TIU Athletics Reopening Plan COVID-19 Protocols and Procedures (Fall 2020)
***2019nCoV Coronavirus Questionnaire QR Code at bottom of these protocols and procedures***
Purpose statement of this document: The Covid-19 pandemic has caused dramatic changes across all aspects of our daily lives. The combination of lifestyle modifications and potential comorbidities associated with COVID-19 also presents important, athlete specific health and safety risks as return to sport plans emerge. While it is clear that transition periods have a higher risk for catastrophic sport injury, some of the factors that place athletes at higher risk during these periods may be amplified as a result of social distancing measures. These risk factors may also be amplified at various levels, so even athletes within the same team may have a spectrum of risk profiles. Covid-19 is a highly contagious infectious disease. The goal of the Trinity International University Athletics Department is to protect all individuals by establishing recommendations to minimize the risk of exposure and mitigate the effects of the virus within the athletics and campus community.
General Guidelines: ** These guidelines are all subject to change based upon the fluidity of the COVID-19 pandemic and current Illinois Department of Public Health guidelines and recommendations, in conjunction with the CDC and the NAIA. This is a living document that can be adjusted as new protocols and recommendations are deemed necessary. Changes will be made by the Trinity International University Sports Medicine staff and disseminated to all necessary personnel immediately **
• Masks must be worn at all times, except when strict social distancing
guidelines can be maintained at all times.
• Social distance guidelines should be followed whenever possible.
(6ft)
• Only TIU athletes and athletics staff members are allowed to use the
Meyer Sports Complex facility for the Fall semester.
• Facility hours will be limited. The facility will be open when an
athletic trainer is present to screen.
• Individuals allowed to perform screenings are: Athletic Trainers, Athletic Training students, Head coaches and their appointed assistant coaches.
• No outside groups will be permitted to use the facility unless pre-approved by the athletic director. They also must be screened prior to entering.
• During high traffic times within the building, people should follow the posted directional signs.
Daily Self-Health Checks
• Every student-athlete and all athletics personnel should practice at least daily self-health evaluations before participating in any aspect of in-person athletics activities.
• Individuals who identify any of the following symptoms or signs during the daily self-health evaluation should be encouraged to contact their overseeing athletic trainer, or school
nurse by telephone before coming on campus or to any athletic facilities of shortness of breath or difficulty breathing; cough or other respiratory symptoms; headache; chills; muscle aches; sore throat; congestion or runny nose; new loss of taste or smell;nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea; pain, redness, swelling or rash on toes or fingers; new rash or other skin symptoms; high-risk exposure (a new contact with an infected individual or prolonged contact with a crowd without physical distancing; temperature of 100.4° F or above
Mental Wellness
• Athletes will be sent a mental health questionnaire as part of their PPE documents to ensure any red flags or urgent mental/emotional needs are addressed [Appendix C]
• The university counseling department is available for appointments via telemedicine
o The first counseling appointment is always free and negotiation of cost for any further sessions is welcome.
o Scholarships are available for those individuals with financial constraints
• Coaches and other athletic administration have the ability to refer athletes for counseling at any point. Referral forms are available upon request
• Acceptance of parameters is paramount to moving forward mentally and emotionally
o Help athletes focus on things that they are still able to do vs. what they can not do
o Ensure athletes are not denied the grief process by acknowledging that things are different and allow athletes the space to process and talk about those things
• It is important as an athletics department to model these policies well for the student-athletes to help ensure the athletes also follow policies and procedures
• Help athletes to focus on the long term goals (Winter/Spring competitions)
Face Coverings
• In the Meyer’s Sports Complex, all individuals must wear cloth face covering at all times in all community shared areas
• These locations include, but are not limited to; hallways, restrooms, locker rooms, athletic training clinic, conference room, lobby, laundry room, etc.
• Athletic Training’s recommendation is that all indoor sports in group settings must wear cloth face coverings
• All indoor group weight lifting and conditioning sessions must wear cloth face coverings.
