USA Swimming COVID-Related Precautions Rules Amendments

Chip Holland

 

The USA Swimming Board of Directors continues to assess the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the need for necessary precautions to further prioritize the safety of USA Swimming members.
 

As a result of this, and following the expiration of the Board’s previous emergency action, the Board has voted to amend Articles 202.4 and 202.6 of the USA Swimming Rules to require certain COVID-related precautions in order to issue meet sanctions and approvals, including a safety plan, assumption of risk, and release of liability. As always, USA Swimming, Local Swimming Committees (LSC) and club activities must follow state and local guidelines.
 

The rule changes are intended to become effective immediately and last through January 31, 2021, at which time the Board will reconvene to assess whether these precautions remain necessary. 
 

The amended rules regarding requirements for sanction and approval are listed below.
 

202.4.10 Application for sanction shall be accompanied by a copy of the complete meet announcement which shall include the following:
 

[A – M No change]
 

N   The following statement 
 

An inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists in any public place where people are present. COVID-19 is an extremely contagious disease that can lead to severe illness and death. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, senior citizens and individuals with underlying medical conditions are especially vulnerable.
 

USA Swimming, Inc., cannot prevent you (or your child(ren)) from becoming exposed to, contracting, or spreading COVID-19 while participating in USA Swimming sanctioned events. It is not possible to prevent against the presence of the disease. Therefore, if you choose to participate in a USA Swimming sanctioned event, you may be exposing yourself to and/or increasing your risk of contracting or spreading COVID-19.
 

BY ATTENDING OR PARTICIPATING IN THIS COMPETITION, YOU VOLUNTARILY ASSUME ALL RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH EXPOSURE TO COVID-19 AND FOREVER RELEASE AND HOLD HARMLESS USA SWIMMING AND [THE LSC] AND EACH OF THEIR OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, AGENTS, EMPLOYEES OR OTHER REPRESENTATIVES FROM ANY LIABILITY OR CLAIMS INCLUDING FOR PERSONAL INJURIES, DEATH, DISEASE OR PROPERTY LOSSES, OR ANY OTHER LOSS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO CLAIMS OF NEGLIGENCE AND GIVE UP ANY CLAIMS YOU MAY HAVE TO SEEK DAMAGES, WHETHER KNOWN OR UNKNOWN, FORESEEN OR UNFORESEEN, IN CONNECTION THEREWITH.
 

This statement shall also be included in heat sheets.
 

202.4.16  To address circumstances related to COVID-19, a supplemental document to the meet sanction request shall include:

  1. A statement of the local protocols and requirements;
  2. The plan for spectator ingress and egress;
  3. The planned number of individuals gathering in the spaces: pool, deck, spectator seating, etc.;
  4. Safe Sport considerations to ensure parents have access to and/or the opportunity to observe their child; and
  5. An attestation statement in which the meet host attests that the conduct of the meet will adhere to local jurisdictional guidelines.
     

202.6.6
 

[A-G No change]
 

H   The following statement: 
 

An inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists in any public place where people are present. COVID-19 is an extremely contagious disease that can lead to severe illness and death. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, senior citizens and individuals with underlying medical conditions are especially vulnerable.
 

USA Swimming, Inc., cannot prevent you (or your child(ren)) from becoming exposed to, contracting, or spreading COVID-19 while participating in USA Swimming sanctioned events. It is not possible to prevent against the presence of the disease. Therefore, if you choose to participate in a USA Swimming sanctioned event, you may be exposing yourself to and/or increasing your risk of contracting or spreading COVID-19.
 

BY ATTENDING OR PARTICIPATING IN THIS COMPETITION, YOU VOLUNTARILY ASSUME ALL RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH EXPOSURE TO COVID-19 AND FOREVER RELEASE AND HOLD HARMLESS USA SWIMMING AND [THE LSC] AND EACH OF THEIR OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, AGENTS, EMPLOYEES OR OTHER REPRESENTATIVES FROM ANY LIABILITY OR CLAIMS INCLUDING FOR PERSONAL INJURIES, DEATH, DISEASE OR PROPERTY LOSSES, OR ANY OTHER LOSS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO CLAIMS OF NEGLIGENCE AND GIVE UP ANY CLAIMS YOU MAY HAVE TO SEEK DAMAGES, WHETHER KNOWN OR UNKNOWN, FORESEEN OR UNFORESEEN, IN CONNECTION THEREWITH.
 

This statement shall also be included in heat sheets.
 

202.6.19  To address circumstances related to COVID-19, a supplemental document to the meet approval request shall include:

  1. A statement of the local protocols and requirements;
  2. The plan for spectator ingress and egress;
  3. The planned number of individuals gathering in the spaces: pool, deck, spectator seating, etc.;
  4. Safe Sport considerations to ensure parents have access to and/or the opportunity to observe their child; and
  5. An attestation statement in which the meet host attests that the conduct of the meet will adhere to local jurisdictional guidelines.