All-Star Covid-19 / Varsity Response

[luv2cheer92]

That makes sense, and I'm sure why most people that have actually been to these comps feel comfortable returning, as well.

Yep. I have no problem with live comps that are enforcing the precautions. Not that I've seen many/any that aren't.

 

[cheertired]

Just went to our first competition this past weekend. My gym is in Florida.

Here are my observations as a coach - the good, bad and ugly.

Positive:

• Spectators- It was basically cheer on speed. Spectators were not allowed inside the venue until 15 minutes before their team competed. Spectators had to prepurchase their tickets online and then were scanned in through their phone. My boyfriend attended as a spectator and said the staff were extremely efficient in escorting fans in and out as quick as possible - a la "cattle heard style" according to him lol. Masks were strictly enforced.
• Warm ups - Again, super efficient. Teams weren't allowed in until 15 minutes before their warmups. Everyone was distanced, my team wore masks during the entire warm up process. We had little "Covid bags" for each kid. Right before they were about to go on, they put their masks in their covid bag, competed, and then immediately got their covid bags again to mask up. Seems like most teams wore masks while in warm ups, which I was pleasantly surprised about.
• Awards - Virtual. Enough said. Super easy, super safe for our team. We tried to be in and out.

Negative:

• Spectators - Because fans couldn't enter the actual arena until 15 minutes before their team performed, it lead to a MASSIVE crowd outside the venue. It's Florida, so it was gorgeous outside, and it turned into a tailgating experience more or less. No masks worn outside, lots of people around, hair and makeup was getting done, people were eating, parents were talking... that was alarming. It was wall-to-wall with parents, coaches, team mates, family members... pretty chaotic given how orderly it was inside the actual venue.
• Warm ups- while kids were great about the masks, I can't say the same for the coaches. Lots of coaches walking around maskless and nothing was done. Seeing this, I swear coaches will be the reason these comps keep getting cancelled, not the kids.
• Awards - As mentioned, because of the virtual awards, it basically lead to a tailgate experience. Between that and the Bucs vs. Packers game, the parking lot literally had tents with chairs and laptops and a ton of people watching awards and the game and sharing food with other teams and such.

These are just my observations. This was a local NCA competition... just from my personal experience, I can't imagine having a safe and healthy Cheersport/Worlds/Summit. The local crowd was hard to control, I can't imagine this on a national level. But this was just my personal take away from the one-day comp we had here.

 

[XtremeWpg]

Same for Canada. Ontario has had about 1 week of stunting this season, a many provinces have been shut down since Oct/Nov. I think a few are starting to go back, but not for regular training in any way. And many areas still have no end in sight for gym closures. There's no way teams can be ready for the level of Worlds in 3 months or less, not at what is normally expected. Add a potential 2 week quarantine to get to Florida, and 2 weeks after back in Canada, plus a week for Worlds, and there's 5 weeks of being out of school/work just to go to Worlds. Not happening.

I've heard chatter of IASF Worlds in the fall, but that's coming pretty quick, and also into the 2022 season for North America/Europe. I don't know if my gym will bother with trying to go with that either. It's a mess logistically, and gets expensive if you're going to plan on April 2022 as well.

So much this. Manitoba just started reopening and everyone went bonkers going shopping this weekend. I have little hope of getting back in gym this season but we get an update on restrictions on Feb 12 so the 13 would the be absolute earliest we could go back, and that likely would be no stunting

 

[5monkeysjumping]

Just went to our first competition this past weekend. My gym is in Florida.

Here are my observations as a coach - the good, bad and ugly.