• All indoor individual-only sessions must wear a cloth face covering unless proper social distancing recommendations can be practiced for the entire duration of the session.
• All individuals participating in outdoor activities must wear cloth face coverings when proper social distancing guidelines can not be maintained.
• All individuals participating in outdoor group drills when social distancing guidelines are maintained can choose to wear a cloth face covering at their own discretion.
Facility Entrance & Screening (Point Person: Julie)
• All individuals must be screened by appointed screeners upon entrance to the Meyer Sports Complex
• All entrances to the Meyer Sports Complex facility will be locked except for the main entrance that will be opened when a “screener” is present.
- Screeners are deemed to be: Athletic Trainers, coaches, and assistant coaches
• A screening station will be set up inside the main entrance to the facility (Meyers Sports Complex lobby).
• Refer to the Screening Protocol document for specific screening policies.
• Per NAIA regulations, these screenings are valid for practice and games for 6 total hours.
-Example: a screen performed on an individual at 8am will be valid until 2pm. Any time after this would require a rescreen upon entry to the Meyer Sports Complex.
Testing
• It is a university policy that all students staying in residential dorms must produce a negative PCR test prior to their arrival on campus.
• If the test is positive, they must receive 2 negative results, with 5 days between each negative test, no less than seven days prior to the first competition following their recovery.
Facility Maintenance, Cleaning and Sanitation
• The risk of COVID-19 transmission is greater in indoor areas with poor ventilation. To ensure adequate ventilation, it is recommended that doors and windows remain open
when possible, especially during times of increased capacity.
• Total Cleaning should be cleaning the entire athletic department
every night after activities.
• Team managers will be responsible for disinfecting high touch surfaces while they do the team laundry.
-Training of team managers in best cleaning practices will be done by Athletic Training staff members
• Athletic department staff members will each have an area of the department that they will be responsible for disinfecting each day.
-Meaning each sport’s designated locker room/exercise location.
• Increase hand sanitizer stations and ensure they are always filled.
-This will be a combined effort amongst Athletic Training and Custodial staff members.
• Add additional wall mountable wipe stations in high traffic areas and ensure that those are always filled.
• Each team will be responsible for sanitizing the gym/weight room and their equipment after each team activity.
• Ensure disinfecting spray and wipes are readily available.
-This will be supplied by the Athletic Training staff
• Athletic administration staff will be responsible for sanitizing high touch surfaces after competitions.
• Athletes will be responsible for sanitizing their own personal equipment.
Locker Rooms
• No personal items are permitted to be stored in the locker room
-Athletic administration will be responsible for enforcing this protocol
• Locker rooms should not be used as “gathering spaces”.
• Locker rooms will be used for changing and showering only.
• Dirty laundry bins should not be left in locker rooms.
• Capacity for each team locker room is as follows. Coaches will be responsible for regulating locker room usage based on their team’s specified capacities
- Football: 10
- Baseball: 4
- Men’s Soccer: 5
- Men’s Basketball: 5
- Women’s Soccer/Softball: 4
- Women’s Basketball: 4
- Volleyball: 2
Weight Room (Point Person: Greg)
• Capacity: 20 individuals
o This includes student athletes and coaches
• Cloth face coverings must be worn at all times in the weight room to allow for proper indoor occupancy social distancing rules
• A sport coach will be assigned the responsibility of overseeing the weight room.
o This staff member will be in charge of:
§ Scheduling teams in the weight room
§ Ensuring the equipment is regularly disinfected before and after each use
• Limit the number of people in the weight room at a time.
o Lifting partners will be limited to roommates/suitemates whenever possible
§ if not possible, limit to individuals whose lockers are in close proximity; or same position group.
o Teams that want to use the weight room as a group, should reserve/schedule their time with the in charge sport coach to ensure another team is not in the weight room at the same time.
o Racks are to be limited to 2 individuals at a time.
o Whenever possible, restrict inter weight room movement between racks, benches and dumbbells.
