NEW RULES REGARDING THE RE-OPENING OF BOXING GYMS IN ONTARIO
I mentioned at the end of the last entry that I hope this entry would be about boxing. It is, but ...
Boxing Ontario conducted a virtual meeting on Wednesday. The meeting was to discuss with members the re-opening of boxing gyms across Ontario over the next couple of weeks.
Here is an outline of what the 90-minute meeting covered.
Boxing Ontario has put together a "KO COVID" task force which includes Richard Soucé and Matt Standish, both former coaches of mine. Plus a few other people.
This task force has put together a series of rules that must be followed in order for an Ontario boxing gym to be open during stage one of the re-opening process.
Here are the highlights of the rules:
Only athletes and certified coaches will be allowed inside the gyms at this time. That means only those registered with Boxing Ontario. No guests, no visitors, nobody who wants to just 'train for fun'.
There will be a maximum capacity of five people in total allowed inside a gym at any one time, regardless of the size of the facility. That means one coach and four athletes, or any combination thereof.
No training on soft surfaces. That means padded floors and the ring.
No close-contact training. That includes focus pad work and sparring.
Gyms must be cleaned, disinfected, and sanitized daily.
Boxers will be 'encouraged' to wash hands frequently while using the gym facilities.
Common areas will not be allowed to be used. That includes change rooms, locker rooms, and showers.
A verbal screening will need to be conducted by the gym before anyone will be allowed to enter, and posters indicating such must be posted at the gym entrance.
Physical distancing must be observed while training. The means a minimum of two metres, but four metres around heavy bags. That means about every-second bag will only be allowed to be used.
Sharing of equipment will not be allowed. "Community" ropes, gloves, and other gear will not be allowed, and boxers will need to use their own equipment.
These are the highlights and most important parts of the findings of the task force.
Now, as expected, here are my findings.
It is obvious that the task force did not think this through, and it appears that Boxing Ontario is trying to 'rush' the opening of gyms, which is completely and totally useless. With these rules in place, there is really no point in going to the gym in the first place. There is nothing you can do at the gym right now that you can't do at home. The whole point of going in to train is to work with your coach and sparring. For everything else, you may as well stay home.
Also, what the hell are we supposed to do if we can't use the change room? Drop our drawers in the middle of the gym floor?
Gyms may as well stay closed until the restrictions are lifted.
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--Paul 'The Brick' Brec
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