Positive:

• Spectators- It was basically cheer on speed. Spectators were not allowed inside the venue until 15 minutes before their team competed. Spectators had to prepurchase their tickets online and then were scanned in through their phone. My boyfriend attended as a spectator and said the staff were extremely efficient in escorting fans in and out as quick as possible - a la "cattle heard style" according to him lol. Masks were strictly enforced.
• Warm ups - Again, super efficient. Teams weren't allowed in until 15 minutes before their warmups. Everyone was distanced, my team wore masks during the entire warm up process. We had little "Covid bags" for each kid. Right before they were about to go on, they put their masks in their covid bag, competed, and then immediately got their covid bags again to mask up. Seems like most teams wore masks while in warm ups, which I was pleasantly surprised about.
• Awards - Virtual. Enough said. Super easy, super safe for our team. We tried to be in and out.

Negative:

• Spectators - Because fans couldn't enter the actual arena until 15 minutes before their team performed, it lead to a MASSIVE crowd outside the venue. It's Florida, so it was gorgeous outside, and it turned into a tailgating experience more or less. No masks worn outside, lots of people around, hair and makeup was getting done, people were eating, parents were talking... that was alarming. It was wall-to-wall with parents, coaches, team mates, family members... pretty chaotic given how orderly it was inside the actual venue.
• Warm ups- while kids were great about the masks, I can't say the same for the coaches. Lots of coaches walking around maskless and nothing was done. Seeing this, I swear coaches will be the reason these comps keep getting cancelled, not the kids.
• Awards - As mentioned, because of the virtual awards, it basically lead to a tailgate experience. Between that and the Bucs vs. Packers game, the parking lot literally had tents with chairs and laptops and a ton of people watching awards and the game and sharing food with other teams and such.

These are just my observations. This was a local NCA competition... just from my personal experience, I can't imagine having a safe and healthy Cheersport/Worlds/Summit. The local crowd was hard to control, I can't imagine this on a national level. But this was just my personal take away from the one-day comp we had here.

Do you think summit/worlds would be any better, since they're on Disney property and Disney has been quite strict? Our gym is debating on going and I'm debating on whether or not I feel safe bringing my daughter if we do go.

 

[quitthedrama]

Do you think summit/worlds would be any better, since they're on Disney property and Disney has been quite strict? Our gym is debating on going and I'm debating on whether or not I feel safe bringing my daughter if we do go.

yes. Disney has the staff to monitor the entire venue including the outside area. There is no way an EP to be able to do that for a regular competition.

 

[catlady]

yes. Disney has the staff to monitor the entire venue including the outside area. There is no way an EP to be able to do that for a regular competition.

It has been cold in Atlanta so, I hadn't heard of the outside congregating issue, but either BUTBT or a small Cheersport recently asked you to stay in your car until you received your spectator text to come inside. Obviously, in hot weather that becomes its own health issue, but it was probably their attempt to control outside congregating. I agree with you though, for an EP to hire third party staffing (if even allowed) to patrol the entire Convention Center, parking lots and surrounding areas, the cost would be astronomical. IMO, this is where gym's could do a better job of enforcing social distancing and masking with their own population at these events.

 

[HeatUniqueJ]

Our practises have been cancelled since October. Most likely all the way until Easter at least.
It will be interesting to see what cheer will look like once we can actually go back.

On a different note:

I came across a news article the other day about a 22 year old who was diagnosed with Covid in March last year.

He had mild symptoms and healed quickly. He died in August in his sleep from an undiscovered myocarditis caused by Covid and working out too early after the infection. His parents said he was feeling fine, was released by the doctors at that time and obviously went back to soccer and the gym like anyone would have whenever they feel fine.

The article also said , while it is known that going back to working out and playing sports after an infection of any kind can have a negative effect on the heart, they also found out that Covid is more aggressive in that matter. They have found this out by testing Pro Athletes after a covid infection.The article is in german, otherwise i would share it here.

Definitly something that made me think a lot.

 

[WhatAmIDoingHere]

Our practises have been cancelled since October. Most likely all the way until Easter at least.
It will be interesting to see what cheer will look like once we can actually go back.

On a different note:

I came across a news article the other day about a 22 year old who was diagnosed with Covid in March last year.