§ while moving around, be mindful of social distancing guidelines
• Disinfectant will be stored in the weight room for daily use
o This will be a Ramcide/water diluted solution that has been shown to kill similar viruses in the coronavirus family
o Proper use is as follows:
§ Thoroughly spray down all equipment that was used during individual exercise
• Make sure to spray all exercise equipment that was used at the end of the individual session
• Make sure to disinfect the yoga mats after each use
§ Leave the spray solution on the equipment for 10 minutes to reach proper contact time to kill coronavirus
§ Wipe away any excess spray that remains before next use of equipment
§ Last group in the weight room for the day must make sure to disinfect all areas of the weight room
• Door handles, dumbbells, iPad, iPad cords, safety racks, barbells, benches, resistance bands, light switches, pull-up bars
• Use extra signage to remind users to wipe down their equipment before and after use
Van Dixhorn Arena (Gymnasium) (Point Person: Irvin)
• The point person for this location is in charge of scheduling teams, disinfecting, etc.
• Max capacity of Van Dixhorn Arena will be: 50
• Enforcement of this will be the responsibility of all Athletics staff members
• Teams should utilize this area more often for their training to avoid overcrowding the weight room.
• Athletic trainers will utilize part of this area for injury rehab.
• Van Dixhorn Arena will be locked at all times unless a staff member is present.
• Athletes will not be allowed to do individual workouts in Van Dixhorn Arena with no coach present.
Off-Campus Practice Guidelines
• Due to the amount of teams opting to practice off campus outside of normal operating hours, other special considerations must be made and adhered to
• Athletes and all athletics personnel are responsible for knowing and effectively following all facility-mandated policies and procedures of off campus practice locations
• Coaches will communicate with appointed team athletic trainer regarding practice locations, times, and changes to schedule due to inclement weather
• Athletic trainers will be responsible for being at all practices and will supply water coolers, medical supplies, and disinfecting supplies
o Taping will be done at field
• Athletes are responsible for bringing their own water bottles and face coverings
• Athletes and athletic personnel are responsible for properly disinfecting all equipment post-practice
On-Campus Practice Guidelines
• Athletes and athletic personnel for each team are responsible for properly disinfecting all equipment post-practice
• Softball/Baseball will not be permitted to use their dugouts due to social distancing guidelines
o Individual equipment must be kept outside of the dugouts and spaced properly apart from other teammates
• During breaks and coach instruction, maintain social distancing guidelines when possible
Practice Schedules
• Coach Irvin will be in charge of scheduling practices that utilize the gym.
• All practices/workouts/lifts/conditioning sessions must be scheduled in collaboration with Julie so he can ensure an athletic trainer will be present to screen.
• Coaches must share practice schedules to Julie or their respective Athletic Trainer no less than 24 hours in advance of the next practice day.
• Last minute schedule changes will not be allowed.
- Practices changed due to inclement weather will always be flexible.
- Practices that have been changed and not communicated with the Athletic Training staff prior to the 24-hour policy has the possibility of not having coverage.
• For the gym, there should be at least 15 minutes between practices to allow for one team to leave the gym before the next team enters.
- If student athletes perform dynamic warm-up in hallways before other teams are finished with the gymnasium, they and their sport coach are responsible for sanitization of the hallway
as well.
- Masks must be worn during this time in the hallway as it is a high traffic area
• Coaches should allow for 10-15 minutes at the end of practice for sanitizing equipment.
• Practice schedules should be coordinated so that no two practices are starting or ending at the same time.
- This will be an ongoing revolving door that the Athletic Training staff, Administration, and coaching staffs can continually work on to improve daily for the most optimal solution to
sport/health balance.
• Practice schedules should be coordinated to minimize the number of athletes in each locker room.
Laundry and Equipment Disinfection (Point Person: Coach Larson)
• Each team should assign a team manager or player who will consistently be in charge of laundry. They will also disinfect high touch surfaces in the facility while they do the laundry.
- The manager must wear gloves while doing the laundry.
