With Home-Built Lane Shields, Alaskan Club Back in Water and Safely Fighting Covid-19

Photo Courtesy: Northern Lights Swim Club

When Northern Lights Swim Club plotted a path back to the water during the coronavirus pandemic, it didn’t have to look far for resources.

Meet director Jodi McLaughlin surveyed the membership of the club, based out of the University of Alaska Anchorage, and found most of the experts she needed: Doctors, lawyers, experts in health and safety. And when that committee they assembled put forth its recommendation for a solution requiring an engineer, McLaughlin needed to look only as far as her husband, Sean.

“We wanted to be really proactive with our government here because our cases are low,” Jodi, who also serves as Alaska Swimming LSC’s secretary, told Swimming World Monday. “We wanted to show them that we took it seriously and wanted to get back in the water safely. We asked our coaches to establish a committee and they did. In some of their brainstorming, they proposed a shield idea, and I knew that my husband is an engineer and he’d be able to execute it.”

After a run to the hardware store and a weekend tooling in the garage, the club is implementing an elegant solution: Plexiglas shields at the end of each lane, a social-distancing aid that will help Northern Lights and other Alaskan clubs get in the water this week.

Photo Courtesy: Northern Lights Swim Club

The shields are simple in design, costing about $45 each. They sit over the lane lines at either end of Northern Lights’ six-lane pool, providing a barrier between swimmers stopped at the wall to reduce the exchange of respiratory droplets. The center of mass hovers over the wooden L-shaped anchor on deck, stabilizing the four-foot-by-two-foot shield. A foam bumper lessens the sting of a wide arm swing into the edge. And the clear glass allows swimmers to see each other and feel united even from behind an extra layer of social distancing.

While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have found no evidence that COVID-19 is transmitted through properly treated water, one area of vulnerability at pools and aquatic facilities is, presumably, when swimmers stop at the wall and breathe, particularly when doing so heavily mid-workout. Instead of exhaling underwater, the lane shields maintain a physical barrier.

The solution is uniquely Alaskan in its execution, a product of what Jodi calls a “do-it-yourself mindset.”

“It’s all local stuff that we can put together in the garage, get them on deck and get kids in the water,” said Sean McLaughlin, who is also a USA Swimming meet referee.

Alaska is one of the states least affected by COVID-19. The disease’s progress inspired Gov. Mike Dunleavy last Friday to advance to Phase Two of the Reopen Alaska Responsibly Plan, which includes 25 percent capacity for fitness centers and 50 percent capacity for swimming pools.

While Northern Lights Swim Club isn’t ramping up that fast yet (it has more than 100 members) or to realizing USA Swimming’s schematics for large groups. Instead, it will start Tuesday at one swimmer per lane. It will prioritize older swimmers to test out procedures, which include health pre-screening, closed locker rooms, the requirement to arrive in suit, enhanced sanitation and one-way entry and exit.

Between the new procedures and the lane shields, it’s a lot of change. But it’s worth it to get kids back in the water, the McLaughlins believe.

“Coaches understand it’s a lot of work getting the kids back in the water,” Sean said. “But it’s about getting the kids back in the water. The coaches are super excited and the kids are super excited. And I think with the barriers put in place, the shields, I think we’re in the water weeks ahead of where we would be without them.”

Swimming Through a Pandemic

The postponements and cancellations wrought by COVID-19 haven’t just affected the Olympics and the ranks of elite swimmers. They’ve trickled down to neighborhood clubs and summer youth leagues, affecting thousands of recreational and competitive swimmers alike. Here is some of our coverage of COVID-19’s effect on the American summer swimming calendar.

Resources for returning to the pool in the COVID-19 era

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Alicja Giedryś

3 years ago

Tomasz Madej patrz tylko!

Sheila Homer

3 years ago

Mallory Rodriguez

Shelly-Ann McHendrie

3 years ago

Wayne Riddin

Drew Jones

3 years ago

Cyrus Boyum Crews

3 years ago

Reply to Drew Jones

Drew Jones Intense… I saw in lane gear bags as well to allow a return to home location in a lane with more than 2 swimmers. No swimmers congregate at the wall.

