USA Swimming Denies Letter Specifically Allowing Mission Viejo to Hold Organized Practice

Photo Courtesy: Connor Trimble

Since the Mission Viejo Nadadores returned to practice on Friday, utilizing strict social-distancing guidelines, there have been a bevy of questions in Southern California and around the country as to how legendary coach Mark Schubert was able to get his charges in the pool during the Coronavirus pandemic. When contacted on Friday, Schubert told Swimming World that the city of Mission Viejo received approval from USA Swimming regarding a proposed return to the pool.

“I made a proposal to the city that we just train 18 swimmers one per lane short course in a 50 meter pool,” Schubert said. “The city was impressed with our plan. USA Swimming sent a letter to the city endorsing it and there we go.”

On Monday, USA Swimming sought to clarify the situation and denied that it provided Mission Viejo with specific approval to conduct practice. Rather, the organization noted that Mission Viejo received the same document that all USA Swimming clubs received.

“We did not provide a letter to MVN authorizing practice,” USA Swimming spokesperson Belle McLemore told Swimming World. “What they received is the guidance we provided to all teams: ‘USA Swimming does not prohibit practice at this time, but if teams conduct practice they must follow all local, state, and federal public health guidelines.'”

It appears the letter Schubert referred to as clearing Mission Viejo for practice was actually the USA Swimming Guidelines, which ask clubs to respect the laws that have been enacted in their locales. For California, social-distancing rules do not allow for swim practices to be conducted. However, the Mission Viejo Nadadores were approved to practice by the city, led by mayor Brian Goodell, who won two Olympic gold medals under Schubert in 1976.

Terry Stoddard, the LSC head of Southern California Swimming, spent a good portion of his weekend fielding questions from other clubs about the situation. The main question was how one club could hold practice while others could not. Stoddard has been clear that SoCal Swimming is following the laws of the state as they pertain to opening up practices.

The discord between Mission Viejo and SoCal Swimming, and the argument that one club got an unfair jump on returning, may be a moot point in the coming days. Under intense pressure, California Governor Gavin Newsom announced on Monday that more and more businesses will be allowed to open, starting as early as Friday. He also noted that decision-making will be enabled at the local level, rather than at the state level, which called for uniform restrictions and laws. If the local level of government is given authority to make decisions, Mission Viejo has already made the decision to allow its swim club to operate under social-distancing guidelines.

According to the CDC, there is no evidence that the virus that causes COVID-19 can be spread to people through the water in pools, hot tubs, spas, or water play areas. Proper operation and maintenance (including disinfection with chlorine and bromine) of these facilities should inactivate the virus in the water, and that if an individual is deemed healthy, then swimming is considered a safe activity.

When Schubert got his Mission Viejo squad together for their first practice since the pandemic shut down training, he adhered to strict guidelines for social distancing.

“We just trained 18 swimmers – one per lane short course,” Schubert told Swimming World. “They come in one at a time and put their equipment at the end of the lane. They come in with their suits on because the locker rooms and showers are locked. They swim the workout in the center of the lane because they are 9-foot lanes.

“When the workout is over with, they leave one at a time and go to their car one at a time and split. If they need to go to the bathroom, we have single bathrooms in the swim school and they are responsible for disinfecting it afterwards. We have disinfectant and hand sanitizer so the city was impressed.”

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Michelle Kennedy

4 years ago

cheaters!

Amy Alvano

4 years ago

Reply to Michelle Kennedy

Brent Fletcher

4 years ago

Sounds like some favors were cashed in.

Jennifer Todd Tesseneer

4 years ago

Carla Blankenship

Alanov Zaborsky

4 years ago

Now its 70000 deaths in the US. It was 60000 some time ago… apparently these deaths aren’t serious enough. The virus is mutating and it’s becoming more infectious and contagious.