• Managers will be given gloves from Athletic Training
- The manager must sanitize the laundry bin after moving the dirty laundry to the washer.
- The manager should not leave the facility area while laundry is being done.
• A coach will be assigned the responsibility of scheduling teams laundry in the laundry room. (Josiah)
- This coach will also be in charge of ensuring the laundry room is clean and sanitized.
- The laundry should be done ASAP following a practice.
• Coach in charge will use their discretion as to whose laundry will be completed when.
• All teams will be required to uphold the following disinfection guidelines
- These guidelines are of the utmost importance in preventing the spread of COVID-19
- All teams are responsible for disinfecting all team-issued equipment at the end of each practice session
• Equipment includes, but is not limited to; balls, gloves, pads, goals, nets, cones, etc.
- Large equipment items (in quantity and size) will be disinfected with...
• aerosol disinfectant solution.
• ex. soccer balls,
• This will be the responsibility of each team to request aerosol sprayer from the athletic trainers and return each day
Team Meetings and Film
• Any team meeting should be done virtually, whenever possible.
• If it cannot be done virtually, consider doing it in smaller groups or outdoors as weather permits.
• If teams request group film sessions, proper social distancing measures must be upheld at all times
• Student athletes, coaches, and staff must all abide by current IDPH guidelines in regards to cloth face coverings.
• Max capacity within group film sessions will be determined by facility management
Athletic Training Facilities (Point Person: Julie)
• Athletes must schedule an appointment with their athletic trainer to be in the athletic training room.
- Rehabs may be scheduled primarily in the morning.
- Pre-practice treatments and taping can be scheduled in smaller time blocks and done in the athletic training room.
- Max capacity in the athletic training room is 10 (7 student-athletes and 3 athletic trainers).
- Vivature or their KonigIQ App will be used to schedule athletic training appointments.
• Cloth face coverings are required at all times and maintain social distancing as much as possible.
• Pre-practice warming up, stretching, foam rolling, etc. that does not require an athletic trainer should be done in the gymnasium, weight room or on the field.
• Before and after treatment/rehab, athletes should disinfect all equipment that they used with Whizzer.
• Athletic trainers should also disinfect all areas of the room that were used between appointments.
• Hot packs will be restricted to injury use only
• Hot pack covers should be washed between each use
- Washable towels will need to be used in place of covers when covers are being washed
• A cooler of ice will be set up in their respective locker areas so athletes do not have to enter the athletic training room to get ice after practice.
• Due to current disinfection recommendations, cold tubs will be limited to emergency use only.
- Individual ice buckets will be permitted for use on an individual basis determined by athletic training staff
Pre-Participation Exams/Pre-Screening Questionnaire (Point Person: Julie)
• Extra history questions about COVID-19 should be included.
• If student athletes have had a COVID-19 diagnosis or symptoms since their physical, they must have clearance from their treating physician.
• International athletes must get their physicals after they arrive in the United States with our university physicians. We will not accept physicals not performed in America.
• In August, we will send out a pre-screening COVID-19 questionnaire to each athlete to determine who was diagnosed, had symptoms, or was within close contact of someone diagnosed.
- We will require clearance from treating physicians if they have been diagnosed with COVID-19 or if they had symptoms.
High Risk Athletes (Point Person: Julie)
• Our high-risk athletes should be closely monitored.
• Those at greater risk for developing severe COVID-19 disease or complications should undergo an informed decision making process with their medical provider before a return to sports as
exposure to teammates and opponents may increase their risk of becoming infected. Individuals at higher risk of severe COVID-19 include; those with a serious heart condition, uncontrolled
or moderate to severe asthma, chronic lung disease, diabetes, obesity, pre-existing kidney disease, or a weakened immune system.
- Although the CDC and prevention states that patients with these conditions may be at greater risk for more severe disease, there is limited published data in young athletes to support this determination at this time.
• Any athlete with a history of COVID-19 should be closely monitored for ongoing symptoms and decreased exercise tolerance.
