Uganda Water Polo eyes return to action

With the government's systematic easing of the Coronavirus pandemic lockdown, sportsmen are among the group that is eagerly waiting to get back to their respective sports.

It is for the same reason that many associations are setting up a number of Safe Operating Procedures (SOPs) that they will follow in the near future in the likely event of resumption starting with the ‘low-medium' risk activities.

Uganda Water Polo a member of the Uganda Swimming Federation has also released a number of guidelines that their athletes and parents will follow in case the lockdown on sports activities is lifted.

According to the document sent out by the director Uganda Water Polo Eric Kisero, it demands that each club must reach out to its own facility to understand their intended re-opening date and plan.

Club plans must be aligned to the facility plans and the facility protocols will need to form part of the Club's reopening protocols and clubs must carry out a risk assessment in advance of any return to the pool.

"We would advise that Clubs prepare for a return of older players first as it will be important for Clubs and Coaches to build confidence in the new protocols and to re-introduce different elements/squads in the Club over a period of time," the document states.

Only those who are within any travel restrictions in place at that time should attend training.  No car-pooling or lift sharing to the training sessions for those from different households.

"Once at the facility, parents will be asked to stay in the pool car park until the session is finished. If this is not possible, parents will be asked to be within a five-minute travel time of the facility while any athlete who arrives late, compromising safe transit to the pool and/or safe entry into water will not be permitted to attend the session".  

Other precautions include athletes arriving for the sessions with their swimsuit on under their clothes and where facilities do not permit the use of their showers, athletes should shower immediately prior to departing for training.

Athletes will be required to use the hand sanitizers provided and there may need to be a separate entry and exit route, which will be facility dependent. It will be each facility's responsibility to determine whether changing rooms and/or showers should be used by club members before/after sessions.

"Athlete water bottles will be clearly marked/labelled with the name of the individual user and there will be no sharing of water bottles Athletes will able to store their water bottle at their athlete dressing place. Coaches will allow access as appropriate.  Athletes should not eat while they are at the facility, with post-training snacks, an individual responsibility consumed in the athlete's car/home, among other precautions."