blogLockdown 2.0

So, as our Government have outlined the restrictions for the second lockdown and subsequently the rules for the tier system in England – I begin to wonder how non-sensical the reasonings are for swimmers.

In a swimming pool-based environment, pool operators and swimming clubs have and ARE working tirelessly to ensure the safety of all users while in the facility. I, for one am truly grateful for the efforts that the Health and Safety Team and Lead Covid Officers have put in to ensure that we are ‘covid secure’. My issues and current angers lie where the government have, in my opinion failed to use a common-sense approach when it comes to the rules.

Why can I as a member of a swimming club, not train with the adults in the Masters session with 5 other adults, where we are all part of the club’s Track and Trace system – but I can join a public session with 9 other members of the public, who I know absolutely nothing about whatsoever?

Where is the logic behind that BoJo?!

At the swimming club, there are a few athletes who age around 18 years old and are National Standard athletes – they are fortunate enough to still be training as their birthdays fell in line with the ridiculous rule! Now, as the club aren’t classed as an ‘elite programme’ these athletes could have been exempt from training if their birthdays were slightly different.

What sort of an impact would this have had on them, mentally, physically, emotionally?

I really feel like a lot of swim businesses have been let down hugely, a friend of mine who runs a private swim facility which runs on a 1:1 basis (due to the nature of the pool) was not allowed to operate because it is a swimming pool. That pool itself, couldn’t be any more ‘Covid secure’ even without Covid being around! He has had ZERO support from his local council with regards to any grants that could have supported him throughout Lockdown 1.0. The government are apparently all for new businesses starting and supporting new companies with schemes – yet how can they support them and let them down so easily?

What infuriates me is that there is a blanket ban on everything, which is too easy to do, rather than businesses applying to operate based on their individual needs.

I have a lot of concerns around the drop-out rate with younger athletes being out of the water for prolonged periods of time. The first lockdown was enough time out for us all. For young athletes to try and reignite that spark, that passion, that drive for hard work is such a huge commitment for them to undertake. But, the possibilities for them to come back bigger, better, faster and stronger would be amazing!

Please feel free to leave a comment with your thoughts around how the lockdown has been for you!

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