Return to Training (Point Person: Julie)
• Further information can be found in the COVID-19 Return to Activity Policy and Procedures [Appendix A]
• Coaches should give the athletic training staff as well as strength staff a copy of their strength and conditioning program prior to the start of training to ensure it follows recommendations.
• Each athlete must have AT LEAST two weeks of training before first competition.
- Student athletes who must quarantine must undergo an extended acclimatization period following their clearance from quarantine.
• First 2-4 weeks of training should be acclimatization.
• Regular communication between coaches and athletic trainers about at risk athletes (cardiac abnormalities, history of exertional or non-exertional collapse, asthma, diabetes).
• Strictly enforce heat policy and proper heat acclimatization protocol.
- High priority for 1st week.
- See Heat Acclimatization Policies and Procedures [Appendix B]
• Athletes will be educated and asked to perform daily self-hydration checks.
• Coaches will be expected to educate themselves on the proper guidelines for acclimatization AND to organize their practices/lifts/conditioning sessions to follow these guidelines.
- Refer to Gatorade nutrition science for proper diet, hydration, rest brochures and pamphlets.
• Follow NSCA guidelines.
• Avoid high volume submaximal exercises to fatigue or within a limited time frame.
• 10-20 minute daily dynamic warm-up including injury prevention exercises.
• Consider daily readiness surveys to monitor workload and athlete status.
• Plan/adjust workouts in heat and humidity.
- Primarily have morning workouts outside
- Avoid the middle of the day in hot/humid weather
• Don’t perform physically exhausting drills to develop “mental toughness”
• No two a day practices allowed in the first 2 weeks
- Any organized activity by the coaches that include sport instruction is considered a practice
• Proper student athlete acclimatization is vital to combatting over training, increased fatigue, increased risk for injury, and increased risk for Covid-19
• 50/30/20/10 rule
Team Practice Considerations
• Where a cloth facemask cannot be safely tolerated, coaches should consider implementing physical distancing protocols that encourage at least 6 feet between individuals during practice
drills.
• It may be beneficial for coaches to establish “functional units” as a strategy to minimize the potential spread of COVID-19
o A similar strategy is to have one unit of a team always train against another unity of a team
§ This means that if an individual from one of those units does become infected, the entire team may not be impacted, and contact tracing may be more manageable.
• If coaches choose to use scrimmage/practice vests (pennies), they will be issued to each team member as part of their practice uniform each day.
o If a coach decides to use multiple colors of vests, they will be responsible for providing a vest of each color to each athlete.
o Managers will wash vests along with the practice gear and re-issue them on a day-to-day basis.
Hydration (Point Person: Julie)
• Athletes will be responsible for providing their own water bottle for practices. Athletes who wish to purchase water bottles can do so with their athletic trainer. If they lose it, they replace it.
They are responsible for cleaning.
• Indoor practices: athletes bring their own bottle and fill at the water station.
• Indoor games: cups only. Will have a water cooler to fill cups that will be disinfected regularly.
• Outdoor practices: athletes bring their own bottle and can fill from a water cooler, which will be disinfected regularly.
• Outdoor games: will have water cooler and cups. Water cooler and cups in the locker room for soccer as well.
• Water coolers will be filled by athletic trainers. For outdoor sports, the athletic trainer will place the water coolers outside for proper placement at practices.
• All water coolers will have attached hand sanitizer bottles that must be used prior to water bottle fill up.
Education (Point Person: Julie)
• Include signage around the sports complex reminding athletes about personal hygiene, hand washing, wearing masks, social distancing, disinfecting equipment, etc.
- Have placards on the ground to form a line in front of the screening station that are 6ft apart.
• All the coaches need to be on board with these protocols and need to be enforcing them with their athletes.
• Be sure the athletes know about contact tracing and the impacts it could have on their sports season if someone tests positive.
- This means being cognizant of their surroundings and the people they interact with on a daily basis.
• This can also help reduce the spread of COVID-19 by properly supplying those individuals with possible exposure in the instance of positive COVID-19 diagnosis.