He had mild symptoms and healed quickly. He died in August in his sleep from an undiscovered myocarditis caused by Covid and working out too early after the infection. His parents said he was feeling fine, was released by the doctors at that time and obviously went back to soccer and the gym like anyone would have whenever they feel fine.

The article also said , while it is known that going back to working out and playing sports after an infection of any kind can have a negative effect on the heart, they also found out that Covid is more aggressive in that matter. They have found this out by testing Pro Athletes after a covid infection.The article is in german, otherwise i would share it here.

Definitly something that made me think a lot.

Here's an article that goes along with this but it's about a 20yr Florida Gator. He's a junior at the college. His season is done and most likely any NBA dreams he had.

 

[tojofasho]

I just read an article that said the Canadian government would be in talks with the US to close a "loophole" that allows Canadians to fly into the US. (crossing by land isn't allowed). So that might not even be possible.
With the way things are going, it almost seems like there will be very few, if any international teams if Worlds remains in person. Especially given how they'd need to quarantine for so long like you said. (heck, even the NHL decided it wouldn't be worth it and made a special Canada-only division this year.)

I've been wondering this myself, especially where IASF divisions are concerned, since normally it's 3 per country that advance to finals. Will those finals literally just have like, 3 or maybe 6 teams, or will they just get rid of that restriction this year? At this point, I personally don't feel the event should go on at all (much as I personally want it to), but I am curious what they'll do with some of their inclusivity rules if there's nobody to utilize them for.

 

[WinstonsGirl]

I've been wondering this myself, especially where IASF divisions are concerned, since normally it's 3 per country that advance to finals. Will those finals literally just have like, 3 or maybe 6 teams, or will they just get rid of that restriction this year? At this point, I personally don't feel the event should go on at all (much as I personally want it to), but I am curious what they'll do with some of their inclusivity rules if there's nobody to utilize them for.

Unless they make changes to the event rules, I assume they'll run with it. They have always had countries with 1 team and others with 20, and no matter their score, that 1 team will go to finals ahead of anyone else who outscored them. And I totally understand the reasoning behind the 3 teams, but it does suck when you just miss finals and are 90 to ??? points ahead of another team going to finals. If I remember, in 2019, there was a team from France, I think who scored a negative score after deductions (injury, I believe, near the start, and since they were guaranteed finals, they didn't bother to try to re-work it for semis, and I think between 0 score for so many categories plus deductions they ended up negative.).

I agree with you that I don't think IASF Worlds should happen this year, which makes me very sad. But I don't think the Intl community will be in a place to be ready for a decent showing in the summer/fall.

 

[CheerItFullOut]

Our practises have been cancelled since October. Most likely all the way until Easter at least.
It will be interesting to see what cheer will look like once we can actually go back.

On a different note:

I came across a news article the other day about a 22 year old who was diagnosed with Covid in March last year.

He had mild symptoms and healed quickly. He died in August in his sleep from an undiscovered myocarditis caused by Covid and working out too early after the infection. His parents said he was feeling fine, was released by the doctors at that time and obviously went back to soccer and the gym like anyone would have whenever they feel fine.

The article also said , while it is known that going back to working out and playing sports after an infection of any kind can have a negative effect on the heart, they also found out that Covid is more aggressive in that matter. They have found this out by testing Pro Athletes after a covid infection.The article is in german, otherwise i would share it here.

Definitly something that made me think a lot.

There is very specific guidance for return to play after Covid diagnoses & recovery... (even Asymptomatic. ) - this is in addition to what a typical return after infection.

I thought this was common knowledge- I know this directive (or similar directive) can be found on every health department site for pretty much every state- it’s on our state’s directive. I also know sports organizations were provided with the same guidance in tandem with team training materials.

As stated in the article one must obtain physician clearance before returning to organized sports activity (at least in my state)... and while this one individual did get clearance from their physician ...this brings me to observe that this is and has been known to be something that CAN happen as a result of not observing that additional protective guidance due to Covid and these individuals (and I don’t mean this insensitively) and or their physician/s were negligent.

