Dear WMST Swimmers,
Thank you all for your patience as we have navigated this shut down due to COVID-19. Your WMST Board of Directors has been working hard at formulating a plan for our return to the water with a great deal of help from our friends, and fellow WMST Coaches Ross & Laura Davis, at Swim Streamline at Northampton (SSAN). This plan will only be successful if each and every member adheres to the rules we have set forth.
3 documents are linked here: WMST Account Credits & Billing for COVID-19, WMST Practice Time Slots & Sign-Up Genius, and WMST Re-Opening Plan & Guidelines. I ask that all members please thoroughly read through and familiarize yourself with these documents as we begin our phased entry to the water.
The CISD Natatorium has emailed stating that there are no plans for it to reopen until at least the middle of June. As such, we will begin our practices at Northampton as facility availability allows. This will be very different from how we have operated previously, and careful attention will need to be paid to the social distancing rules that are outline in the documents. If you find that you are unable or unwilling to adhere to the attached documents, then please do not sign up for a practice time slot.
Practice Time Slots
- We will begin hosting practice on Monday, May 18, 2020 at the Northampton Pool located at 6012 Root Rd, Spring, TX 77389.
- We will start with 5:30am practice Monday through Friday, and 6:15pm practice Monday through Thursday for the first week.
- Note that the practice schedule/times/slots that are offered will likely be changing from week to week as a function of pool availability
- We will begin workouts by limiting the number of swimmers to one person per lane, this means at Northampton, we will have a maximum of 6 swimmers per practice.
- You will be signing up for one of six lanes per practice, and your coach will direct you to which lane would be most appropriate so that you are surrounded by swimmers of similar speed and ability.
- We are aware that most swimmers have been out of the water for at least seven weeks, as such we will be starting back to practice slowly.
- Drills, technique, regaining a feel for the water
Sign-Up Genius
- You will only be able to sign up for a practice slot if you are an Active member of WMST, and in good standing.
- You will have to sign-up for each practice on a weekly Sign-Up Genius link that will be emailed, posted on Facebook, and located on our website.
- All of the practices for the week (Monday morning, Monday evening, Tuesday morning, Tuesday evening, etc.) will be listed on the weekly Sign-Up Genius link.
- The link will be emailed out each week on Friday at 7pm (starting TONIGHT) for the entire following week (starting with Monday morning practices).
- You will be limited to signing up for only TWO practices for the week so that we can try and get as many members in as possible.
- If you attempt to sign up and lanes are full, please send the Team Administrator an email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. We have limited lanes and a lot of swimmers, and our goal is to get anyone who wants to swim time in the water.
- If, after 7:00pm Sunday evening, there are additional open slots to sign up for, you may sign up for ONE additional practice for the week. Please call our Team Administrator, Stacey Eicks, at (281) 414-2377 to be added to an additional time slot.
- You will be charged for the number of practices that you sign-up for, regardless of whether or not you show up to that practice ($10 per practice).
- If a practice is canceled due to weather or other mitigating circumstances, you will NOT be charged. Practice cancellations will be announced as quickly as possible via email, Facebook, and the WMST website.
- If you sign-up and do not show, you will be taking away from a swimmer who wanted to swim.
- Do not swap time slots, the coaches will be expecting the swimmers who are signed up online.
- There is a COVID-19 Waiver and Release of Liability form that will need to be acknowledged on Sign-Up Genius each week that you sign up for a practice slot.
Preparing to Swim – Protecting Against Infections
- Before Practice
- You MUST arrive in your swim suit
- Maintain six feet apart from others waiting to enter the pool
- Bring your own equipment: towel, cap, goggles, water bottle, equipment bag (you will not be able to borrow any equipment)
- Wash your hands with soap and water or use a hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available before heading to the pool
- Wear your mask while entering the pool deck
- Bring a full bottle of water to avoid touching a tap or water fountain handle
- Arrive as close as possible to the start time of practice
- Avoid touching gates, fences, benches, etc.
- Do not attend if you are ill, or another member of your household is ill
- Immediately report to a spot at the end of the pool, and the coach will direct you to an appropriate lane
- During Practice
- Follow all directions for spacing, and stay at least six feet apart from others
- Do not make physical contact with others such as: shaking hands, giving high fives, hugging
- Avoid touching your face before getting in the water
- Do not share food, drinks, or towels
- Maintain appropriate social distancing from others when taking a break on the wall or in between sets
- Coaches will not be able to assist you with your swim cap if you require assistance
- After Practice
- Leave the facility as soon as reasonably possible after practice
- Wear your mask while exiting the pool deck
- Wash your hands or use a hand sanitizer after leaving the pool, once you arrive at your next destination (work, home, etc.)
- Locker Rooms will NOT be available
- Please wear your suit to and from practice
- No extra-curricular or social activity should take place
- Please do not turn the time after practice ends into a social hour, do not congregate after swimming
If you have any questions, I will be available to answer them through email (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.), phone (936-522-8156), or via our Facebook Group (https://www.facebook.com/groups/WMSTswim) where I will make a post and you can type your questions below in the comments.
Thank you again for your patience as we navigate this together.
-Alana Wilson, WMST President
