Hey Marlins!

I hope everyone is doing well hunkered down and finding ways to keep their sanity! I'm posting bullet points from the most recent GCSL update in regard to the COVID-19 situation. Please read the bullets closely:

Below is a rough guideline for right now:

• April 24th council meeting is canceled.
  • The board will continue to send weekly emails to council & coaches.
  • Team fees will be due in May, IF we are able to proceed with a modified season.
• Team registration- I am recommending teams to continue to register swimmers. IF we have the opportunity to start up the season in a hurry, we want teams to be ready to go! Make it known that we WILL offer refunds if the season is canceled!

• June 1- will be the first opportunity for swimmers to enter the pool water. Based on current health guidelines, May gatherings of our magnitude pose too much risk. We are targeting June 1; but that is TBD based on CDC and local health guidelines. It also hinges on HOA approvals.

• Background checks: We need each team to have a head coach proceed with their background checks now! You can wait on having assistant coaches until mid May. If the season happens to be canceled, the league will cover the cost of background checks to help you financially. Background check link

• Modified Season: The Board is planning for a modified season, if possible. Options we have discussed are a 4 or 6 meet schedule, depending on timing. That IS IF HOA’s will still grant us pool access through the end of July.

• I need you as the council member to reach out to your HOA’s now!
  • Find out if your community will grant you access to the pool through the end of July?
  • Are swim meets allowed if we are approved by the CDC? Or will your HOA follow it’s own guidelines and possibly keep the pool closed?
  • Are your council and coaches available to work until August , if possible
  • You will receive a separate email containing a link to the Google Form. I will need you to complete it with the above information. But please, start gathering this information immediately.

• The Board will make an official decision for the season mid-May.We all know that more guidelines will come by April 13th (when the shelter in place order expires) from the Governor. Information continues to happen daily. We also know the CDC will post more information by the end of the month to help guide us.

• County Championship Meet: The Board has unanimously voted to cancel the 2020 Championship meet. With the high cost required to hold the meet and our inability to push the event later into the summer, we feel trying to hold the event with a shortened calendar limits our flexibility to make the most of any time we have to hold a revised season. We feel it is best to take this event off the schedule. It opens up the ability for us to be more flexible with our dates, to potentially extend our season, and allow our swimmers time in the pool. I know this will upset a few; however, we feel there are more positives than negatives in doing it this way.

• The Board is working on alternatives to the Championship meet, including but not limited to the possibility of Divisional challenges. This way swimmers remain competitive and have something to strive for as a team.

With that coming from the GCSL, I ask that we critically reflect on the good of our children, as well as the larger team, and ask ourselves if we are willing to participate in the season IF GCSL goes through with it. Attached is a survey that I ask you to complete before the end of the week. The council will abide by the majority consensus.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/9TC27DY

As always, our primary concern is the safety of our kids. Thank you for taking the time to participate in this decision-making process. 

Best,

Jake Edwards

Chair, Edinburgh Marlins