Newsletter #4/2022
COVID-19 Sport and Recreation Interim Measure 27 January 2022
The Province returns to level 2 of the GNB Winter Level Measures at 11:59pm Friday, January 28th, 2022.
Indoor sports facilities are open, but users must provide proof of vaccination.
- Physically distanced training within a single team / group is allowed for everyone, including children under 12.
- Competitions are allowed for up to 25 swimmers under the age of 12, and up to 50 swimmers aged 12 and over. Coaches and officials are not included in this number.
- Two teams/groups can be on the same surface if there is no interaction, and we assume that this includes pools.
- Travel is not restricted but should be minimized as much as possible.
All Swim NB Clubs and Teams are encouraged to review the documents released and adjust their COVID-19 Operational Plans accordingly.
A subcommittee of the Board of Directors has met January 27, 2022, to review the announcement and discuss the technical challenges with this announcement surrounding the return to competition.
For the month of February, we are cancelling all planned meets and encouraging all clubs to focus on a return to sport.
Revising the meet calendar
The following Swim Meets are now cancelled and will not be held during the 2021-2022 season:
- Distance Qualifier North/South January 15
- NB Open SC Cup January 28 to 30, 2022
- Premier 3 at FAST, BLAST & CNBO schedule for February 5, 2022
- Invitational 2 February 19 to 20, 2022
SNB encourages clubs to organise Time Trials or Club-meets in late February and into March to help their swimmers prepare for competitions and get qualifying times. SNB will rapidly approve sanction requests that follow existing templates.
Adjustments to the meet calendar for March 2022 and beyond will proceed as follows, subject to Government issued guidelines and restrictions.
- NB LC March 24 to 27, 2022 will proceed but possibly as an Invitational. This will not be a CG Trials event.
- Premier 4 North/South/Central April 9, 2022 will proceed as planned.
- We are looking at options for other meets and training camps in March and April.
We are reviewing meets that will allow swimmers to post eligible times for the Canada Games, but the final selection will still be the CG Trials on 5-8 May. Our goal is to give our athletes the best opportunity to prepare and to qualify for the team and to select the best team possible.
In-House Time Trials
The Board has adopted new criteria for Time Trials that are organised as part of training when competitions are restricted. Clubs are invited to organise in-house time trials when training is again allowed. If inter-group training is not allowed, then clubs should specify the group for which the Time Trial is being organised.
Please remember that Time Trials must be part of regular training activities, ideally within your normal timetable. They should not be described as mini-competitions or in-house meets. SNB will reimburse clubs for sanction fees (15 $) on Time Trials while competitions are suspended because of Covid, up to two per club per month.
| Class I Time Trial Rule CSW 3.5.1 | Class II Time Trial Rule CSW 3.5.2 | |
| Purpose | For records attempt. Must show reasonable chance that record will be broken. | For individual recognized time. Records shall not be accepted. |
| Timing | Electronic, semi-electronic (eg plunger) or manual with a minimum of 3 times per lane | Electronic, semi-electronic (eg plunger) or manual with a minimum of 3 times per lane |
| Officiating | One level 4 or 5 official Four level 2-4 officials Minimum of one senior official from outside the club. | One level 4 or 5 official Four level 2-4 officials If a level 4-5 official is unavailable because of Public Health restrictions, the Time trial may be overseen by a Level 3 official. |
| Gender mixing | Not allowed | Allowed (CSW3.5.2) |
| Swimmers /clubs | Sanction request must list names of swimmer’s, existing times, and the record they hope to better. Sanction request must specify club and training group, to ensure compliance with Public Health guidelines. May include more than one club, subject to Public Health guidelines. | Sanction request must specify club and training group, to ensure compliance with Public Health guidelines. May include more than one club, subject to Public Health guidelines. |
| Awards | No awards | No awards |
| Sanction notice | Application for sanction submitted minimum one week in advance. Must be advertised 72 hours in advance. | Application for sanction submitted minimum one week in advance. |
Long-Course training opportunities
SNB has reserved the CGAC pool for long-course training, subject to Covid restrictions. We have reserved 5 lanes between 11.30 am and 2pm on Saturday 26th February. Pool costs are covered by SNB.
Head coaches should complete the on-line form, specifying the number and age categories of swimmers that intend participating. Coaches are responsible for organising activities for their own swimmers, and all swimmers must be registered with SNB.
Forms must be submitted by February 5th and SNB will try to accommodate as many requests as possible. We are planning other LC training days on March 19, April 16, May 28 and June 25, depending upon interest from clubs.
Official office opening We are pleased to inform you that our ED is back to NB after visiting his family in Tunisia. The SNB office will be open again as of January 31st and you can reach us again by phone.
Marwen Ghali Stephen Wyatt