Drew Jones

3 years ago

Reply to Drew Jones

Cyrus Boyum Crews Crazy times indeed. Aram joined the meeting just after you and I left. I spoke with him and we both agreed he and I are going to have to make road trip to visit you sometime in the future. Right Aram Nalbandyan?

Aiden Smith

3 years ago

Ashlea Smith Jaden Harris

Kristin Barone

3 years ago

Scott Butler?

Asia Joanna Czabara

3 years ago

No way…

Doug Schack

3 years ago

But can the girl swim with a wedgie again?

Leslie Jordan

3 years ago

Reply to Doug Schack

^^^^^^ this

Shawn Cowper Daniels

3 years ago

Phillip Williams

Lynette Holroyd

3 years ago

Bit I thought chlorine kills the virus so being in the water is fine, it is what happens from pool to changing facilities that would cause an issue? Or are swimmers leaving the pool to change one at a time/

Jacquelyn Marie

3 years ago

Reply to Lynette Holroyd

Lynette Holroyd it doesn’t kill it when they exhale above water. It only kills it on surfaces it lands.

Danny Gassaway

3 years ago

Reply to Lynette Holroyd

Lynette Holroyd It’s an issue breathing near another swimmer or being on deck

Caryn Faignant

3 years ago

Reply to Lynette Holroyd

The locker rooms are not going to be available. The swimmers have to come with their suits on under their clothes/parka.

Ness Mc

3 years ago

Is this group totally out of touch with reality??

swim parent

3 years ago

Reply to Ness Mc

Whatever it takes to get back to business.

Caryn Faignant

3 years ago

Reply to Ness Mc

Not at all. But, after being out of the pool for 2 months, you do what you have to do to be able to swim again. It’s temporary. If it gets us in the water several weeks earlier, it’s worth it.

Shalan Elizabeth Neal

3 years ago

I’m done with the internet. People can’t be this dumb, right? And that’s coming from a swimmer. ??‍♀️

Jessica Middleton Newman

3 years ago

So jealous!

Dorota Pikula Correia

3 years ago

Julie Brian Hall

Kate Dunne

3 years ago

Stupid! Chlorine and bleach kill it! Waste of time!

swim parent

3 years ago

Reply to Kate Dunne

It’s too bad that in order to survive a business must jump through hoops to prove they can do it safely, even if it’s barely a risk at all. Agree Chlorine kills it. Clubs are doing what it takes to get back to business, and that means they have to respect the risk and show they are serious and committed to being part of the solution.

Anonymous

3 years ago

Reply to swim parent

Terrific!

Jeff

3 years ago

This is story shows that Alaska swimming is attempting to keep their kids and coaches safe. But is it really able to? If a kid has Covid or their parent that dropped them off has it and either is asymptomatic will the glass shield really prevent droplets of airborne mist from being inhaled by someone else? Just today there was one new case of cover in Anchorage. The person is either in their teens or their thirties. ( there was another case in Juneau ). Does Anchorage do intensive testing or contact tracing? I think so far they have tested 26,000 total. Which means no. So…. anything could be happening with that person who came down with Covid spreading it. The whole endeavor seems pretty low risk given the tiny number of cover cases in Alaska. But is risking weeks of pneumonia, isolation, infection of friends and family worth getting back in the pool earlier? Is this really executing safety? Not my call to make. Not my kids. Hopefully it will work out well. I don’t want to see this swimming herd get thinned down.

Kathy

3 years ago

Reply to Jeff

Anchorage does intensive contact tracing . Most contacts are traced within 2 hours of a positive case.
NLSC is the biggest club in the state- good for them In trying to get kids back swimming –

Paul Mahar

3 years ago

Swimming World must be hurting for a story! I’m guessing the author wasn’t a swimmer. Plus what about the other 5 kids in the same lane! Can we stop posting this garbage! There’s no way a club can survive with 6 to 12 people in the water per practice!

Chris Swee

3 years ago

Reply to Paul Mahar

Paul Mahar there aren’t 5 other kids in the water. They’re limiting it to one kid per lane to start, prioritizing older kids and combining it with other social distancing protocols.

