Knutsford Vikings Swimming Club meeting coronavirus challenges

"We are keeping the spirit of the Vikings alive in these unprecedented times with the help of various platforms," said head coach Phil James.

"Since lockdown we have been meeting with our performance squad swimmers via the video conferencing app, Zoom.

"These sessions have been used in a number of ways.

"Firstly, to help encourage our more senior athletes to develop a personalised 12-week progressive land training plan to help minimise any effects from not being able to maintain the training that they were doing in the pool prior to lock down.

"Our younger performance and club swimmers have been tasked with developing four-week plans incorporating fun challenges to help keep them fit, active and healthy.

"Secondly, it's a way for the swimmers to meet, socialise and maintain the team spirit that has been built in the past 12-18 months or so.

"The planning and preparation for the sessions also help to keep our coaches engaged and feeling part of the process.

"Central to all this, of course, is the safety and security of our members and swimmers."

Vikings have a closed Facebook group where swimmers and parents can share videos and posts of their activities and challenges.

"This is a great way for the swimmers to help challenge and inspire each other whilst also maintaining the social distancing rules," said Phil.

"We also use this platform to signpost our members to relevant Swim England and other useful swim related communications and videos."

Vikings are also producing a vibrant fortnightly newsletter to help keep everyone informed and connected.

"We have a very wide demographic of skills and talents within the parent group and it's important that everyone knows that we are all in this together and that the club can be a vehicle for those that may be in need – whatever that need may be," said Phil.

The newsletter includes such features as 'getting to know your coach', swimming related quizzes, fun challenges and celebrating member birthdays.

"The current fun challenge is a Vikings bake-off. We have asked our members to design, create and bake either a swimming or Vikings themed showstopper," he said.

"The first few entries are very encouraging and we look forward to many more to come!"

VIEW: See pictures of some of the baking entries here

All of this helps to provide a focus in uncertain and difficult times.

"We do not yet know when we will be allowed to return to pool training," said Phil.

"Preparation will be key to managing a successful return.

"We will work hard with the full support of Swim England and Swim England North West to ensure that the Vikings come back fighting when we eventually get the green light to resume."

Phil has been keeping himself up to date with the sport's governing bodies.

"As the head coach I have been attending a weekly Swim England North West video conference meeting that is attended by many other coaches from the region," he said.

"This is a very useful vehicle to communicate latest updates, share best practice and to prepare for the future in what are extremely uncertain and unprecedented times."

The latest position is that Swim England and British Swimming have cancelled all competition up to and including the National Championships in August.

Phil said: "The Vikings were due to take a team of 15 swimmers to the North West Regional Championships in Liverpool and Manchester throughout March, April and May. Unfortunately, this is not happening due to the lockdown.

"However, we at the Vikings are immensely proud of each and every one of the 15 swimmers who worked so hard to qualify for a competition which features the most talented swimmers from across the region.

"We are also very proud to have such a strong representation at this year's championships too, bearing in mind that we had six swimmers at last year's championships."