I am disappointed with Governor Inslee's decision to treat Water Polo as a high risk contact sport and thus exclude it from the list of sports allowed under Phase 3 of your Healthy Washington plan.  Practicing and playing Water Polo has been extremely beneficial to the health and well-being of many young athletes in our state.    It keeps them active, happy, healthy, and away from trouble.  They already missed one season (last year) due to COVID-19.  

Based on accumulating evidence that the majority of sports-related spread of COVID-19 appears to occur from social contact, not during sports participation.  So far to this day there are 0 cases worldwide of COVID transmition linked to playing water polo.  

According to USA Water Polo "High school water polo competitions are mostly played in heavily chlorinated water regardless if they are indoor or outdoor, where the players are mostly submerged. Their faces are thoroughly doused every few seconds, and are often underwater. Unfortunately, Washington state has simply lumped water polo into the HIGH RISK contact sport category without any additional consideration regarding the environment in which it is played. Evidence from other states and abroad demonstrates that COVID-19 is highly unlikely to be transmitted during games or practices. This misclassification of Water Polo threatens the opportunity for our athletes to have a 2021 season. Please note that The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Sports Medicine Advisory Committee classifies Water Polo as a “Moderate-Risk” sport."

CDC Guidance. “There is no evidence that COVID-19 can be spread to humans through the use of swimming pools…or aquatic play areas.” 

WHO Guidance. “There is limited risk of significant microbial contamination and illness in a well managed pool or similar environment with an adequate residual disinfectant concentration.”

Chlorine Gas. The effect of chlorine is not limited to the water. Droplets and gas disinfect the surface of the water column, according to the British Sports Medicine Journal and National Institute of Health.

Please think of everything our high school athletes have been through this past year.  Many of them have still not had the priveledge of seeing their classmates and teachers since March of 2020.  The girls already lost one season of their sport.  There are scholorships and college admissions pending on good seasons for many of our athletes who have been playing for years.  Please let our players play!