Email re-published with permission
To Fitter and Faster,
Fitter and Faster was amazing to work with. Matt Jordan, from the pool board had some people worried on his end, and we are so thankful that you all were willing to try to ease their fears and work with us. Everyone at Fitter and Faster went above and beyond to work with the Pool Board and Swim team to bring an amazing experience. Due to COVID 19 and no swim season in our area this summer, there was concern over what an event like this would and could look like. David (Arluck) and the whole Fitter and Faster team had countless conversations and emails answering every single question anyone on our end had, problem solved with us and had great protocols already in place that they walked us through. It was clear during every conversation and email that the FFT team not only wanted this event to happen, but wanted it done with extreme safety in place.
So many details went into this from discussions about the pool deck and set up, spacing in the pool, rewording of our contract, sending out the pools own Covid waiver, etc. Not once did the pool board liaison to this event or I feel like the answers, accommodations and ideas F and F had were unsafe. We felt 100% heard, respected and like we were a true team in making this happen- all before the clinicians even showed up. I can not say enough about my experience working with F and F. You are a true asset to the swimming community!
Both Matt and I were down at the pool all weekend and we had zero doubts about the safety of the event!
Christopher (Reid) and Will set a good tone for safety from the start. We set up cones about 8 feet apart for swimmers to put their belongings on deck. Everyone wore masks in the pool house and when not engaged in the camp (in line for autographs, pictures, etc). Swimmers were 3 to a lane and lined up as one on the blocks, one 6 feet back on concrete and the third on the grass. The clinician had them swim odd numbers of laps so that they would exit at the other end of the pool to minimize cross over time (ie a 75 meter free warm up, 75 meter stroke of choice, 25 meter free, etc). They constantly reminded swimmers to distance, but were so upbeat and positive about it. They modeled distancing too. When they wanted to demonstrate something they asked people to move back or down.
We had zero questions of safety this weekend. And more importantly, Will and Christopher were amazing clinicians. So easy to work with, kind, helpful, knowledgeable and the kids LOVED THEM. Our head coach loved interacting with them, and learned a lot herself. We would welcome Fitter and Faster back next summer! We posted on our team’s social media and many people are now interested that did not participate and hoping we do this again. Thank you for bringing us this amazing experience and YES please, we would love to do this again!
-Becky Poirier
