COVID-19 / Coronavirus Gymnastics Club Reopening Steps / Process

[JBS]

--==++ POLL THREAD ++==--

The poll is now closed... you can view the results at the below link... or in order from most to least voted for below...

CB-COVID-19-poll-results.pdf

--==++ POLL THREAD ++==--

This thread has been turned into a poll... you can vote at the following link...

[Poll: VOTE NOW] What items below are most important to you as gymnastics clubs reopen?

THIS POLL IS NOW CLOSED Here is the poll from the other thread... please take your time and select what makes you feel safer. There is an option for "Nothing makes me feel safer" at the bottom. This poll is "anonymous"... so others cannot see what you selected or who voted. The poll will be...

www.chalkbucket.com

--==++ ORIGINAL POST BELOW ++==--

As I am now hearing that some clubs will be opening as early as Monday (April 27th, 2020)... please post things that you are seeing clubs do as they reopen from the COVID-19 pandemic. We can use this thread as a reference of ideas to help everyone out. I will move the ideas to this first post so they are clearly visible as the conversation in this thread continues on.

--==++ IDEAS FROM POSTS BELOW ++==--

• Follow State & Federal guidelines
• Initial opening with small groups of 10 or less
• Following social distancing guidelines (6+ feet) with stations / drills
• Frequent hand washing for the gymnasts and coaches
• Wiping down equipment after each use
• Masks
  • N95 vs non-N95
  • Issues with restricting oxygen for athletes
  • Just the coaches
  • Just the parents
  • Everyone
• Shorter workout times
• Screen for temperature/fever/symptoms at door
• Hand sanitizing before each event
• Consider some training outside (i.e. conditioning)
• Starting up with basics and conditioning so there will be no need to spot
• Each athlete will have their own chalk block kept in a Ziploc bag
• Each athlete will have their own spray bottle for water
• Leave shoes at the door or in a bag
• Cameras with login for parents to see from outside of the facility
• No people allowed in that are coughing
• Stagger workout times
• Stagger break times (or if practice short enough no break to limit congregating)
• Consider supplementing in person training with online training
• Wear masks in-between turns
• Encourage parents to not congregate
• Do not allow older coaches or staff with pre-existing health conditions to work initially
• Limit parents
• Place parent viewing seating at appropriate social distancing lengths
• Extra hand sanitizing stations at entrance... parent viewing... in gym... etc
• One way traffic as much as possible (an "in" door and an "out" door)
• Consider “keep team healthy” policies (credits for missed classes due to illness)
• Nightly equipment cleaning of high touch surfaces such as tables, chairs, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets, sinks with EPA registered household disinfectant per CDC guidance
• Leave gymnast supplies in the car between practices
• Gymnast assigned a balance beam / drill / piece of equipment that only they use... then wipe down after
• One at a time in the bathroom... surfaces cleaned after use
• No use of foam pit or put mat on top of pit that can be cleaned
• No locker use... they are too close together
• No water fountain use
• Sign in board at front of gym
• Workout groups will be quarantined from gym for 14 days if anyone in the group tests positive for COVID-19
• Eliminate contracts and attendance requirements
• Far-UVC lights

--==++ IDEAS FROM POSTS BELOW THAT CAME IN AFTER THE POLL ++==--

• Exclude customers that do not follow the clubs new rules
• Coaches only teach 1 group in order to prevent cross-contamination

 

[ladybird]

Our gym is planning on opening May 4th. Small groups of 10 or less doing conditioning and basics so there will be no need to spot. Girls will be screened on the way in and coaches will wear masks. Equipment will be wiped down after each group. Not sure which equipment will be used yet, but for drills they plan on having everything spaced so that the girls are 6 ft apart.

 

[FlippinLilysMom]

Each girl will have their own chalk block kept in a ziploc bag. Will also each have their own spray bottle for water. Small groups, shorter practice times (2 hours verse 4 hours).

 

[justkeepswimming]

Leave shoes at the door or in a bag.
Screen for temperature/fever.
This is tough- but even a cough due to allergies or seasonal can be a risk if the person is an unknown positive due to not feeling sick. Anyone coughing should not be there, or required to wear a mask.
Camera’s with login for parents to log on and see. (Meets safe sport, but reduces bodies in the gym.)

 

[Ilovebagels]

Maybe frequent hand washing for the gymnasts? Or hand sanitizing before each event?

 

[Really]

Leave shoes at the door or in a bag.
Screen for temperature/fever.
This is tough- but even a cough due to allergies or seasonal can be a risk if the person is an unknown positive due to not feeling sick. Anyone coughing should not be there, or required to wear a mask.
Camera’s with login for parents to log on and see. (Meets safe sport, but reduces bodies in the gym.)

Why would leaving the shoes at the door or in a bag help?

 

[Rockygym]

I am a physicians and our gym owner asked for recommendations once they are able to open (not sure when that will happen yet)

- Limit group sizes/stagger times/consider shorter in gym practice times

- Stagger break times (or if practice short enough no break to limit congregating)

- Consider some training outside (i.e. conditioning)

- Consider supplementing in person training with online training

- ?how to do physical distancing on events

- wearing masks in between turns

- more handwashing/hand sanitizing stations – do regular hand washing q30 minutes

- clean apparatus between rotations

- temperature/symptom checks at door

- encourage (not require) parents to not congregate (or limit 1-2/gymnast)

- all spectators wear masks

- place parent viewing seating at appropriate social distancing lengths

- hand sanitizing stations in parent viewing areas and at entrances

- one way traffic as much as possible, in/out door

- consider “keep team healthy” policies – credits for missed classes due to illness

- nightly equipment cleaning/high touch surfaces such as tables, chairs, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets, sinks

- with EPA registered household disinfectant per CDC guidance

- individual chalk bags

 

[JBS]

What I would like to do with this thread after we compile a bunch of ideas is create a poll so people can check the boxes next to the things that are important to them. That way we will be to get an idea of that things that people are viewing as the most important in staying safe.