I get what you’re saying, but if the choice is just a few kids in the pool at a time or no kids in the pool…

Paul Mahar

3 years ago

Reply to Paul Mahar

Chris Swee I get it but there’s no way a club can financially survive on 6 kids in the water. Plus, picking and choosing opens up so many other problems. We have relationships with our famlies. Clubs with 150 or more…it would be chaos!

swim parent

3 years ago

Reply to Paul Mahar

Chris, you are right, clubs can’t do 6 kids for long, but at least they can get 42 of the oldest in now–and when you consider siblings share a lane, several more. In 2 weeks, with Anchorage’s 380 cases TOTAL statewide since March 1, with every single one contact traced, we can perhaps expand with our good record. We have 70 active cases in the state. 10 have died. 38 have been to the hospital. YET, our entire economy and state was shut down. Are you saying the club should just stay home and die? Don’t Try to survive? Maybe a club business can build credibility doing things differently and safely and should get out there and TRY?

Chris Swee

3 years ago

Reply to Paul Mahar

Paul Mahar a club doesn’t exist with 0 kids in the water. They have to start somewhere.

I don’t think this is the last modification, like everything and everyone else, just trying to feel our way back to as least a restrictive new normal as possible.

Logistically I think they can pretty quickly get past that 6 in the water. But for me I’d rather start slow and start somewhere.

Paul Mahar

3 years ago

Reply to Paul Mahar

Chris Swee I appreciate the dialogue. We may just live in 2 worlds. In my world coach’s don’t really financially benefit but we get by because of the relationships & experiences surpass the low pay.

We have 45 plus kids on each high school team. It would break my heart to have to choose. Swimming has already become divided more in the pass 25 years because of socioeconomic status.

I wish you well my swimming friend.

Chris Swee

3 years ago

Reply to Paul Mahar

Paul Mahar you’ve already chosen by saying zero is better than 6, that’s what I don’t understand. My heart is already broken for those who have lost their season(s). My nephew lost his senior season of track(college). So he’s just done. No next year, no nada.

But…that’s already done, that bridge has been crossed. Now we have an opportunity to figure out how we get those 45 kids back in the pool. Barring something unexpected on the vaccine front or waiting an obscenely long time, we’re going to have to take the 6 and figure out how to make the next step to 12, 24, 36, and so on.

That might mean shorter and less frequent practices per athlete until something changes. Back in my competition days I would rather go 6 days a week, but I’d take 3 if the other alternative was keeping dry.

Dave Hoover

3 years ago

Reply to Paul Mahar

You also need to keep in mind that Alaska has been by far the least impacted State in Coronavirus infections/deaths while also having by far the lowest population density in the country too. My 2 sq mile zip code here in Seattle corona virus numbers completely dwarfs the entire State of Alaska’s figures. When would it be ok in your book to try this limited and precautious trial and it not be deemed reckless?

Heiko Fikenzer

3 years ago

Instead of this shields, it is just necessary that you find the right way for avoid that swimmers stay together while having rest. So find a solution with 6ft space beetween them at this time.

Check this for example:
https://youtu.be/BhpYowt-vi4

Julie Tellier

3 years ago

Reply to Heiko Fikenzer

Heiko Fikenzer USA Swimming created an entire plan for Social Distancing

swim parent

3 years ago

Reply to Heiko Fikenzer

Those are pretty neat ideas too for a “new wall” spot mid lane. Clubs will be utilizing this strategy also, not resting at the wall, in order to increase numbers, similar to USAS diagrams.

Steve Cox

3 years ago

This is the dumbest thing I have seen in awhile. Ridiculous.

Bill Curlee

3 years ago

We have reached peak absurdity.

Lorlee Engler

3 years ago

Reply to Bill Curlee

Bill Curlee , just when you think we have hit rock bottom, we start to dig!

swim parent

3 years ago

Reply to Bill Curlee

What would you suggest? Just stay home and let the business die and not help the kids get back to what they love? Nobody wants to have to build something like this, but the clubs who want to survive will roll up their sleeves and work to get their government to allow them in.

swim parent

3 years ago

Reply to Bill Curlee

What would you suggest a business do? lay down and die?

Celeste Lind

3 years ago

Whatever you have to do for the city to let you in the water I suppose

Jennifer Larson Bonneville

3 years ago

Really!

