Category: ethics

32 ballerinas for COVID-19 relief

“Ballet companies are largely dependent on revenue from performances to pay their dancers and fund their operations, but we are now confronting the uncertainty of when we will return to the stage and once again fill performance venues. Some estimates are that large gatherings like concerts and performances will not be able to resume for another 18-24 months. …

We are coming together to help fellow dancers who are struggling financially. The 32 ballerinas featured in this special video performance represent ballet companies from around the world, including the US, Australia, the UK, South Africa, Norway, Russia, Cuba, France, the Philippines, Canada, Austria, Mexico, Denmark, and China.    … ”

gofundme

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Thanks Jessica.

Belgium has been training

… she and teammates Maellyse Brassart and Senna Deriks board together in an apartment building near the national team training center.

“Actually, we’re pretty lucky because we can still train at our gym, so that’s good.

Our whole senior team can still train in the hall. But after training we just go back and make our food and we don’t leave the building.” …

At 169 cm, Derwael is the tallest woman to win the World Uneven Bars title in more than three decades. She credits a part of her success to Belgian national team coaches Yves Kieffer and Marjorie Huels, who have worked with her for the past seven years.
“Without them I wouldn’t be standing here now,” she said. …

Determined Derwael biding her time before Tokyo

Click PLAY or watch her 2019 Gold on YouTube.

Communicating with parents about COVID-19

As I post more and more Gyms are opening, or getting ready to open.

Communicating with parents is critical.

I like how Bryon Hough is doing that messaging for Classic Gymnastics in Minnesota and Iowa.

Clean and clear on their website, as is the logo.

via Chalk Bucket forum

Gymnastics Clubs are reopening

So far, so good at Avant Coeur.

Every coach and every Gym has to decide what’s best for them.

Err on the side of caution. Start training slowly with an abundance of physical distancing. No spotting to start.

If it works, gradually increase training. Gradually increase the number of kids invited to restart.

If even one child or coach tests COVID-19 positive for any reason, your Gym will likely close again.

Much depends on the risk in your area. New Zealand clubs, for example, will be back to normal quickly. If you are in a hot zone, you’ll have to go more slowly.

GOOD LUCK. We’re cheering for you.

Many owners right now are worried about this scenario. There has to be enough revenue to keep the doors open.

Click PLAY or watch it on Facebook.

Gymnastics resumes in Italy

Some Italian gymnasts trained in quarantine during COVID-19.

But most clubs were allowed to open starting May 4th. 

Italy deems sports including Artistic Gymnastics, Golf and Tennis in the safest category allowing physical distancing most easily.

Team sports, including volleyball, have more physical contact.

 

 

U.S. Olympic Committee on reopening

As of April 28, 2020.

Here’s some advice on what to do when allowed to reopen sports facilities. It’s quite general, information for coaches of all Olympic sports.

USOPC Return to Training Considerations Post COVID-19 

Phase 3:

  • small groups allowed to train. But no general public access.
  • athletes, coaches, and staff have NO symptoms of COVID-19 (Appendix 2) in the past 14 days
  • anyone who had a case of documented COVID-19 infection needs a note from their doctor indicating they are cleared to participate in training
  • ideally participants should have 2 negative COVID-19 tests separated by 24 hours before resuming training
  • athletes record signs and symptoms (including temperature) on a paper or electronic log that is monitored by coaches or staff
  • athletes interviewed each time on arrival for symptoms
  • athletes should use their own equipment and avoid touching each other as much as possible
  • Use own water bottle, towel, personal hygiene products, etc.
  • Rigorous, frequent cleaning schedule/protocol of equipment with disinfectant before, during, and after training
  • cleaners wear appropriate personal protective equipment  (e.g., gloves, face mask, etc.) to prevent contact with contaminated surfaces and protect against toxicities associated with cleaning products
  • coaches maintain physical distance from athletes, as much as possible. No spotting, if possible.

Phase 4 would be return to normal training.

Download the entire document – USOPC Return to Training

 

 

Gators 10.0 for frontline workers

Florida Gators were killing it in 2020. Undefeated in the SEC.

Jenny Rowland – NCAA Coach of the Year

A huge bounce back after not qualifying for 2019 Nationals.

But rather than being bitter about the COVID-19 season being cut short, they send thanks to everyone flattening the curve, reducing deaths and bringing back the economy as quickly as safely possible.

Click PLAY or watch it on Twitter.

 

Laurie Hernandez on Maggie Haney

Laurie trained with Maggie Haney for 11 years.

Hernandez has never spoken publicly about the abuse allegations against Maggie Haney.

But in a lengthy Instagram post in response to Haney’s suspension, Hernandez, a member of the Final Five that won gold at the Rio Games in 2016, said that years of being yelled at and belittled had made her think she hated gymnastics.

“It wasn’t until mid 2018 I realized it was the people that made the experience bad, not the sport itself,” Hernandez wrote Thursday. …

USA Today

You can read Laurie’s statement on Instagram.

Buckeye’s reopening after COVID-19

David Holcomb has been planning how to safely reopen Buckeye Gymnastics (Gabby’s former gym) — and the plan has evolved over time based on government recommendations in Ohio.

The club hopes to start opening mid-May or shortly after.

Only one parent or non-participating individual will be allowed to enter the building with their child.

Parents and staff are required to wear masks as per Buckeye Gymnastics policy. Gymnasts are not required to wear masks but are welcome to do so.

Webcam viewing will allow parents to watch from home, at work or in their cars.

The number of children in class will be reduced: school-age classes will be 6:1 max and pre-school 4:1 max. Buckeye will not offer classes for preschoolers age 4 and younger for now.

No Open Gym or Birthday Parties for the foreseeable future.

No hands-on spotting for at least the first month. We will then reevaluate.

We will stagger class start and end times to insure time for the students to get in and out of the gym safely, to provide time to wipe down the equipment between each class and for teachers to thoroughly wash their hands.

There will be touchless temperature checks for all staff members.

The communal drinking fountains will be closed. We plan to remove them and replace them with sinks to provide more opportunities for washing hands.

Open David’s April 28th letter to Staff and Families for details. (Word doc)

Thanks for sharing this, Dave. 

If your club needs help with reopening, I’d recommend consultant Frank Sahlein and his company 3rd Level Consulting.

For example, your revised release form will need a new paragraph talking about the risk of contracting a virus or other disease while at the Gym.

Maggie Haney suspended 8 years

Former U.S. Olympic and national team coach Maggie Haney was suspended by USA Gymnastics on Wednesday for eight years for verbal and emotional abuse …

The suspension comes nearly four years after Hernandez first filed a complaint against Haney with a top USA Gymnastics official (Rhonda Faehn) …

Haney is expected to appeal the decision. …

Hernandez and McCusker joined at least a half-dozen families in filing complaints against Haney with USA Gymnastics. …

Click through for details.

related – Assistant coach Victoria Levine is on interim suspension and is currently under investigation.