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.
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.
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).
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. …