Karin Knudson O'Connell

3 years ago

Well that just looks dangerous with corners of plexiglass sticking out in every lane? Ridiculous really

Elena McCleary Pomroy

3 years ago

Reply to Karin Knudson O'Connell

Karin Knudson O’Connell The design purpose is to protect the swimmers when they are receiving instruction from the coach at the wall. Maybe this wouldn’t be a good solution for little kids that don’t know how to stay away from the lane line, but for seasoned swimmers I don’t see this as a risk at all! My swimmer thinks it is a great solution since the wall is where the social distancing becomes the biggest issue.

Lisa Alcorn

3 years ago

Reply to Karin Knudson O'Connell

Karin Knudson O’Connell can you also imagine chlorinated air this would cause.. asthmatic would not do well.. perhaps

Anonymous

3 years ago

Reply to Karin Knudson O'Connell

It has bumpers

swim parent

3 years ago

Reply to Karin Knudson O'Connell

Did you see the padding like a pool noodle over the end of it? They are fine.

Erin Carne McConkey

3 years ago

South Carolina governor opening our pools monday!

Shelbi Gladwell

3 years ago

Reply to Erin Carne McConkey

only at 20% capacity though. Which for our neighborhood pool (4 lane 25 m) means 13 people in the water at a time

Dave Fooy

3 years ago

Come on coach, Paul Mahar get the kids back in the water.

Paul Mahar

3 years ago

Reply to Dave Fooy

Dave Fooy Some people are so above our reality!

Dave Fooy

3 years ago

Reply to Dave Fooy

Paul Mahar as much as I want my kid back swimming there is no way a program as big as yours could do this. Just wishing.

Heidi Cuticchia

3 years ago

Reply to Dave Fooy

There are clubs of 200+ swimmers thinking about 1 athlete in each lane for 30 minutes to begin. 20 minutes in between sessions and running all day long. The plan is that every kid gets in once per week with some of the top swimmers getting in more often. These are realistic options that many large programs are thinking about to retain members, require social distancing and begin the not so easy process of getting kids back in the pool. You should check out USA Swimming guidelines. You’ll see the schematics of pools shown and different configurations. Many people are consulting with professionals to come up with these plans.

Paul Mahar

3 years ago

Reply to Dave Fooy

Dave Fooy You know me! I’m broken that I can’t be on the deck with my kiddos! Stories like these give kids false hope. They start questioning why does’nt our coach do this?!!

This kind of stuff turns into the haves & have nots!

Swim parent

3 years ago

Reply to Paul Mahar

That’s too bad and a real concern. No differentiation in the process in AK of haves and have not, but it’s true the coach/owner is taking a huge hit. If you want your business to survive, what else can you do? Hope is everything my friend. What are YOU doing Coach? Don’t give up.

Staci Hollingsworth Roberson

3 years ago

Carlos Lomba

3 years ago

How about having everyone swim the entire workout wout removing their snorkel, would that help? Would everyone be so responsible as to make sure they keep it on at all times even when resting at the walls? And split the swimmers so that you have half at one end and half at the other end at all times. There’s probably a limit as to this would be posible or able to manage depending on the # of swimmers each respective program has. Just a offering a possible temporary solution.

Heather York DiFulvio

3 years ago

Reply to Carlos Lomba

Carlos Lomba How would a snorkel help? It’s not a filter. They are still breathing in shared air in close proximity.

Carlos Lomba

3 years ago

Reply to Carlos Lomba

Heather York DiFulvio Ok, considered that would be a possibility but Thxs for clarifying. Not easy finding a solution around this even w/ all that’s been mentioned regarding how chlorine and salt water could work against any further spread of the virus.

Heather York DiFulvio

3 years ago

Reply to Carlos Lomba

Carlos Lomba Yes, chlorine will help but only with surfaces. With how close the kids are in the lanes, that’s not the only concern, though. We are all anxious to get our kids back in the water, but facilities have to weigh the risks of opening and teams have to weigh the risk of being able to run in a diminished capacity. There are a lot of decisions and people involved. Even in Mission Viejo, he only had 18 swimmers come in. Out of 1000 or so. So, does everyone pay for it, even if their kids aren’t in? Or do the parents of those who do get to swim pay triple to cover the rental costs? So many moving parts that I’m not sure passionate swim parents are thinking of.

swim parent

3 years ago

Reply to Heather York DiFulvio

Studies that show warmth and humidity help aerosols fall directly down…considering their mouths are ON the surface or an inch or two above it most times’ foot above it max, those vicious particles are enveloped in chlorine pretty fast. Or they are outdoor pools, even better.

