A round table hosted by John Min, USECA Video Chairman.
A NEW challenge for each Club. This is a brainstorming session.
The BIG recommendation is not to rush. Come back slowly and safely. We have a new, unexpected meso-cycle in our training year which precedes another Preparation Phase. Slow return to the Gym after weeks of lockout.
Steve Arkell:
Inviting back Competitive first, staggering training times
Check for temperature of athletes on arrival (this is not foolproof)
About 4 people / 1000 sq feet
Kids in each rotation group will stay as far apart as possible. Apparatus groups will switch at the same time, in order to keep distance.
Take this COVID-19 opportunity for super keen gymnasts to find a better life / gymnastics balance.
When skills are eventually introduced, use tumbling trampolines, pits, soft surfaces. Don’t rush.
Coaches will wear masks.
Coaches will be tested just before coming back to the Gym.
Coaches and gymnasts should be challenged to progress with LESS spotting, even on Bars. Slide mats rather than hand spot. (Spotting belts might make a return to popularity.)
Adding new RECORDS bulletin board for fitness tests. This will be the focus at first, not skills.
Craig Zappa:
Anything you did not like about your old program, should be banished now. This is a great opportunity to reinvent your program. A fresh start.
High priority is to STOP the keenest athletes from overdoing it on getting back to the Gym. Injury is a worry after weeks out.
Advise athletes that anticipated J.O. move ups are on hold, for now
This ‘forced rest’ is an opportunity to fully heal old injuries
Watch themselves on video (Mental Training)
Reassuring the parents will be a high priority.
His club uses a ‘fogging machine’ to disinfect. It takes 10 minutes. He’ll do it 2-3 times / day.
Might delay the calendar of competitions for the 2021 season. Don’t rush.
Assign one gymnast / Beam for all of each rotation
Craig would like to have clear masks for coaches.
Craig will allow very few parents into the Gym. Other clubs will simply ask parents not to enter the Gym.
Mary Wright:
Time to focus on cooperation. Coaches and athletes working together to get back to peak training form.
Be smart. Rebuild confidence progressively
Conditioning first after a few weeks away
General strength before specific
Flexibility improvement phase
Aerobic base
Work ‘shapes‘ before movements
Time at home is a chance for gymnasts to make Dream Boards and set goals / objectives
Training would progressively advance to BASICS without rush. Up to 2 hours / day to start.
If this limited training goes on for months, planned goals for 2021 will have to be modified.
Olivia Estes:
Has been working on personal development of athletes while at home. Generosity. Team supporting one another.
Has been using a combination of big group Zoom meetings. Smaller meetings in private Facebook groups.
To start … will likely only allow top 12 athletes to use the pit
Equipment will be cleaned ongoing during workout
Coaches only work with ONE group of kids. If anyone tests positive, those coaches and kids will be out of the Gym.
Plans on minimum spotting. Only the very top gymnasts will be spotted. And not for the first 8 weeks or so after return.
UPDATE – After posting this I stopped by our local cleaning supply store to ask the experts there what they thought about disinfecting sports facilities.
They told me foggers were expensive. And would, instead, recommend frequent physical wipe-downs of high use areas and places where people reach with their hands.
____ original post:
For years Craig Zappa has been using a fogger to disinfect the Gym. He plans to do so even more often on reopening ENA Paramus in New Jersey, a State hard hit by COVID-19.
South Korea has done a fantastic job managing COVID-19 after a terrible start.
Gymnasts were asked to leave the National Training Centre March 27th.
According to the KSOC, about 360 athletes and coaches in nine sports, including gymnastics, table tennis, boxing, fencing and badminton, will report back during the week of May 11.
“We’ll try to minimize contact among athletes in different sports in order to prevent infection within the training center,” a KSOC official said. “They’ll only be allowed to spend time in their training facilities and residence.”
Following social distancing guidelines (6+ feet) with stations / drills
Wiping down equipment after each use
Masks (entering and exiting the Gym)
Hand sanitizing before each event
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
Cameras with login for parents to watch from outside the facility
Stagger workout times
Stagger break times (or if practice short enough no break to limit congregating)
One way traffic as much as possible
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
Wearing masks to prevent the H1N1 influenza virus at the venue of the Rhythmic Gymnastics World Championships in Japan September 11, 2009.
Gymnastics Coaching.com 