Hello Force Nation!

Please read this email in its entirety.

In order to increase swimmer safety, the WHALe Executive Board is implementing the following directives regarding diving in such pools effective immediately:

1. All 25-yard and 50-yard events must start from the deepest end of the pool.
2. Freestyle relays may start from either end of the pool. Medley relays must start from the shallow end of the pool. All relay starts (including those for swimmers 2-4 in a relay) must be in conformity with WHALe rules regarding pool depth (e.g., no diving in less than 3 feet, 6 inches of water).
3. Diving start practice may only take place from the deepest end of the pool and the depth must be 4 feet or greater.

How will this affect our practices and meets?

1. The rule change should have no meaningful impact on our practices.  Swimmers will now be diving from the deep end.
2. With respect to meets, it means that we will need to move our timers at a minimum of 6 times from one end of the pool to the other (assuming that our timers will start on the shallow side of the pool and free relays will also start on the shallow side of the pool). These times are after the following:
   1. Event 20 (shallow to deep)
   2. Event 46 (deep to shallow)
   3. Event 50 (shallow to deep)
   4. Event 56 (deep to shallow)
   5. Event 60 (shallow to deep)
   6. Event 66 (deep to shallow)
3. We may move our timers on other occasions if we see a need (for example, we may start backstroke on the shallow side of the pool to give more room for flip turns on the deep end of the pool).

While we understand that this is a big change for everyone, swimmer safety is the number one priority of the League’s Executive Board and it is also ours. These changes could minimize unnecessary risks involved in our sport.

With these new rules, we have also had to make significant changes to our home meet setup structure.

1. We will set up ready benches and timer chairs on both ends of the pool.
2. We will no longer allow swimmers to use the back end of the pool (console side) to get from one area to another. We must keep it clear to speed up the process of shifting the Timers back and forth.
3. We have updated the Pool Set Up Map. Please note these significant changes:
   1. Swimmers will enter/exit the pool through the back gate ONLY.
   2. Spectators will enter/exit the pool through the front gate ONLY.
   3. The spectator area is standing room only. When you are done watching your swimmer, please leave the area so that other parents can watch theirs also.
   4. We will clearly mark a walkway for swimmers to use to get from one side to another. It is important to respect this walkway and keep it clear throughout the meets.
   5. We will be using ALL available chairs for our new set-up so 13/14 and 15+ swimmers will need to bring their own chairs.
   6. There is no spectator seating in the pool area.  This means absolutely no seating within the gated area. This includes the area by the 13+ swimmers. If you want to sit there, sign up to be a tent parent for that age group.

I’m looking forward to our upcoming home meet to see how this will work out. I applaud the Executive Board for taking initiative to keep our swimmers safe.

Remember, these changes are new to all of us so please bear with us as we navigate them for the first time together.

Have a great day, see you at the pool and Go Force!