I hope this communication finds all our members well - and moving through the COVID-19 period as smoothly as possible.
Firstly, it is necessary to acknowledge that we are in unprecedented times that have seen too many people around the world lose their livelihoods; their communities; support networks and tragically, hundreds of thousands of people have lost their lives. Our thoughts are with the millions of people who have experienced loss during 2020.
Our club is in a solid financial situation - this allows us to honour our financial obligations and make decisions in relation to COVID-19 and the present situation that are 100% based on what we believe is in the best long-term interests of our membership; our communities and New Zealand. We are adopting a cautious approach, as we are a diverse family (at our club) - with a huge amount of interaction with others (through work; study; family; social etc), and the sport we love typically involves high levels of direct physical contact with others.
I am sorry if anyone is frustrated by the staged approach the club is adopting - but for obvious reasons, we are determined to minimise any risk of the club becoming a transmission node or contributing to our members; their families or anyone falling ill with the Coronavirus. Regardless of what Alert-Level New Zealand is at - the government rules will be the minimum standard adhered to. At any given session, the coach’s decision will be final - there will not be debate around health and safety measures on club premises… and if a person who is training is asked to leave, they will do so immediately.
Much of the planning below is reliant on moving to Alert-Level 2 on Thursday. A week (or even a day) is a very long time in the world of global pandemics, and the situation may quickly change - for better or for worse - in terms of the level of risk, and the subsequent restrictions on public activity. Our approach may well change too, to meet any shifts. Our thoughts and plans to date are based on incomplete / limited information - Club Leadership will pivot and change rapidly and without consultation if we see activities putting health and safety at risk.
Junior Club (current plan)
- We plan for the Junior Club to Open for in Term 3 on 20 July
(the challenges of physical distancing and other hygiene restrictions are currently deemed too great if we wish to also offer a quality coaching experience for our young judoka)
Senior Club ( current plan assuming New Zealand moves to Alert-Level 2 next week)
- Initially the only training that will be offered will be outdoor circuit training on Saturday 16 May and Saturday 23 May (more info below)
- Should New Zealand’s move to Alert-Level 2 go smoothly - and we judge the risk warranted, we will consider judo training resuming on Wednesday 27 May (if this goes ahead - there will be significant restrictions as to how we train)
Training Restrictions
- Monday and Wednesday training will only be for orange belts and above (the style of training will be based around drilling - rather than coaching)
- Lower grades may attend Friday and Saturday sessions
- Reduced numbers of training partners (possibly only one training partner); temperature checks; sanitising between sessions; ‘no randori’ training; no use of club showers; ‘no ne-waza training’; physical distancing… are just a few of the measures we are likely employ to keep our people safe (during and after the journey through Alert-Levels)
- All attendees, at every session will book into training digitally and have their attendance tracked / we will also need full contact information
- When training resumes (whether or not we are at an Alert-Level), we will be minimising any exposure to other peoples ‘bodily fluids’, please ensure, if you are on the mat you have… a towel; wear a minimum of a rash top or tee-shirt under your gi
Financial
- Our club is a not-for-profit organisation… we are not charging our members for training during the clubs stoppage for COVID-19
BUT WAIT A MINUTE, MY FEES HAVE KEPT ON BEING PAID AUTOMATICALLY…. Please communicate directly with Stu on this once we start back. Any fees paid after the club went into lockdown, will be credited on our new digital platform HelloClub…
Seniors will not resume paying fees until Wed 27 May (assuming judo starts then).
Juniors will not resume paying fees until Term 3 (as above, credits will be issued for part of Term 1)
- If you are hit will financial difficulties, and club fees are an issue… please talk to Stu; Ben; Igor; Rob - COVID-19 and the subsequent economic slow down, may impact some of our members (we are aware of this)
Thanks to...
- Fern and Stu who have maintained the dojo in our absence
- Stu and Fern who have set the Club us on a new digital platform - HelloClub - this will assist us with ‘contact tracking’ (so we know exactly who has been at which sessions which is essential in this new COVID-19 impacted world); financial payments and heaps more.
If you are not fully set-up on HelloClub, we may not be able to track the sessions you attend / so it is likely that you will not be allowed on the mat
Please contact Stu, if you are not yet set up on HelloClub - Stu/Fern sent out emails regarding this a few weeks ago
HelloClub will be operating on payment via credit card or Poli - all payments will be through this platform - any confusion or questions, please talk to Stu.
- Ben who has kept control of club comms and social media - Ben, thanks so much!
Circuit Training (Auckland Squad will also be invited)
- 2pm Saturday 16th and 23rd May
- Arrive by 1.50pm so all attendees details are logged…. please have a piece of paper for Rob with your name; phone number; email address; address (you do not train till this is handed to Rob - it will be destroyed 4 weeks later)
- Crossfield Reserve, Glendowie - in the area between the 2 x baseball diamonds and fences
- Wear sports shoes - shorts or track pants / tee shirts
- Please bring:- your belt; 4 x cans (to be used as markers); gloves if you wish (your hands will be in contact with the ground)
- Also… water; warm clothes for socialising after; chair if you wish (for socialising after); food or drink (for socialising after - no sharing!)
- These sessions (and any subsequent socialising… sorry Zack you over affectionate weirdo) will be 100% no contact with 2m distancing in place
Online Resources
- There are certainly judoka who will come out of this period, stronger and fitter
- There is a heap of quality resource online - google Travis Stevens and Ivica Pavlinic for some great ideas
- Here’s a nasty one! Play ’21’… have 2 x exercises i.e. press ups / burpees …20 press-ups+1 burpee; 19 press-ups+2 burpees….
Social
- At Alert-Level 1 or after… it will be great to have a mid-winter club meal out together… most likely at Tanuki
Finally, I am sorry that I have not communicated to you all as regularly as I would have liked to over this period - I have had some heavy work commitments.
With my warmest regards - yours in judo...
Robert Levy
President
Auckland University Judo Club
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