RETURN TO PLAY & COMPETITION GUIDELINES
March 5, 2021 - USA Water Polo Return to Competition Guidelines 
To enhance the safety of our athletes, referees, coaches and fans outside the pool, USA Water Polo offers the following guidelines for events moving forward in 2021. These operational changes will help promote the safe return of the sport in individual games and round robin play.
October 27, 2020 - USA Water Polo UPDATED Return to Play Guidelines USA Water Polo would like to announce the Return to the Pool Guidelines for all of our member clubs, athletes, parents, and partners to prepare them and their aquatic facilities for the restart of water polo programming in their local areas.
The Return to the Pool Guidelines are compiled based on the best and latest information from FINA, the CDC, and other relevant federal agencies. According to the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee’s Chief Medical Officer, although the young and healthy tend to have less severe cases of COVID-19, every case of this disease is potentially life-altering or deadly.
August 7, 2020 - FINA Back to Water Guidelines after COVID These guidelines have been developed by the FINA COVID-19 Task Force to address a safe return to aquatic sport following COVID-19. They reflect information from the World Health Organization (WHO), FINA Member Federations and other international sport federations.
Given that FINA aquatic disciplines represent individual and team events, best practice for return to training and competition must be adapted accordingly. This document is designed to provide guidance only and stakeholders are reminded that the recommendations of their respective public health authorities must take precedence.
For medical doctors involved in aquatic sport, an excellent update Recommendations for return to sport during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, has been published recently in the British Journal of Sports Medicine (ref: Lollgen H, Bachl N, Papadopoulou T, et al BMJ Open Sport and Exercise Medicine 2020;6:e000858 doi:10.1136/bmjsem-2020-00858).
FINA understands that the international control of COVID-19 is proceeding at a variable rate and therefore no single set of guidelines will fit every situation.
FINA Water Polo Specific Recommendations:
For water polo players undertaking routine lane swim training, the recommendations described [in the swimming section] should be applied. The use of caps is not recommended while water polo ball skills training is undertaken, however physical distancing should be enforced. This will limit the size of squads training together.
Indicative numbers for full pool bookings are:
- A maximum of 30 athletes per 25m pool
- A maximum of 60 athletes per 50m pool
In addition, poolside warm-ups should be minimized with coaches maintaining physical distancing during all phases of training. The same limitations imposed upon the use of facility amenities including showers and change rooms should also be applied and spectators or non-participating players should be discouraged from attending. Water polo balls, constantly immersed in chlorinated water, present a minimal risk for infection.
June 10, 2020 - Updated Return to Play for Clubs - Camp/Clinic Sanctions USA Water Polo is opening up the "Camps & Clinics" sanction process on our website to allow clubs to sanction a camp or clinic only. If you are to request a new sanction OR update a previous sanction for a camp or clinic, you, as a club administrator, must sign an additional sanction waiver and continue to follow all local and state guidelines as it pertains to your camp or clinic. All members that participate in the sanctioned camp or clinic must be a current USAWP member and must sign the COVID-19 Return to Play waiver prior to the commencement of the activity. Please refer to the COVID-19 Sanctioned Event Waiver for a copy of the full waiver and requirements.
May 14, 2021 - USA Water Polo Return To Play Guidelines for Clubs. Although the coronavirus has been affecting different parts of the country in different ways and will continue to do so, governmental authorities in your locality may relax the social distancing/shelter in place requirement so as to permit the resumption of at least some water polo related activities. USA Water Polo members and clubs should refer to the sources of publicly available information regarding the social distancing/shelter in place requirements applicable to their locality and, at a minimum, observe those requirements.
COVID-19 Return To Play Waiver Option for Members
We strongly recommend that clubs obtain a waiver and release of any claims that may be asserted as a result of your members contracting the COVID-19 virus prior to your club resuming water polo activities. The COVID-19 Return to Play Waiver can be accessed for approval by your members by logging into the member's USAWP account. Obtaining a release through the USA Water Polo website will ensure that USA Water Polo has a record of the release and that you do not need to worry about paper copies being lost or destroyed.
COVID Relief Options for Clubs
Please visit our Small Business COVID-19 Relief Options web page created to keep you informed of programs that may be available through Small Business Administration loans and other grant funding to help small businesses during this difficult time. Please keep in mind that USA Water Polo is not affiliated or involved with operating any of these programs. Please direct all questions to the organizations responsible for offering and managing these initiatives.
Optional Resource: National Federation of High School Sports (NFHS) COVID-19 for Coaches and Administrators Course (Free Course - Must have NFHS Login)
COVID-19 for Coaches and Administrators presents material from NFHS Sports Medicine Advisory Committee “Guidance for Opening Up High School Athletics and Activities,” along with other helpful information to assist school administrators and coaches conduct workouts, practices and contests as safely as possible.
- 1: Introduction & Welcome
- 2: COVID-19- General Information, Limiting the Spread & Face Coverings
- 3: COVID-19 and School Athletic Programs- Activity Guidelines, Cleaning and Equipment Considerations & Social Distancing
- 4: Conclusion - Final Considerations & Review
Upon completion you will receive a Red Cross certification in Returning to Work During COVID-19 from the Red Cross. NOTE: This does not fulfill CPR or First Aid requirements.
Optional Resource: Red Cross Returning to Work During COVID-19: Safe Work Practices Course
Red Cross Training Services has created an online class ($20) to make it easier to bring your staff back safely: Returning to Work During COVID-19: Safe Work Practices Course was created from guidance by the CDC and OSHA. It will instruct your staff on the following modules.
- Unit 1: Course Introduction
- Unit 2: COVID-19 Facts
- Unit 3: Limiting the Spread of the COVID-19 Virus
- Unit 4: Returning to Work: A Phased Approach
- Unit 5: Keeping Yourself and Your Coworkers Safe at Work
- Unit 6: Supporting Yourself and Your Coworkers at Work
- Unit 7: Keeping Your Family Safe at Home
- Unit 8: Health and Safety Skills
- Unit 9: Course Conclusion
Upon completion you will receive a Red Cross certification in Returning to Work During COVID-19 from the Red Cross. NOTE: This does not fulfill CPR or First Aid requirements.
Optional Resource: CDC Interim Guidance for Businesses
The CDC has a free resource for businesses and staff returning to work Interim Guidance for Businesses and Employers Responding to Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), May 2020.
Additional Information & Resources:
USA Water Polo does not endorse any particular program or source of information and urges our members and clubs to become as informed as possible regarding the precautions against spreading the COVID-19 virus that can be taken and to select those, in the judgment of our members and member clubs, that will best protect our members and their families under the particular circumstances under which they are contemplating a return to play.
CDC State & Local Travel Restrictions:
While every area is different, the CDC continues to recommend individuals stay home as much as possible and avoid close contact, especially if you are at higher risk of severe illness. If you must travel, follow any state and local travel restrictions currently in place. It is possible that some state and local governments may put in place travel restrictions, stay-at-home or shelter-in-place orders, mandated quarantines upon arrival, or even state or county border closures while you are traveling. For more information and travel guidance, check with the state or county health department where you are, along your route, and at your planned destination. Just because there are no restrictions at the time you plan to leave does not mean there won’t be restrictions in place when you arrive.
