Social Distancing Protocol Revised 01292021

by | Jan 29, 2021 | Announcements

West Valley Water Polo

Social Distancing Protocol at Los Gatos High and Mountain View High Pools

Revised on Jan. 29, 2021

Chlorine & COVID-19

From the CDC…

Can the virus that causes COVID-19 spread through swimming pools?

There is no evidence that the virus that causes COVID-19 can be spread to people through the water in pools, hot tubs, or water playgrounds. Additionally, proper operation of these aquatic venues and disinfection of the water (with chlorine or bromine) should inactivate the virus. Individuals should continue to protect themselves and others at public pools, hot tubs, and water playgrounds, both in and out of the water – for example, by staying at least 6 feet away from people you don’t live with and wearing cloth face covers when not in the water. In addition to ensuring water quality and safety, operators of public pools, hot tubs, and water playgrounds should follow guidance on cleaning and disinfecting community facilities.

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/parks-rec/aquatic-venues.html

 

Water polo players are NOT permitted to enter the facility if:

  1. They have a fever (100.4 F or higher), cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, chills, headache, sore throat, new loss of taste or smell, or other symptoms listed by the CDC.
  2. Anyone in their home has symptoms or tested positive for COVID-19.
  3. They have been exposed to anyone who has symptoms or tested positive for COVID- 19.
  4. We reserve the right to send any participant home who is showing signs or symptoms of illness.
  5. Parent/Guardian must e-sign/certify the USA WATER POLO COVID-19 RELEASE AND WAIVER by logging in to the player’s USA Water Polo account and West Valley Water Polo must receive the confirmation of the certification for each player. (The release and waiver is attached.)

Water polo players must come to the pool:

  1. Wearing a face mask
  2. Already wearing a swimsuit
  3. Already showered at home before coming to the pool (no locker room or restroom available at the pool).
  4. Any medicine or other required items can be brought in a bag and will be stored in an area for the duration of the program.

 

 

When parent/guardian dropping off water polo player,

  1. Parent/Guardian must wear a face covering when dropping off water polo players. (Parent and guardian are NOT allowed inside the pool deck.)
  2. Walk over to the check-in desk and be prepared to maintain a 6 feet distance as marked by the tape on the ground approaching the pool.
  3. Each participant’s temperature will be taken with a temporal thermometer, along with a documented health screening.
  4. Everyone must use hand sanitizer before entering the facility.
  5. Expect to receive notification if the health of their child has changed following check-in.

Measures for safe water polo workout

  1. Separate areas for entrance/exit for staff and patrons to prevent gatherings
  2. Tape is placed at least 6 feet apart on bleachers to store belongings. After workout, water polo players will grab belongings and exit the facility. Designated staff will sanitize the area for the next water polo players.
  3. All workout sessions: modified to maintain 6 feet social distance.
  4. Water polo players must enter their assigned lanes and must sit down and slide in feet first with one hand guiding them into the pool.
  5. One water polo player per every 300sqft. A total of 16 water polo players per coach.  Each session is one hour and fifteen minutes to one hour and thirty minutes.
  6. Diving boards and dive blocks are not available for use

Check Out Procedures

  1. Water polo players must retrieve belongings on bleachers immediately after workout. Designated staff will sanitize the area for the next player.
  2. Water polo players must exit 10 feet apart using the back gate.
  3. Water polo players cannot loiter in parking lot or on school campus.
  4. Parent/guardian may meet water polo players by back gate.

Activities will be held at each session:

  1. Each session has 16:1 (players and coach) ratio. Coaches and staff will enforce the social distancing protocol.
  2. Coaches make sure that equipment amongst each group will not be shared (balls stored separately so they will not mix).
  3. The pool deck will have markers to use (cones) for distance guidance to those who are in the pool to maintain at least 6 feet apart from one and other.
  4. Drills will remain strictly no contact while keeping distances from each participant at all times (including passing, shooting, individual drills).

 

 

USA WATER POLO COVID-19 RELEASE AND WAIVER

THIS DOCUMENT AFFECTS YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS.  PLEASE READ THIS DOCUMENT CAREFULLY BEFORE ACCEPTING.

FOR ANY PARTICIPANT WHO IS NOT YET 18 YEARS OLD, THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS MUST BE READ AND ACCEPTED BY THE LEGAL GUARDIAN OF THE PARTICIPANT. By clicking “Accept” below, I hereby verify that, as legal guardian of the membership participant, I have read and fully understand each of the following terms and conditions for permitting my child to participate, and I accept each of the terms and conditions below on behalf of my child.

The governmental authorities in your locality may have determined to permit athletic practices and competitions to resume, notwithstanding the continuing hazards posed by the COVID-19 virus.  Neither USA Water Polo nor the water polo club with which you are affiliated possess the medical expertise to determine whether it is safe to resume water polo activities in your locality or to assess the degree of risk that you may be undertaking, should you decide to do so.  USA Water Polo urges you to consult publicly available information, such as that provided by the Centers for Disease Control and/or your local governmental agencies, so that you can make your own independent judgment as to the degree of risk that you will be undertaking, should you decide to engage in water polo activities.

This release and waiver applies to USA Water Polo sanctioned water polo the competitions, as well as your water polo club practices and any non-sanctioned competitions that your water polo club may schedule (collectively, “Water Polo Activities”).  Any Water Polo Activities that USA Water Polo or your water polo club may schedule will be based solely upon the judgment of the governmental authorities in the event’s locality that engaging in Water Polo Activities does not pose an unreasonable risk.  Of course, that does not mean that participating in water polo activities is free from the risk of contracting COVID-19 as a result of your participation in Water Polo Activities.

As a condition to permitting you to participate in any Water Polo Activity, you agree as follows:

  • The undersigned acknowledges, appreciates, and agrees that there is a risk of contracting the COVID-19 virus as a result of my participation in Water Polo Activities, that the disease caused by the COVID-19 virus is serious and could result in my death, and that such risk cannot be eliminated.
  • The undersigned acknowledges and agrees that neither USA Water Polo nor my water polo club have independently assessed the risk of my contracting the COVID-19 virus while participating in Water Polo Activities or undertaken any duty to minimize that risk.
  • The undersigned acknowledges and agrees that USA Water Polo does not exercise any control over the manner in which my water polo club may conduct Water Polo Activities.
  • Notwithstanding the foregoing, the undersigned knowingly and freely assumes all risks associated with the undersigned’s participation in Water Polo Activities and other activities related thereto.
  • The undersigned hereby releases:  (a) USA Water Polo, (b) USA Water Polo’s sponsors and advertisers, (c) USA Water Polo member clubs, (d) the owners and lessors of premises utilized in connection with Water Polo Activities in which I may participate or at which I may attend as a spectator, and (e) the officers, directors, agents, employees and independent contractors of each of the foregoing (the parties referred to in sections (a), (b), (c) and (d) of this paragraph being collectively referred to as the “Released Parties”) from any and all claims, actions, causes of action and liabilities, whether known or unknown, suspected or unsuspected, of every nature whatsoever that I have, or may have, now or in the future, relating to my having contracted the COVID-19 virus as a result of my participation in Water Polo Activities or my attendance as a spectator at events at which Water Polo Activities occur.