2021 Season Start-up
Hello Otters Families,
We hope that everyone is doing well and are as excited to get back in the water as we are. This season is going to look a lot different and will probably change numerous times over the summer. We will keep families informed and are here to answer your questions if there are any. There are a few parts to the start of this season we will need families to help with so this email will be extensive. We would like to direct parents to Swim Alberta's website (www.swimalberta.ca) where they have a great resource for any questions and policies around Covid-19. We have attached a PDF of a study performed last summer and into the fall about Swim Clubs and the data they collected. We have also included a link to a video for families from Coach Kristi, she is going to walk through the steps swimmers will do when they go to the pool. 
We need to remind swimmers to bring a filled water bottle and be wearing their masks every day to their swim session. Due to the restrictions parents are asked to drop swimmers off at the front entrance, ready to get in the pool 5 minutes before their session time. Parents will be unable to watch swimming at this time. Once your child is finished please pick up at the far east doors toward the baseball diamond. We are asking that all swimmers have a robe or clothes that can be put on over a swimsuit, while keeping their masks on, once they are done in the water. We need them to exit the facility as soon as possible. Swimmers will need to maintain a 3 metre distance inside the facility when in the lobby and change room, this 3 m distance will also need to be kept in the pool. Coaches will direct the swimmers where they can stop at the ends so the 3 m is respected.
1. Before Every Session Each time your swimmer(s) enter the pool there will have to be a completed Health Checklist. Our coaches will be taking attendance each session and part of that is that all swimmers have done that and are not showing symptoms. We will be using TeamSnap for that, so we are asking that parents complete the steps for that app when you receive the invitation. This will prevent paper copies and will allow us to send reminders.
2. Getting to the Pool The swimmers will enter the front doors of the facility and follow the arrows into the lobby near the lifeguard doors. The pool staff will open the door on to the deck and swimmers will be given a bin to place their belongings in. The bin will be placed on the benches around the pool deck and swimmers will have a hook to hang their mask on. Another suggestion is swimmers bringing a ziploc to keep the mask in and dry. Masks are to be worn at all times until the swimmer is getting in the water. If swimmers are needing to exit the water they will need to put their masks back on. The pool has installed showers on deck for swimmers to rinse off before and after their session. Once your swimmer is finished their session they can collect their bin and exit through the change rooms. We have been asked to have swimmers exit quickly from the change room, they will then exit the building through the large arena and down to the far exit on the East side of the building. We suggest that swimmers wear a robe, or something that is easy to remove and put back on as we can't have swimmers changing in the change room.
3. ASSA Registration As we register swimmers this year, parents will be getting an email and will have to complete the registration. ASSA has moved their registration system to Swim AB so things are a bit different. We have included an instruction sheet to assist with those steps. There is some very important information they require so please complete that once you receive that email. It is the same as Officials receive when starting the new seasons. If there are any problems please send us a quick message.
4. Swimmers will need their own goggles, we are going to be talking with families about equipment during the week. Swimmers who have their own flutter boards, pull buoy, and flippers can bring but are responsible for the cleaning of the equipment after each session. We are looking into getting equipment available for our swimmers and will get that information out to families soon.
As mentioned in our registration package we require a $50 deposit per swimmer by May 3, EMTs can be made to Andrea @ [email protected] please set the password to HROtters. We will be sending out swim times for the first week while we get groups put together, right now there is 2- 30 min sessions/week with single swimmers or sibling groups. This will not be their permanent group or time, just while we get back in the water and swimmers get the hang of the new restrictions. We will send that out on Sunday and there will be an email from the town with their regulations as well.
Thank you,
High River Otters Board and Coaches
