Any word on the new NVSL rules for the summer?
![[Post New]](/jforum/templates/default/images/icon_minipost_new.gif){kind=icon}
Anonymous
That’s not our interpretation, it’s what the VDH says. I understand what you are saying though. |
Anonymous
|
From the NVSL Board:
"We discussed many issues at the meeting, including enforcement and the areas of the pool covered by this rule. Several DCs also expressed a concern that they had not spoken with their teams about these issues. Most divisions met this week and we understand this issue was raised in many of these meetings." - Please review the following relevant materials: EO79 Effective Today-https://www.governor.virginia.gov/media/governorvirginiagov/executive-actions/EO-79-and-Order-of-Public-Health-Emergency-Ten-Ending-of-Commonsense-Public-Health-Restrictions-Due-to-Novel-Coronavirus-(COVID-19).pdf CDC Guidance https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/fully-vaccinated-guidance.html American Academy of Pediatrics Face Masks (aap.org) COVID-19 Interim Guidance: Return to Sports and Physical Activity (aap.org) Proposed Mask Mandate: During any NVSL Dual Meet or other NVSL sanctioned event or meet such as Divisionals that occurs during the 2021 season: (1) all coaches, Team Representatives, Officials (including all of the ones listed in Rule 10.c. of the NVSL Handbook), Division Coordinators, volunteers on deck, and NVSL Leadership shall wear face masks (covering mouth and nose) at all times; (2) all athletes shall wear face masks while on the pool deck, in bathroom facilities, in clerk of course and team areas. Swimmers should continue to wear masks in clerk of course and remove them upon reaching the staging area for the next up heat. Upon removal they should be placed in labeled plastic bags. For 25 meter events, teams can either allow the swimmers to swim back to the start end, or designate a marshal to bring the plastic bags containing masks to the finish end. Swimmers should place masks back on their face prior to leaving for their team area. The Referee, Meet Manager, and/or Division Coordinator shall have the authority to remove athletes, officials or coaches who fail to follow the masking mandate. Athletes, coaches and officials failing to cover their nose and mouth should be gently reminded to wear facial coverings, but failure to conform will be considered a violation of NVSL Rule 1.c (disruptive or unsportsmanlike activity). Ultimately when deciding if a violation warrants removal from the pool, common sense should prevail. Explanation from the League: We are excited to be able to conduct nearly normal swim meets this summer. While CDC guidance has relaxed outdoor masks requirements for those who are fully vaccinated, the large majority of our swimmers will be unvaccinated or incompletely vaccinated this season, and thus are at a higher risk of contracting COVID. While most healthy children with COVID will have minimal symptoms, there is a small proportion that are at risk for a life threatening condition called Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C). In addition to being life threatening, many children with MIS-C have injury to their heart muscle, and currently medical professionals do not know if this injury is permanent or not. While the risk of spreading COVID is less likely outdoors, masks still play a vital role in preventing COVID outbreaks at swim meets. We appreciate your understanding and compliance with this rule, and look forward to the future when we no longer require masks. |
Anonymous
|
“ Explanation from the League:
We are excited to be able to conduct nearly normal swim meets this summer. While CDC guidance has relaxed outdoor masks requirements for those who are fully vaccinated, the large majority of our swimmers will be unvaccinated or incompletely vaccinated this season, and thus are at a higher risk of contracting COVID. While most healthy children with COVID will have minimal symptoms, there is a small proportion that are at risk for a life threatening condition called Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C). In addition to being life threatening, many children with MIS-C have injury to their heart muscle, and currently medical professionals do not know if this injury is permanent or not. While the risk of spreading COVID is less likely outdoors, masks still play a vital role in preventing COVID outbreaks at swim meets. We appreciate your understanding and compliance with this rule, and look forward to the future when we no longer require masks.” This does not address why vaccinated have to wear masks nor the fact that CDC says even kids don’t need them outdoors. Even more frustrating is this “protection” is non existent if pools and swim practice do not require masks! These kids are practicing together 5 days a week without masks but have to wear masks on Saturdays? |
Anonymous
Exactly. Please contact the NVSL or your pool. |
Anonymous
Vaccinated team members will have to wear masks because it would be impossible for officials to know who is vaccinated and who isn’t, and attempt to enforce compliance with only some swimmers. Given that the CDC didn’t say that “kids don’t need them outdoors” in crowded situations, this NVSL decision isn’t surprising. Requiring vaccinated adults to wear masks is going too far IMO. |
Anonymous
|
Can someone share info on how to send a message to nvsl board members and district coordinators, please?
My team reps support the mask mandate. Thanks! |
Anonymous
| Our teams reps do not support it. I know we have families that haven’t made their kids wear masks lately, outside of school. This is going to be a real issue but not sure where everyone will draw the line on letting their kids participate. |
Anonymous
My feeling is that my kid is about to experience a lot more mask freedom since the pool and swim team dropped mask requirements as of yesterday. The only times that she will need to wear a mask are at A meets/ divisionals/all stars. I think she will prefer a mask to the potential alternative of spacing away from her teammates during meets. I don’t feel the need for outdoor masking, but we would never junk the swim season because of it. |
Anonymous
| Completely ridiculous. |
Anonymous
| I don’t understand their reasoning, there are vanishingly few cases of covid total in our area, and cases of MISC are exceedingly rare. Why is there no cost /benefit analysis? |
Anonymous
I don’t know who to contact if your reps support the rule. Team Reps and pool boards can always enforce something above the NVSL rule. But the NVSL shouldn’t mandate masks for vaccinated adults if pools don’t mandate it at practice. |
Anonymous
|
this rule is incredibly stupid. Also note that it applies to 'nvsl sanctioned events' That means b meets and practice- not just A meets and divisionals.
Think about kids swimming 25 in a b meet - and making them swim back to the other end to get their masks. There are a lot of kids swimming who are just barely making it across the pool. They are going to be struggling back across (after racing). this is going to add significant time to b meets for no apparent game. (and the idea that a marshall will be assigned to carry them in plastic bags around to the other end??? that is just not realistic or wise. There are NO documented cases of outdoor transmission of COVID. The incidence of covid is approaching zero in Northern Virginia. |
Anonymous
B meets and practices are not “NVSL sanctioned events”. The NVSL has nothing to do with either. |
Anonymous
It does not apply to B meets or practices. |
Anonymous
You are wrong )" NVSL sanctioned and sponsored events have been defined to include all swim-related events, to include A meets, B meets, practices, and all NVSL Division-wide and League-wide meets. B Meets are defined as those meets, other than the meets listed on the NVSL website (i.e., A Meets, Divisional Relay Carnivals, Individual Championship meets, ASR and IAS), and are meets in which 100 percent of the competitors are registered members of NVSL member swim teams. These events therefore fall within the scope of the NVSL operations and its insurances." https://www.mynvsl.com/file/33623/Overview_of_NVSL_Insurance_pdf |