I am writing on behalf of Gymnastics Gyms within the great State of Illinois. My colleague, Mike Regula, and I, have been at the forefront of this proposal and greatly appreciate your time and consideration.

Gymnastics, as an industry, is a finite but intensely vital portion of the Illinois Economy. We have over 130 gymnastics gyms, employ more than 800 competitive coaches, countless recreational coaches, and educate more than 13,000 competitive gymnasts. We spend our days, nights, weekends, and holidays working towards keeping our kids strong, healthy, and safe. We teach steadfast values that stand the test of time, such as hard work, determination, perseverance, and resiliency. We lose sleep when our athletes face hardship, we celebrate with them when they persevere and succeed, but most of all, we simply just care.

Currently the CDC guidelines state that organized youth activities are to reopen during Phase 2. I am going to present a compelling fact-based case as to why Gymnastics Clubs can reopen during Phase 1 of the CDC guidelines, or Phase 3 of the Restore Illinois Plan. I will discuss social distancing, and why gymnastics facilities are in a unique position to maintain any given social distancing standard. I will then move on to explain why our sport differs from other sports in regard to our abilities to train effectively during COVID-19. Finally, I will discuss how gymnastics clubs will be able to provide your office and the DPH with extensive records for contact tracing if needed.

Social distancing has become the gold standard for COVID-19 mitigation efforts. In order for gymnastics to be performed safely, each athlete has to have a significant amount of space around them, free from obstructions including other people, to complete any given skill or task. Our equipment is already spaced out for safety reasons. Balance Beams are already placed 6’ or more apart, a set of girls Uneven Bars has a standard footprint of 13’ X 18’. Only 1 person uses these pieces of equipment at a time. Social distancing is inherent to a safe practice. Even though gymnastics is considered a “team” sport, everyone practices individually. This is true for collegiate gymnastics as well.

Our sport differs greatly from the likes of most other youth sports. Football, soccer, basketball, and hockey all include some element of close contact or personal space infringement that make social distancing during training impossible. The location of some of these sports make handwashing next to impossible. Gymnastics facilities have bathrooms extremely close and can require athletes and staff to wash their hands upon entrance, intermittently during practice, and upon leaving.

Some of the requirements laid out to move through the phases of reopening, are the ability to provide ample testing for COVID-19, and the ability to contact trace in the event of a confirmed case. While the gymnastics community has no control over testing availability, we can provide you with the impeccable ability to contact trace infections. Gymnastics clubs already take attendance and store it either electronically or on paper, for a significant period of time. We will provide the DPH with attendance records and contact information of anyone who was in the facility, at any given time.

In these ways our facilities, and our sport, are more alike to a Fitness Center (which are authorized to operate during Phase 3) than a youth activity or sport. Our equipment is spaced further apart, in most cases, than you would find at a “Globo Gym.” Most, if not all gymnastics centers, also have multiple overhead garage doors that can be opened to increase air flow and provide fresh air exchange throughout the building. We are able to control our facilities to a greater extent than most businesses, are able to disinfect more often, and are able to maintain any social distancing protocols necessary to reopen during Phase 3 of Restore Illinois.

It is for these reasons that we kindly request that you consider Gymnastics Facilities for reopening during Phase 3 of Restore Illinois with the following modifications:

1.    Limit entry to facilities to maintain a ratio of 5 persons per 1000 sq. feet or less at any given time, in socially distanced gatherings of 8 or less, to a maximum of 49 people in the facility regardless of total square footage.

2.    Increase lead time between classes to be sufficient to disinfect with a CDC List N approved disinfectant.

a.    Any areas that are not able to be disinfected sufficiently will remain closed in the interim.

b.    Water Fountains will remain off limits in the interim.

3.    Maintain attendance records as to who is in the building and at what time, available to DPH officials as needed.

4.    Strict Social Distancing Protocols will be enforced.

5.    Conduct Health Screenings with questions to be determined by Illinois DPH officials, or CDC recommendations, at the door for both employees and customers.

6.    PPE will be worn by staff where required by Illinois State guidelines.

7.    All Overhead Garage Doors will be opened, to create an open-air environment to provide for ample fresh air exchange.

We do believe in the gymnastics community’s ability to implement any and all recommended mitigation techniques, while providing children an opportunity to begin to return to some sort of normal.

Thank you for your consideration!