• All modifications on best practice guidelines must be communicated with the entire athletic department staff immediately through this living document
• Coaches should be educated on return to training recommendations to ensure health and safety. [Appendix A]
Return to Play following COVID Diagnosis
• An athlete must be cleared by their treating physician and follow our department protocol (TBA) before returning to play after a COVID-19 diagnosis.
• Their return will be gradual, following our COVID-19 Screening, Testing and Return to Play Policies and Procedures document.
Competition-Only Procedures
-Vans
• Whenever possible, athletes should ride in vans with the same consistent group of people.
- When riding in vans, masks should be worn at all times unless strict social distancing (6ft.) is possible.
• Facilities and Athletic Administration staff will determine van and bus occupancy limits.
- This will be posted for all members to be aware of prior to use of the vans.
• Cleaning supplies will be kept in each van. The users of the van will be responsible for sanitizing high touch surfaces in the van immediately upon entering the van and upon return from use.
• While student athletes and personnel are in the vans, it is highly recommended that there be no outside food/drink inside
- This will help prevent open consumption and spread of germs during eating, while also to prevent touching of the face.
-Referee Room
• It will be the responsibility of the referees to practice proper social distancing guidelines in the referee room.
• This will be one of the areas that game day staff will be required to sanitize prior to and immediately following a game.
-On-Campus Home Competitions
• All members of all teams will be screened upon entrance to the Meyer’s Sports Complex.
- Outdoor and indoor sports
• Masks should be worn and social distancing guidelines should be followed whenever possible.
• TBD if fans will be allowed. If they are allowed, they must be screened before entering.
• Ballboys will be responsible for disinfecting balls that go out of play
- if/when a ball goes out of play, the ballboy will have a ball already disinfected to give to official/player
- Ballboys for volleyball will each have a ball for either side of the court to decrease amount of contact on balls out of play
• Hydration breaks during competition will be determined by NAIA
• Warm-up gear?
Off-Campus Home Competitions
• Coaches should contact off-campus facilities to discuss their COVID-19 policies.
- Please pass this information along to the Athletic Training staff to ensure continued best practices with IDPH, CDC, NAIA, and CCAC.
• Masks should be worn and other athletic department guidelines should be followed while off campus.
• TBD if fans will be allowed. If they are allowed, they must be screened before entering.
• Game day staff will be responsible for disinfecting high touch surfaces before and after the game.
Team Travel
• Teams should social distance on buses and in vans whenever possible.
• Our athletes must be screened at the entrance to the Meyer’s Sports Complex before leaving for a trip.(They must show their coach their “ticket” as proof as they can get on the bus).
• If a team goes on a conference overnight trip, it will be the responsibility of the coach to screen each athlete prior to leaving the hotel to go to the host institution. (If Athletic Trainer is not
traveling)
- Specific rules and regulations can be found here: Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference 2019-NCoV Coronavirus Screening Protocol.
• An assistant coach (or other staff member) will drive a TIU van to the game and will drive any athletes that fail the screen home.
- Ensure there is PPE and disinfectant in the van
- The staff member will be responsible for disinfecting the van.
• Anyone that uses the TIU vans for any type of travel should disinfect the van after every use.
• Need to have disinfectant wipes in every van.
• Coach USA Covid Policies:
- 1) Seating of the bus - The first 2 rows behind the driver, both sides should be unoccupied. This is for social distancing between the driver and customers.
- 2) Buses and drivers are equipped with hand sanitizer and wipes.
- 3) Filters on the buses are cleaned regularly with high end products.
- 4) Drivers are required to wear disposable gloves when handling luggage.
- 5) Drivers are required to wear face coverings, when social distancing is not possible.
- It is encouraged for passengers to wear face coverings.
- For charters, we are not privy to the personal relationship of the customers on the bus (ie. families, extended families, roommates, etc.) and defer to the group boarding the bus regarding spacing of riders on the bus.
Further Resources
