open up again because he wants people to know they are not alone with mental health struggles, especially during this pandemic.

Click below to read more on Phelps and his stance on Mental Health Awareness.

8 Traits That Define An Excellent Swim Coach and Caring Professional

Swimming is very much a sport of observation. Swimmers observe others’ strokes underwater during practice and have a lot of time on deck during meets to watch the coach-swimmer dynamics surrounding us. I had 12 swim coaches in my 18 years of swimming.

It’s fun to go back and think of the varying strengths of these individuals. Every swimmer’s definition of the perfect coach is different because everyone has distinctly different needs.

So what makes an excellent coach? Find out by click the button below!