Eastern Nazarene College Reopening of Athletics and Recreation

The purpose of this page is to provide the Eastern Nazarene College community our reopening plan for the Lahue Physical Education Center, Bradley Field, and Waterston Tennis Courts. This page details the multiple stage plan to reopen athletic and recreation facilities on the ENC campus and the two-stage process for returning to athletic participation. As more data and recommendations are released, ENC may need to adjust the plan to address concerns, industry best practices, ENC policies, and government guidance.

As we move forward with these revised operating procedures, activities will look and feel different. The health and well-being of the ENC community is our top priority. We ask for not only your patience, but your help in keeping the facilities open to others in the ENC community by following our code of conduct, social distancing, and cleaning directions. Failure to comply with these policies may result in loss of facility privileges or limiting the use of the facilities to the entire ENC community.

Where to Find Information

• All information will be emailed to members of our community and updated on the Department of Athletics website.
• Please check our communication channels each time you plan to use our facilities BEFORE you arrive, as information may change rapidly.

Signage

• Signage will be posted on our fields, fences, and entrance doors. Please adhere to the regulations as they are for the safety of our members and staff.
• Please read the signage each time you return to our facilities as our rules and regulations may be changing frequently.

Summary of Facility Reopening Stages

ENC has developed a three-stage approach to reopening the facilities. During each stage, the expanded access to facilities and programs will be based on national, state, local, and campus guidelines along with industry best practices. The dates listed below are projected reopening timelines. Note that the timeline can be impacted by both state and campus mandates.

Stage 1:          
Outdoor Facilities Reopen (September 7)

• Waterston Tennis Courts
• Bradley Field

Stage 2:
Lahue Gymnasium Reopens (September 14)

Stage 3:          
Remaining Indoor Facilities Reopen (September 21)

• Multipurpose Room
• Workout Rooms

Code of Conduct / Expectations

We ask for our members to assist us in making this environment the safest it can be by knowing and adhering to the following expectations, while also reminding others of the same:

• Admittance to ENC facilities will be extended to ENC students, faculty/staff, and occupants of campus owned residences.
• COVID-19 symptom check will be performed prior to entrance. A temperature check may be administered for certain activities.
• All individuals are required to wear a face covering with both their mouth and nose completely covered. These must be worn throughout the entire workout in all facilities.
• Washing hands or use of hand sanitizer before and after sessions is expected.
• Staff will be expected to wear PPE – face mask and gloves.
• If any person appears to be experiencing symptoms of COVID-19, the individual is expected to remove themselves from the facility immediately and follow campus protocols.
• All students and staff are required to clean all equipment immediately prior to and after usage. NO EXCEPTIONS.
• Patrons must sign up for access to facilities through an online reservation system that will be made available to the entire campus.
• Sessions will be scheduled for designated blocks with time between groups for clearing the facilities and/or additional cleaning. Some spaces (i.e. Workout Rooms) will require a larger gap between groups.

Hours of Operations

The hours of operations have been established based on capacity limits and the populations being served. Within each stage, the college will adjust hours as additional information is collected on demand and usage patterns.

The protocol for group workouts are as follows:

1. Sign-up for available workouts through the online system. When signing up, students will be required to enter their name, student ID, ENC email, and sport (if a student-athlete).
2. On the day of the workout session, check-in at Bradley Field gate by back entrance to the gym: include student ID and symptom check. Student will be assigned a group that they will stay with for the duration of the workout session.
3. After check-in, the student will be sent to designated group area until the session begins.
4. Workouts will be conducted in a circuit format, consisting of the following:
   1. Warm-up
   2. Workout
   3. Cool-down
5. At the conclusion of the workout, depart using the gate by the baseball dugout.

Permitted Uses of Outdoor Facilities

1. Bradley Field
   1. Scrimmages, organized games, and tournaments are not allowed for contact sports in Stage 1. Activities must be limited to no-contact drills and training exercises. Contact sports include baseball, softball, and soccer.
   2. Access to goals will be restricted in Phase 1.
   3. Must separate participants into groups of no more than 10. More than one group can use Bradley Field at the same time as long as there is adequate space to maintain social distance and group separation.
   4. Users should bring personal equipment and limit the sharing of equipment.
   5. Users waiting to enter the field should remain outside the fence until previous users have vacated the space.
2. Tennis Courts
   1. Games are permitted during Stage 1 only for no-contact sports where ordinary play allows for social distancing, but inter-team games or tournaments are not allowed.
   2. Doubles play will be allowed during this time as long as physical distancing and shared equipment restrictions are followed.
   3. Users should provide their own equipment and limit the sharing of hand held equipment other than tennis balls.
   4. Users waiting to utilize a section or area of the courts should wait outside the fence until previous users have vacated to ensure proper social distancing.

  STUDENT-ATHLETE RESOCIALIZATION TO SPORT POLICY

Return to sport for student athletes will be conducted using a two-phase evaluation. A third phase would be included if competitions were planned for the fall semester.

Phase 1: Acclimation (14 days)

Due to the loss of the spring season, summer activities, and other physical and non-physical impacts related to COVID-19, it is necessary for an acclimation period to prepare student-athletes for increased physical demands of sport participation.

• A two-week period of strength and conditioning programming will be offered, with a requirement that student-athletes will participate in a minimum of 7 sessions (up to 10 sessions total with no more than 4 per week) prior to entering Phase 2 of the return to play policy. This period will allow student athletes time to properly progress through the physiological and environmental stresses placed upon them as they return to required activities.
• Training and conditioning sessions will be introduced intentionally, gradually, and progressively to encourage proper acclimation and to minimize risk of adverse effects on health:
  • Athletes may begin strength and conditioning at low intensities
  • Athletes may begin to acclimate to aerobic activities (i.e. group runs)
  • Allow for adequate rest/work ratio
• Phase 1 workouts will be organized and offered by the Head Strength & Conditioning Coach, with athletic department staff providing additional supervision for these workouts.
• Face masks are required during practice sessions for both student-athletes and athletic department staff.
• Physical distancing should be practiced as much as possible.
• All student-athletes will be screened by athletic department staff upon arrival for training.

Phase 1 Group Workout Basic Plan (September 7 – September 19)

The group workouts will be conducted on Bradley Field and will be open to all students on campus, not exclusively student-athletes. Each session will be scheduled for 45 minutes or less. The extra time between each session allows for sanitation and checking in the next group. There will be 2-3 sessions offered each day, other than Sundays.

The protocol for these group workouts are as follows:

1. Sign-up for available workouts through the online system. The link will be available on the Athletic Department website. When signing up, students will be required to enter their name, student ID, ENC email, and sport (if a student-athlete).
2. On the day of the workout session, check-in at Bradley Field gate by back entrance to the gym: include student ID and symptom check. Student will be assigned a group that they will stay with for the duration of the workout session.
3. After check-in, the student will be sent to designated group area until the session begins.
4. Workouts will be conducted in a circuit format, consisting of the following:
   1. Warm-up
   2. Workout
   3. Cool-down
5. At the conclusion of the workout, depart using the gate by the baseball dugout.

Additional Notes:

• Sanitizing station at entrance and exit
• If using any equipment, those will be cleaned either between each group during the workout or after the whole workout depending what is being used
• Spacing: will need to mark off spaces for exercising prior to workout sessions
• Groupings: A, B, C, D: Each group will stay together for the entirety of the workout session.  They will also be social distancing in each individual group.
• Masks worn at all times
• Sound system will be used
• Timer will be needed outside
• Hydration: bring your own bottles.