Health & Safety Priority

Canyons Aquatic Club’s (CAC) number one priority is protecting the swimmers, the families, the coaching staff, and the facility staff by taking precautionary measures suggested by the CDC, California State Government, the City of Santa Clarita, Los Angeles County, USA Swimming, and Southern California Swimming.  It is important everyone works together in understanding CDC, CAC, and facility policies and guidelines to ensure we are keeping everyone safe when practicing.

CAC Safe Practice Policy and Guidelines will be followed until further notice.

 

I - POLICIES & GUIDELINES

A) BEFORE RETURNING TO PRACTICE

  1. All members must sign the following release and waiver forms before returning to practice:

    1. LIABILITY RELEASE AND INDEMNIFICATION FORM

    2. Hold Harmless Waiver

  2. All coaching staff members and swimmers must sign the following waiver in order to enter the Santa Clarita Aquatic Center (SCAC):

    1. City of SCV Hold Harmless Waiver

  3. All coaching staff members and swimmers must see a physician and be cleared for training or coaching after being diagnosed or suspected to have COVID-19.

  4. All coaching staff members will be tested at least once a month.

  5. There is no penalty for swimmers missing practice, and if a swimmer or any member of their family does not feel well, they should stay at home.

  6. Parents and swimmers should not practice if they or anyone with whom they reside:

    1. Are exhibiting any symptoms of the coronavirus: mild to severe respiratory illness with fever, cough and difficulty breathing, or other symptoms identified by the CDC – link to CDC Symptoms of Coronavirus 

    2. Have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 14 days.

      1. Close contact is defined by the CDC as “someone who was within 6 feet of an infected person for at least 15 minutes starting from 2 days before illness onset (or, for asymptomatic patients, 2 days prior to specimen collection) until the time the patient is isolated.” Link to CDC Appendices - Key Terms

    3. Are a vulnerable individual and your state and region is in Phase One or Phase Two.

    4. A vulnerable individual is a person with underlying conditions or considered to be at a higher risk demographic as outlined by jurisdictional, state, or federal guidelines.

  7. Communication with coaching staff members will be done with phone calls, texting, email, and/or zoom meetings.

B) RETURNING TO PRACTICE (COACHING STAFF MEMBERS & SWIMMERS)

  1. Do not attend practice if you have any symptoms of COVID-19.

  2. Wash your hands with a disinfectant soap and water (for 20 seconds or longer) or use a hand sanitizer if soap and water are not readily available, before arriving at the facility.

  3. Wearing a face mask as Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) will be required at all times when arriving, entering, and exiting the facility.

  4. Follow social distancing guidelines (stay 6 feet apart) at all times at the facility, inside the facility, while in the swimming pool, and/or when exiting the facility.

  5. Do not share equipment or personal items such as water bottles, cell phones, or swim equipment.

  6. Bring a full water bottle to avoid touching a tap or water fountain handle.

  7. If you need to sneeze or cough, do so into a tissue or upper sleeve/arm area and walk at least 10 ft away from any person, or group of people.

  8. Arrive at the facility entrance 10 minutes before your scheduled practice.  If you arrive early please wait in your car.

  9. Avoid touching gates, fences, benches, etc. if you can.

  10. Swimmers need to arrive to practice wearing their swimsuit.

  11. A temperature check is required before entering the facility.

C) PARENTS & GUARDIANS:

  1. Please remain in your cars when dropping your swimmers off:

    1. A parent may walk their swimmer, who is 12 years of age or younger, to the facility entrance 

  2. Wearing a face mask as Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) will be required at all times when arriving at the facility entrance.

  3. Follow social distancing guidelines (stay 6 feet apart) at all times while waiting outside the facility.

  4. Closed-deck: Parents and guardians are prohibited from entering the facility.  Only coaching staff members and swimmers will be allowed on deck.

 

II - PROCEDURES

A) ARRIVING TO THE FACILITY (TEMPERATURE CHECK)

  1. Swimmers should look for their group’s check-in line and follow social distancing guidelines.

  2. Symptoms Check: A coaching staff member will ask the swimmers if they are experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19.

  3. Temperature Check (non-contact): A coaching staff member will take temperatures of each individual before entering the facility.

    1. Anyone with a temperature of 100.4 degrees or higher will be sent home

  4. Once all swimmers in the group are cleared, a coaching staff member will direct the group to the designated bag area which will be directly behind their assigned lanes.  Only one group will enter at a time.

  5. Once the swimmers are at their designated bag area, they should be in their swimsuit, and have their cap and goggles on with their equipment bag ready.

  6. Swimmers will wait for a coaching staff member to give permission to enter their assigned lane.

B) SAFE PRACTICE INSIDE THE FACILITY

  1. There will be a one way entry and a one way exit.

  2. Locker Room usage will not be allowed.

  3. Swimmers will need to change and shower at home.  Deck changing is prohibited.

  4. Restrooms will only be used in case of an emergency:

    1. Only one person will be allowed in the bathrooms at any time.

  5. There will be a maximum of 4-5 swimmers per lane during a practice.

  6. Lane assignments will be given out by the group coach.

C) END OF PRACTICE & EXITING THE FACILITY

  1. Swimmers will go to their designated bag area and will immediately put on their face mask, dry off, change into their clothes or wear their towel.

  2. Swimmers will wait for a coaching staff member to dismiss individuals to exit the facility.

 

III - COVID-19 POSITIVE-TEST PROTOCOL

If you have tested positive for COVID-19 follow these steps:

 

A) REPORTING

  1. Stay at home and do not attend practice!

  2. Immediately email your group coach and CC [email protected]. 

 

B) COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING FORMS

  1. USA Swimming Report of Occurrence (ROO):

    1. When completing ROO use ‘other’ designation categories and insert - “no accident reported except notice of COVID-19 Positive Test result.”

    2. Additional details section, insert - “all personnel removed from site in accordance with local guidelines.”

    3. ROO Form Link - https://fs22.formsite.com/usaswimming/form18/index.html

  2. OSHA Form (Complete if employee has confirmed positive test result)

  3. Any required forms with the facility: City of Santa Clarita

 

C) COMMUNICATION

  1. The team will immediately notify the facility manager.

  2. USA Swimming will be notified through the ROO (link listed above).

  3. The team will notify all members and will keep confidentiality of the swimmer and family .

 

D) NEXT STEPS

  1. All swimmers at the impacted facility will be out of the water for at least 24 hours, after a positive test has been reported, to accommodate facility cleaning and disinfection.

  2. All swimmers in the affected group, where a positive test has been reported, will be out of practice for 10 days.

    1. Parents and swimmers who reside and/or live in the same household with anyone in the affected group or who has been in close contact with someone that tested positive for COVID-19 should be out of practice for 10 days.

    2. Follow recommendations from a family physician or medical professional about getting a COVID-19 test.

  3. Coaching staff members who were in close contact with a person who tested positive, will be out of practice for 10 days.

  4. All coaching staff members will get a COVID-19 test after a positive test has been reported.

  5. Per earlier recommendations, anyone who has been in close contact with someone who has exhibited symptoms or tested positive should self-isolate for 10 days.

  6. Have all team members follow the recommendations of their family physician or medical professional.

  7. Maintain all Safe Sport standards with respect to proper supervision.