 

[Geoffrey Taucer]

The parents having the ability to log in and watch via cameras is a great idea!

 

[Short Balding Guy]

Plans discussed for the re-open of our gym include:

(1) Gymnast assigned a balance beam. HB complex day A. LB complex day B. After rotation all surfaces wiped down. Beams wiped down. Mats wiped down. Cleaning done before next group enters gym.
(2) Gymnasts assigned drills stations for the day. Drill stations rotate thru the given group thru the week. Cleaning same as #1.
(3) Bathroom use. In-gym, lobby bathrooms single person allowed at a time. After use the surfaces need a spray and wipe down.
(4) For now, prohibiting open foam dismounts. Mats on top of open foam can be cleaned or wiped . Same idea as #1.
(5) Warm-up area will be one of our karate or dance rooms. These can be more easily cleaned after use and be ready for next group.
(6) Prohibiting the athletes from using their lockers (located in main bathrooms). All items in gym bag in marked areas in gym. Numbers on the walls for bags. The numbers are 6+ feet apart.
(7) Turned off gym's water fountains. Required all athletes to bring water for their use. Staff has bottled water availability. Gymnasts required to have personal spray bottle for bars.
(8) Sign-in board in entry way (athletes name, temp, with bag, date time in, etc.). Parents are discouraged from lobby. If strong desire to come into lobby, they must sign-in. Seating has been restricted to folding chairs and folding tables.
(9) Emergency Plan recognized - Informed staff, parents, gymnasts that if an athlete is identified as having symptoms or confirmed Covid the group will be in a 14 day quarantine from the gym. The group includes the assigned coach.
(10) Staff is discouraged from waiting or congregating in staff offices.
(11) Staff wear masks and gymnasts wear masks when not at station or on a task.
(12) Parents can view practice via password access to on-line gym security cameras.


This is what I recall this early Saturday morning. Be safe, be strong and see you on the streets soon, Eric -

 

[twocurlygirlz]

Super helpful thread. Temp checks at door seem to be key. Our office just invested in these and 8 think these are ideal for gyms:

Amazon product ASIN B086RNHPS9

 

[mommyof1]

Eliminate contracts and attendance requirements. Allow families to delay returning and to pull kids from practice according to their own risk preferences. If we had to sign an annual contract right now or felt pressure to get our child back in the gym immediately, our family would be done with the sport.

 

[mommyof1]

UV-C lights:

Link Removed

 

[justkeepswimming]

Why would leaving the shoes at the door or in a bag help?

If people touch doorknobs, counters, anywhere the germs “land” so to speak...the floor is also a place. Shoes are carrying the germs as well. I’m a nurse and do wipe mine off, but also leave them in my trunk. Coach could wear covers...but coach/anyone walks across floor with hands...then handstands holds...then touch the bars...etc.

Just easier to keep shoes covered or out since they aren’t necessary in the gym.

Aerosol and Surface Distribution of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 in Hospital Wards, Wuhan, China, 2020

Distribution of SARS-CoV-2 in Hospital Wards

wwwnc.cdc.gov

 

[Manuel]

Why would leaving the shoes at the door or in a bag help?

COVID can stay in the surface for 2-3 days and shoes or any type of footwear need not to go inside the gym. Athletes are barefooted at all times. It’s precaution.

 

[amiandjim]

Our gym has divided the girls into groups of 10 or less, and is bringing them in for just 2 hours at a time when they re-open. They will keep their grips in ziplock bags, and their own chalk in Tupperware containers. There are also procedures for which doors to enter in and out of, the bleachers are marked with 6 feet between spots, etc...

I think the important thing to remember is that the shutdown was NEVER designed to keep people from getting this virus. Most of us will probably get it at some point, and a vaccine isn’t happening any time soon. The shutdown was simply designed to keep hospitals from being overwhelmed with severe cases all at the same time. Some areas were successful in doing this, some were not. Those that do not wish to send their kids back now, that’s certainly your right, but this virus isn’t going away anytime soon.

 

[bogwoppit]

Seriously consider keeping older coaches out of the gym, death stats are much higher in the over 60 crowd. Tough to make this choice, but keeping people safe is important too.

 

[Pirouette]

If the gymnasts are bringing their supplies to the gym each practice, it might make sense to leave those supplies in the car between practices, weather permitting. Every little bit helps.

 

[TTW3]

I’m sorry if this was covered already, or if it is an ignorant question, but is there concern about equipment (Bars, Beam, Vault/Springboard) getting slippery when cleaned so often? Especially if left to the athletes to do the cleaning for their designated equipment between events as I imagine would often happen. Perhaps there is enough time to dry but logistically could be an introduction of different hazard? The chalking of the bars etc. removed often could also present issues especially for higher levels.

 

[suds]

To any gym owner as they consider opening:

1. Consult a respected, reputable attorney whose professional domain this encompasses.
2. Consult a reputable physician in a position of authority who is respected in the Public Health Sector.
3. Obtain written guidance from both of them.
4. Only proceed at a time, and in a manner, that is supported by both.

This decreases the gym’s exposure from both a legal standpoint and from a public health standpoint.

The stakes are high in this pandemic.
This is not a “Make it up as we go” or an “Ask a bunch of friends what we should do” situation.