Swim England CEO Jane Nickerson will not allow swimming to “be pushed to the back of the queue” after the Government confirmed that only school swimming lessons can continue during lockdown.
The lockdown began in England on Thursday morning and will continue until at least Wednesday 2 December as coronavirus cases soar.
All indoor leisure facilities have been forced to shut despite an outcry following prime minister Boris Johnson‘s announcement last Saturday – among them double Olympic champion Becky Adlington, two-time Rio 2016 silver medallist Jazz Carlin and Steve Parry, 200 fly bronze medallist at Athens 2004.
In an interview with Swimming World, Waltham Forest Gators head coach Harley Hicks also warned of the consequences for clubs and communities, with years of hard work threatened with being undone.
Photo Courtesy: Jane Nickerson Twitter
However, despite the calls from thousands of people from all walks of life across England for physical activity to be redefined as an essential service, their worst fears were realised on Thursday morning when the guidelines were issued – as detailed below.
Nickerson immediately turned her attention to ensuring pools would reopen as soon as possible after the lockdown ends.
In a statement from Swim England, Nickerson said:
“We’re obviously saddened that all public and private pools have to close for the next four weeks, meaning all club training in the water, learn to swim lessons – except for school swimming lessons – and aquatic activity for those who can’t exercise on dry land is forced to stop.
“We understand that measures are needed to slow the transmission of coronavirus but physical activity is a key tool in the fight against Covid.
“Our focus now turns to lobbying the Government to ensure that pools are allowed to open at the earliest available opportunity.
“We can’t let our industry be pushed to the back of the queue as it was when the easing of measures in the first lockdown were introduced.
“Closing and reopening pools is a costly business and that’s why we will also be pressing with our key partners for the Government to provide a desperately-needed enhanced Sport Recovery Fund to ensure the long-term future of the sector.”
School swimming
School swimming lessons as part of the national curriculum can take place in a school-owned pool or usual venue if the operator is open.
Universities and boarding schools
Swim England understands boarding schools may use their own facilities for their pupils as now, but may not invite those outside the boarding school into the facilities. This will be confirmed later on Thursday. It is understood university pools may only open for elite return-to-training purposes.
Private and public pools
All pools must close unless they are able to stay open to facilitate school swimming lessons only. Private pools can only be used by the owner’s immediate family or support bubble and must not be hired out.
Club activity
Club activity must not take place at pools during lockdown. Virtual home activity sessions can be organised by clubs to help keep members active.
Learn to swim (excluding school swimming)
All learn to swim sessions, including baby swimming, are on hold during lockdown. No one-to-one lessons that are held in private or endless pools can take place.
Elite training
Elite training can continue in designated facilities under the original Return to Training Guidance. Only those swimmers who were named on the original list during the first lockdown are eligible. Swim England will be working with British Swimming to try to keep these swimmers in the water if possible.
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Hi please can you help us Jane with our fight to open our swimming pool in Fleetwood Lancashire.
We have had a GB captain from our town Maria Scott amongst other GB team members.
Our local council has decided not to open our pool again due to money, we are a deprived town and have high levels of health inequalities.
Add to this we are a coastal town and key for our children and young people learning to swim. The local schools now will struggle to fulfil their national curriculum. It’s the distance offered as the alternative, 45 minutes drive their and back. Ours is the only 25 metre pool in the district of Wyre too.