Category: safety

Transgender and Non-Binary Inclusion

USA Gymnastics … introduced an updated policy for transgender and non-binary inclusion.

… intended to promote a safe and inclusive environment for athletes of all gender identities, while protecting the privacy of trans and non-binary athletes.

USAG
  • Transgender athletes no longer need to apply to participate in the discipline that aligns with their gender identity.
  • Surgical sex reassignment, legal gender recognition, and hormone therapy requirements have been removed.
  • Guidance for non-binary athletes has been added.
  • Educational resources have been incorporated within the policy to help build a more informed community.

Coach Dennis Vachon was interviewed on GymCastic about his experience coaching Emily. An inspiring story.

https://twitter.com/Dehneh/status/1329173518249025538

disinfecting Beams

UPDATE

Happily it’s looking increasingly that COVID-19 is not caught easily from surfaces.

But with an abundance of caution where children spend a lot of time, one of the Buckeye parents invented a device that cleans with ultra violet light.

Note – Canada cautions that some Ultraviolet (UV) lights and wands are falsely claiming to disinfect against COVID-19.

Click PLAY or watch it on Twitter.

Gymnasts locked out again

Life is pretty much back to normal for clubs in New Zealand and Korea.

But in places where COVID-19 numbers are rapidly increasing, some governments are again restricting Gymnastics classes.

That’s a shame as coaches know that our facilities can be as safe as anywhere.

Hang in there. Stay safe.

Morgan: Wear your MASK

Ya wimp. 😀

Click PLAY or watch it on Twitter.

clubs shutting down again

It seems to me that Gymnastics clubs have proven very successful in NOT spreading COVID-19.

In November 2020 the greatest risk is from young people and social events, not individual sports halls.

Unfortunately, in many parts of the world restrictions are being imposed again and successful clubs are suffering. COVID sucks — but targeted lockdowns are the best of bad options if hospitals get swamped.

In Canada, however, we had one dance studio come down with at least 36 students and teachers infected.

Hang in there. Stay safe. We are all counting on a successful vaccine in the near future.

Riley McCusker sues her coach

Tokyo Olympic hopeful Riley McCusker has filed a lawsuit against her former coach Maggie Haney.

Haney, who previously coached Olympic gold medalist Laurie Hernandez, was suspended for 8 years by USA Gymnastics in April of 2020 after a panel found she had emotionally and verbally abused gymnasts.

In the lawsuit filed in late October, McCusker alleges Haney forced her to train on a fractured hip; multiple foot fractures; a torn shoulder ligament; and to continue “strenuous training” while suffering from exercise-induced rhabdomyolysis, a potentially life threatening condition effecting the kidneys. …

GymCastic

Ivy League cancels winter sports

No Gymnastics for Brown, Cornell, Penn and Yale.

Other sports affected include basketball, wrestling, indoor track & field, swimming and fencing.

… decisions were made unanimously by the Ivy League Council of Presidents.

“While these decisions come with great disappointment and frustration, our commitment to the safety and lasting health of our student-athletes and wider communities must remain our highest priority.” …

ESPN

Tokyo Test Meets

The friendly invitational was successfully hosted in the 1964 Olympic venue with 22 athletes. A good start.

Before the Olympics, more testing of protocols is necessary.

Hidemasa Nakamura, the Tokyo Olympic games delivery officer, told an on-line briefing that plans are now in the works for more test events starting in March. However, he did not say what form these might take or if non-Japanese athletes would be involved. …

Tokyo Olympic officials, the International Olympic Committee, and the Japanese government are trying to convince the world that the postponed Games can open on July 23 despite so much uncertainty in the ongoing pandemic. …

Japan has been relatively successful containing COVID-19 with about 1,800 deaths attributed to the virus. The problem will be opening the borders to regions where the virus is rampant.

AP

England clubs lock down

Over the weekend the UK Government announced a lockdown in England from Thursday 5th November to Wednesday 2nd December. …

This news is incredibly disappointing. We know the gymnastics community has done everything to make the sport safe. And while we know the health benefits that our sport brings, the number of cases of Covid-19 continue to rise across the country.  …

We are acutely aware of the immense financial pressure many clubs will be under …

As with the first lockdown, we’ll support clubs in accessing financial support, grants and the furlough scheme. …

British Gymnastics

Club close as of Nov. 5th. Elite training can continue.

Hopefully clubs can reopen Dec. 2nd.

There are many other clubs around the world shut down. Winnipeg, Manitoba in Canada, for example, is shut down again for a month.

That’s a shame as Gymnastics clubs seem to be one of the safest spaces for kids during this pandemic.