Swimming facilities make accommodations during pandemic

MILFORD — No contact swimming lessons are one of the new options some Milford swimming facilities have introduced as a consequence of the pandemic.

In no contact swim lessons, the swimming instructor has no physical contact with the student throughout the entire lesson.

Aqua Jets Swim Club, at 18 Point Lookout in Milford, is a private club that offers only oneon-one, no contact lessons.

Lauren McCann, head coach of the club, said children must be able to hold themselves in order to take the no contact swim lessons.

“The students must be able to hold onto the side of the wall and implement instruction without someone holding them,” she said. If they can’t, they can’t take swim lessons at this time, according to McCann.

Prior to taking a lesson, McCann asks parents if their children can go into the water on their own, without the parent.

“It’s better for the parent to not be involved,” she said.

Aside from parents, swim instructors are also not allowed in the water.

The lessons are based on a child’s ability rather than their age, according to McCann.

“Sometimes a 3-year-old can hold themselves up, but typically now it’s 6 and up,” she added.

Masks are required for all instructors during the entire lesson.

If Connecticut COVID-19 health department and safety guidelines should specifically address parents going into the water with their children, then she said she’ll revisit that requirement, she said.

Due to the pandemic, the Milford Recreation Department, at 70 W. River St., is currently not offering swim lessons at all.

In the past, lessons were given at Joseph A Foran High School.

“We are hoping in the spring of 2021, we can open back up,” said Rich Minnix, recreation supervisor. For updates, visit milfordrecreation.com.

At the Woodruff Family YMCA, 631 Orange Ave. in Milford, in contrast to the Aqua Jets club, parents or caregivers are required to be in the pool with all beginning swimmers.

Also, the instructor stands on the pool deck throughout the entire lesson.

Prior to the pandemic, the instructor was “inches away” from the swim student in the water, Marketing and Communications Director Donna Gill Lisitano said.

Woodruff offers both private and group swimming lessons.

According to Lisitano, the size of the group instruction is smaller than it was pre-pandemic. All group lessons have three to five participants, depending on the swim lesson level of the student.

Additionally, in a group lesson, both the student and parent need to stay at least six feet away in the water from others who are taking the class.

While the student and parent don’t need to wear a mask while in the water, the instructor must wear one while standing on the pool deck, giving instruction.

Iris Walther, whose 6-year-old son Finn has been taking swim classes at the Woodruff Family YMCA since he was a baby, noticed some additional recent changes due to the pandemic.

When Finn took classes this summer, Walther said all students now have their own bin to store their items while the class is taking place.

Not being able to watch Finn’s lessons is another change that Walther noticed. Finn is at a stage 4 swim level, and can swim the length of the pool without help. So, for his level, while parents can drop students off and help them get settled in, “we have to leave the pool area,” she said.“Myself and the other two moms used to just watch through the windows from outside the pool.”

Additionally, she observed the showers and changing rooms were closed over the summer.

“It wasn’t really a problem for us, since we have a swim coverup for our son and have only a five minute drive home,” she said. “We have to see how it works out now that it’s getting colder.”

Over all, Walther said her son didn’t mind all the changes.

“He’d been going to camp and was used to some of the protocols already anyways. I’m a little disappointed that they don’t have a big selection of time slots anymore. Our option for the upcoming swim class was Saturday morning at 8:30, and that was it. They used to have swim classes almost daily.”

She added that despite the pandemic, it’s still very important children stay active.

“I just wanted our son to get more exercise again. All this sitting around at home, watching tv, is definitely not that great.”

Despite at the changes, the swim lessons themselves at Woodruff remain exactly the same, according to Lisitano, as well as the goal of the lessons, which is to “have fun and gain confidence.”

“We are really trying to give a child or adult confidence in the water, and build their stamina,” Lisitano said.

She added earning to swim and being in a swim environment “is a lifelong love and skill.”

“We still want people to be comfortable in the water. It’s still a great exercise,” she said. “We will still offer the programming and keep people healthy and well and active. Swim lessons is the one of the ways of doing that.