DIVING PLONGEON CANADA PLANNING FOR SAFE RETURN TO SPORT

(View the Return to Diving Guidelines)
In preparation for the re-opening of sport and recreation facilities, and the restart of diving programs across the country, Diving Plongeon Canada (DPC) and its aquatic partners are taking several steps to ensure that the return to aquatic sports is as safe as possible.
DPC is collaborating with Canada Artistic Swimming, Swimming Canada, and Water Polo Canada in developing general requirements for the return to training in an indoor aquatic environment. The purpose of this working group is to develop effective common guidelines to assist members and clubs in a safe return to aquatic facilities. In addition to the general guidelines, specific return to sport information and recommendations for each aquatic discipline will be provided.
“Our athletes are eager to get back to training and are more than happy to conform to any guidelines and health protocols that will allow them back into the pool. We’re aware that other countries are already training, and with the postponed Olympic Games looming, there is a clear urgency to get back into the water so that we can keep our competitive edge,” says Mitch Geller, Chief Technical Officer of DPC.
The national guidelines and diving-specific recommendations document will be shared with DPC’s provinces and clubs so that it can be used as a reference when working with provincial and local sport and health authorities to design a safe return to sport environment, recognizing that training environments will need to be modified as required to meet local safety guidelines.
“Each diving facility is different; therefore, it will be important for each club to follow the guidelines while also ensuring that all return to diving plans adhere to the municipal, provincial and national health guidelines and restrictions,” says Penny Joyce, Chief Operating Officer of DPC.
The guidelines will include information on physical distancing, personal hygiene, how to arrive and depart from facilities, as well as instructions for using sport-specific equipment and training spaces safely. Guidelines for coaches to mitigate risk will also be included. The return to diving in Canada will be a phased approach, beginning once municipal, provincial and federal regulations permit the resumption of activity. For Canadian diving, the first phase of re-opening will target the return of a small group of top athletes, such as those training at training institutes and other Olympic Games hopefuls training in high performance club settings.
The aquatic working group and each sport will continue to develop, update and share the guidelines as the re-opening of sport develops across the country. Triathlon Canada and the Lifesaving Society are also participating in this initiative.