Dear Governor Holcomb and IHSAA members,

My children are swimmers on the Avon Community Swim Team (ACST) from Avon, IN and they are eager to swim again. They are joined by many others signing this petition who are ready to responsibly return to competitive training in our state's pools.

Indiana's pools have been shut down for over two months. Many of these athletes lost state competitions in March and entire seasons from April through August. This shutdown of our pools needs to change.  Across the state, thousands of talented swimmers have lost the feel for the water, which is essential for their sport. Once swimmers stop training for more than two weeks, they begin to lose their aerobic endurance and thus performance decreases dramatically as time goes on. This shutdown of our pools needs to change. 

As science clearly demonstrates, chlorine kills the coronavirus and helps prevent the spread. On the CDC website it clearly states, “There is no evidence that the virus that causes COVID-19 can be spread to people through the water in pools, hot tubs, spas, or water play areas. Proper operation and maintenance (including disinfection with chlorine and bromine) of these facilities should inactivate the virus in the water.” 

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/php/water.html

I do understand that everyone needs to take safety precautions seriously as well as practice social distancing during practices. Here is USA Swimming's Guidance to how this could safely work: 

 https://www.swimmingworldmagazine.com/news/usa-swimming-presents-clubs-with-safe-ways-to-return-to-practice 

Please trust the maturity of competitive athletes: they are focused, serious, and responsible. Many of these swimmers compete year round between club and high school swimming. The commitment and dedication to their sport is amazing. I know their commitment to safety if allowed to return would be just as admirable.

This is where the IHSAA ruling not permitting schools to allow access to their facilities until July 1st at best has been so damaging. Most swim clubs rent time at high school pools. Without access, our athletes continue to lose their feel for the water and considerable endurance.

I appreciate everything the government and IHSAA is doing to keep people safe, however both entities should trust serious swimmers to return to the pools in a responsible way. Their mental and physical health depends on it.

Sincerely,

A swim mom and her community