(See below for guidance)
The following progression was adapted from Elliott N, et al, infographic, British Journal of Sports Medicine, 2020:

Stage 1: Day 1 and Day 2 - (2 Days Minimum) - 15 minutes or less: Light activity (walking, jogging, stationary bike), intensity no greater than 70% of maximum heart rate. NO resistance training.

Stage 2: Day 3 - (1 Day Minimum) - 30 minutes or less: Add simple movement activities (eg. running drills) - intensity no greater than 80% of maximum heart rate.

Stage 3: Day 4 - (1 Day Minimum) - 45 minutes or less- Progress to more complex training - intensity no greater than 80% maximum heart rate. May add light resistance training.

Stage 4: Day 5 and Day 6 - (2 Days Minimum) - 60 minutes -Normal training activity - intensity no greater than 80% maximum heart rate.

Stage 5: Day 7 - Return to full activity/participation (ie, - Contests/competitions).

 

[WhatAmIDoingHere]

There is very specific guidance for return to play after Covid diagnoses & recovery... (even Asymptomatic. ) - this is in addition to what a typical return after infection.

I thought this was common knowledge- I know this directive (or similar directive) can be found on every health department site for pretty much every state- it’s on our state’s directive. I also know sports organizations were provided with the same guidance in tandem with team training materials.

As stated in the article one must obtain physician clearance before returning to organized sports activity (at least in my state)... and while this one individual did get clearance from their physician ...this brings me to observe that this is and has been known to be something that CAN happen as a result of not observing that additional protective guidance due to Covid and these individuals (and I don’t mean this insensitively) and or their physician/s were negligent.

(See below for guidance)
The following progression was adapted from Elliott N, et al, infographic, British Journal of Sports Medicine, 2020:

Stage 1: Day 1 and Day 2 - (2 Days Minimum) - 15 minutes or less: Light activity (walking, jogging, stationary bike), intensity no greater than 70% of maximum heart rate. NO resistance training.

Stage 2: Day 3 - (1 Day Minimum) - 30 minutes or less: Add simple movement activities (eg. running drills) - intensity no greater than 80% of maximum heart rate.

Stage 3: Day 4 - (1 Day Minimum) - 45 minutes or less- Progress to more complex training - intensity no greater than 80% maximum heart rate. May add light resistance training.

Stage 4: Day 5 and Day 6 - (2 Days Minimum) - 60 minutes -Normal training activity - intensity no greater than 80% maximum heart rate.

Stage 5: Day 7 - Return to full activity/participation (ie, - Contests/competitions).

This is interesting and very informative. Thank you. But this is the first time I've ever seen anything like this. And I know for a fact that one of our girls never went through these Stages. She got cleared from Covid and immediately started back at practices. Makes me wonder how many other gyms are doing the same.

 

[5monkeysjumping]

If my daughter ever tests positive, I plan to bring her in for an echocardiogram before I let her practice full out again. The risk of myocarditis is shockingly high.
Ohio State finds heart damage in 15 percent of college athletes after COVID diagnosis | wtsp.com

 

[Keep_Believing]

If my daughter ever tests positive, I plan to bring her in for an echocardiogram before I let her practice full out again. The risk of myocarditis is shockingly high.
Ohio State finds heart damage in 15 percent of college athletes after COVID diagnosis | wtsp.com

Now I wish my 19 year old would get an echocardiogram/checked out. She gets tired and winded easily.

 

[CheerItFullOut]

This is interesting and very informative. Thank you. But this is the first time I've ever seen anything like this. And I know for a fact that one of our girls never went through these Stages. She got cleared from Covid and immediately started back at practices. Makes me wonder how many other gyms are doing the same.

Really?! This is very common knowledge in my area... I have not had any positive cases in my program but this is “return to play”
Very much like concussion protocol ... and taken very seriously
And of course... I’m glad I posted