Category: parents

USAG on safe reopening

It seems to many that USA Gymnastics was quite slow in posting their own document.

Member clubs had already reopened before they saw this document, I believe.

Here’s a SAMPLE:

Spotting

• Athlete safety is paramount, and coaches should not be restricted from spotting an athlete if necessary, to protect the athlete from injury.

• While spotting remains an important element to athlete safety, consider alternative teaching/coaching methods that align with social distancing protocols.

• Clearly communicate any alternative teaching/coaching methods so they are understood by the athletes and their parents.

• Coaches should consider the use of gloves for personal contact, with a goal of switching gloves between athletes.

Parent Viewing

• Per USA Gymnastics’ Safe Sport Policy, a parent/guardian must be provided the opportunity to observe their child’s training.

Read the entire document for yourself:

USAG Safe Reopening

Laurie Hernandez on the TODAY show

“It’s a really big step for gymnasts and USA Gymnastics just to go ahead and do the right thing and make sure people know that kind of treatment isn’t OK. It’s not OK,” Hernandez said …

Click PLAY or watch it on Twitter.

 

reopening Tri Star Gymnastics, New Zealand

Kiwi Dave Phillips explains the new procedures for parents and gymnasts.

Note that New Zealand needs not be as strict as most of the rest of the world as that island worked hard towards the goal of total elimination of COVID-19.

Click PLAY or watch it on Facebook.

Dave Holcomb – New Normal when you reopen

Dave is one of the leaders I’ve followed on how to reopen safely.

Dealing with parents is his main challenge right now.

For example, parent viewing.  He’s asking parents to watch on their phones using an app called Spot TV.  It’s a partner program with their club’s Jackrabbit software.

On spotting, Dave is aware of clubs offering classes with no spotting.

His club is going to require coaches who spot to wear masks when they do.  In addition, his staff can wear masks whenever they wish.

Also, parents will fill out an additional release form confirming they allow coaches to spot their child.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube. (43min). There are a few sections of frozen video, including the last few minutes – the usual technical glitches.

related – Buckeye’s reopening after COVID-19

Canadian Gym Clubs opening May 19th

Polarettes in Whitehorse, Yukon has announced they’ll begin to reopen Tuesday from the COVID-19 closure.

Clubs in Ontario are allowed to reopen same day. Some will. Others will take more time to ensure they do it right.

Clubs in Alberta must wait. If they go too long without revenue, some could be unable to reopen.

It’s essential to go slowly. Safely. And learn lessons each day on best practice.

Brooklyn Moors

 

 

communicating NEW Gym policies

Send those by email. Post them on your website. Share them on social media.

And have anything COVID-19 related prominently posted in the Gym.

For example, CSG.

Gymnastics Australia COVID-19 reopening

Frank Sahlein shared a document from Gymnastics Australia:

PREPARATION OF TRAINING/ COMPETITION ENVIRONMENTS

Once gymnastics clubs are provided with the endorsement to resume gymnastics activities in any capacity, the following specific factors for a safe resumption of training and participation should be considered …

Program Scheduling

  • How can training be staggered to minimise numbers and reduce contact?
  • Modifying training times so that there are less people present at one time
  • Scheduling adequate venue and equipment cleaning time between sessions.

Cleaning

  • Bathrooms/change rooms, kitchens, and entrance foyer

  • What is the protocol and frequency of cleaning shared facilities?

  • Treatment of surfaces

    • –  A single deep clean will not provide any ongoing protection

    • –  Use a product with residual viricidal activity to inactivate viruses

    • –  Diluted bleach solution for non-porous surfaces (70% alcohol solution or diluted bleach solution) is effective on non-porous surfaces.

    • –  Surfaces such vinyl mat coverings, high touch areas (doorknobs, benches, etc) require regular mechanical wiping.

    • –  Some cleaning solutions may cause skin irritation, so take care to use gloves when cleaning, and wipe mats again with damp cloth (water) for surfaces that have greater contact area (e.g. children lying on mats).

That’s a short excerpt.

Read the entire document.

One recommendation new to me was this:

Gymnastics Australia recommends that all its members download the Australian Government COVID-19 contact tracing app (COVIDSafe).

American Gymnastics Academy reopening

Every club needs a video like this to explain how Gymnastics can be trained safely after COVID-19 reopening.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

details on MG Elite complaints

Scott M Reid interviewed many MG Elite gymnasts and their parents regarding their complaints about coaches Maggie Haney and Victoria Levine:

Parents were not allowed in the gym at MG Elite and Haney warned gymnasts not to complain to their parents about her coaching methods, according to six parents and documents related to the USA Gymnastics investigation.  …

Girls who were unable or reluctant to perform skills or displeased Haney in training or competition were screamed at, berated and ridiculed, according to six parents and documents. A mistake could lead to Haney telling a gymnast she was lazy, fat, uncoachable or disrespectful, according to interviews and documents.

Haney and Levine regularly called gymnasts retarded or said they should be in the “retarded group,” according to parents.

“They used ‘retarded’ all the time,” a parent said. …

Sometimes Haney got physical. Haney pulled gymnasts by their hair off the balance beam or out of foam pits, according to five parents. When a gymnast fell on bars during a photo shoot for a leotard company, an enraged Haney pulled the girl by her hair to her feet, according to the gymnast’s mother. …

Special report: Families detail Maggie Haney’s abuse of young gymnasts

related:

GymCastic – Emotional Abuse: The Maggie Haney Eight Year Ban

The Skating Lesson – Maggie Haney’s Coaching Methods