{"id":432425,"date":"2020-05-18T10:02:16","date_gmt":"2020-05-18T17:02:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=432425"},"modified":"2020-05-22T19:48:22","modified_gmt":"2020-05-23T02:48:22","slug":"summer-leagues-cancel-in-illinois-missouri-and-tennessee-on-hold-in-delaware","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/summer-leagues-cancel-in-illinois-missouri-and-tennessee-on-hold-in-delaware\/","title":{"rendered":"Summer Leagues Cancel in Illinois, Missouri and Tennessee; On Hold in Delaware"},"content":{"rendered":"

Summer swimming leagues in major metro areas of Illinois, Missouri and Tennessee have joined a litany of leagues to cancel their 2020 seasons due to the COVID-19 pandemic.<\/p>\n

In Tennessee<\/strong>, the Nashville Swim League is \u201ctaking a pause\u201d in 2020. It made the announcement Sunday<\/a>. The league, in its 58th year, serves more than 20 teams and nearly 2,000 swimmers.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a difficult decision, but ultimately the safety of our swimmers and families is our priority,\u201d said Amy Caulkins<\/strong>, the NSL president and sister of one of the league\u2019s most decorated alums<\/a>, Tracy Caulkins<\/strong>. \u201cWe spent considerable time researching the current COVID-19 guidance provided by local, state, and CDC officials, as well as factored in our local club teams\u2019 plans and USA Swimming suggested best practices.\u201d<\/p>\n

In Illinois<\/strong>, uncertainty over pool openings led the Naperville Swim Conference to postpone<\/a>. A summer swimming league that draws some of the top swimmers in the Chicago suburbs, the NSC includes more than 20 pools and 3,000 swimmers. It was set to enter its 51st season. Part of the logic of cancellation is the hope that some clubs can open and serve their communities in some manner even without competitive meets.<\/p>\n

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Photo Courtesy: Tod Trousdell<\/p><\/div>\n

The decision of the Gateway Swimming and Diving League in Missouri<\/strong> was impacted by two clubs whose home municipal pools were not allowed to open. As such, the league that covers more than 30 teams in the greater St. Louis area opted to cancel its summer campaign<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Delaware<\/strong> has provided specific guidance on pools<\/a> (pdf), but it includes a continued suspension of summer swimming team operations. Community pools (public and private) in the First State can reopen at 5 p.m. on May 22 at 20 percent of regular capacity and other restrictions. However, from the Delaware Health and Social Services Department, \u201cswim lessons or practices of swim teams are not permitted at this time.\u201d<\/p>\n

One bright side comes from South Carolina,<\/strong> where Monday marks the reopening of community pools<\/a>. That means that Tod Trousdell<\/strong>, who has been swimming a mile and a half every day for 18 years<\/a>, is able to get back into a proper pool for the first time since stay-at-home orders were put in place in March.<\/p>\n

Swimming Through a Pandemic<\/strong><\/h4>\n

The postponements and cancellations wrought by COVID-19 haven\u2019t just affected the Olympics and the ranks of elite swimmers. They\u2019ve 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\u2019s effect on the American summer swimming calendar.<\/em><\/p>\n