Carlos Lomba

3 years ago

Reply to Carlos Lomba

Heather York DiFulvio Yep. Very difficult decisions ahead regarding opening up a what capacity. Just like some in the restaurant business have said that to be able to maintain their operation only at 100% would be posible, not even at 75%.

swim parent

3 years ago

Reply to Carlos Lomba

Yes. No doubt…this is not a profitable stance. Only a beginning to build on. What else to do?

Tiffany Quisno

3 years ago

I’m not trying to be a downer here because I want pools to open up as soon as possible for sure! But I’m concerned about the safety of accessing swimmers that need help quick.

Lisa Alcorn

3 years ago

Reply to Tiffany Quisno

Tiffany Quisno Karin Knudson O’Connell can you also imagine chlorinated air this would cause.. asthmatic would not do well.. perhaps too

Colleen Hazlett

3 years ago

Reply to Tiffany Quisno

Tiffany Quisno Those shields won’t prevent anyone from getting to a swimmer in distress-they only go a few feet into the lane.

Ronna Schubert Rapach

3 years ago

Reply to Tiffany Quisno

Lisa Alcorn def!

Lorlee Engler

3 years ago

Good to see and hear about pools that are opening!

Jenny McCauley

3 years ago

??‍♀️

Debbie Terry

3 years ago

How can you say that “safely fighting Covid-19” ? You don’t know that!

Debbie Alston Janicke

3 years ago

Heyyyy!!! Alaska!! I’ve worked out in all those pools! The Anchorage high schools have pools. One even has a 50m natatorium! I lived there 30 years. Now back in Texas. Love you guys up there!!! ???

Lori Henninger

3 years ago

Wow swimmers are lucky I guess. What will happen for water polo players? ??‍♂️

swim parent

3 years ago

Reply to Lori Henninger

Gotta start somewhere…first we get in and build a record. Then expand to water joggers, polo etc…as they say, “differently”.

David Moreno

3 years ago

That is very unusual.

Heidi Ho

3 years ago

Laurie Ann Brian O’Shea

Kim Ashworth

3 years ago

Dana Morgan Jaworski – so cool

Nick Cittadinni

3 years ago

Wow, the optics of it are GREAT!!! But does it really help?!

Julie Tellier

3 years ago

Fabulous! Let’s get back to practice ASAP!!

Ron Moore

3 years ago

Unnecessary idea

Swim parent

3 years ago

Reply to Ron Moore

Maybe…

Melissa Steve Brosch Kay

3 years ago

Peter Lawrence

Raymond Vervlied

3 years ago

Bob Weber

Missy Briel Antolick

3 years ago

This really does not make any sense.

Lorlee Engler

3 years ago

Reply to Missy Briel Antolick

Missy Briel Antolick , I brought up some concerns about this a week or more ago and was vilified for it! Careful what you say or even hint at or you’re made out to be a villain! Lol

Missy Briel Antolick

3 years ago

Reply to Missy Briel Antolick

Lorlee Engler ?

Tyler J. Burke

3 years ago

Absurd.

Juan Carlos Cordova

3 years ago

Woo hoo!!!!

Dawn Marie Campbell

3 years ago

Ridiculous!

Christine Shuttz-Raches

3 years ago

Bill Siderys? Joe Christoffersen? An option for us? PLEASE!!!

Paul Anthony

3 years ago

LOL!

Judy Fox

3 years ago

Missy Kennedy Allen Rodriguez

Deeanne Stark

3 years ago

The pool is not a super market! There is a common sense way of doing this. HAVE DUDS AND EQUIPMENT ON BEFORE ENTERING FACILITY, check temp at entrance, safe and REALISTIC age group / #in pool?NO PARENTS , one direction in, one direction out, get out of pool,
NO PIT STOPS! Go home! ? Days May last longer to accommodate but we can all help each other out. Easier said than done! Recipe is simple. The hard part is making sure everyone does it!
Small safe steps lead to big safe steps!
#Pray4TheKids
#StayPositive☀️

David Samuelsohn

3 years ago

They should hurry up and market these throughout the country