Getting ready for the season

We have done our best to provide a comprehensive list of the safety measures and requirements for us to have a healthy, successful Fall Session. Please understand, we are human and have probably left something out. If you have a concern, question or recommendation, please let us know, we are generally agreeable people.

​

     The BRC Board and Coaches have weighed the risks of COVID-19 and inactivity and we are proceeding cautiously. We realize this is not without risk to all parties involved, including households, extended families, etc. Please consider YOUR personal situation before deciding whether to participate/enroll your athlete. By enrolling your athlete in BRC, you agree that you are voluntarily assuming the risk of contracting the COVID-19 virus because of your presence and use of MMC equipment and Algonkian Park practice facilities. If you do not wish to assume such a risk, you should not participate in BRC.

     The BRC Board and Coaches have evaluated the US Rowing Guidelines and current trends in Loudoun County. Should we return to Phase 2, or should the number of new daily cases exceed our established threshold for 7 days, we will suspend activities. We will be closely monitoring the number of new daily cases in Loudoun County. US Rowing guidance has set the recommendation of a local infection rate of less than 50 new cases per 100,000 people in total for the last seven-day period. Our data is obtained through: Loudoun COVID-19 Testing Data

We have decided our threshold to be 65 new cases per 100,000 people in a 7-day period. This deviation from US Rowing Guidance takes into consideration the county climate for returning to close contact sports, random daily spikes in cases and the necessity for physical activity. We reserve the right to amend these numbers if at anytime we feel the situation has become unsafe.

​

PLEASE MAKE AN EDUCATED/INFORMED DECISION FOR YOUR FAMILY. 

Participation or non-participation in BRC in no way affects eligibility for your Spring HS team. 

 *The policy at this time is NO REFUNDS at anytime. We will do our best to be fair but must consider insurance, operating costs, site maintenance, etc., that are incurred even upon cancellation. 

US Rowing Guidance (Full Document): 

• Nothing is “zero” risk and there is no predicting the change in viral patterns. Recommendations for one location may not be appropriate for a different area. It is important to be nimble and be able to adjust your training guidelines as local trends change. Team boat rowing is considered a close contact sport such as football or basketball. Organizations should be following local and/or state rules and regulations for contact sports when considering a return to team boat rowing where boatmates are not from the same household. As physical/social distancing guidelines begin to be relaxed, group size numbers are increased and close contact sports are permitted in your area, USRowing recommends organizations use the following standards published by FISA, based on WHO recommendations, in order to make informed decisions if you choose to return to rowing team boats.
• Training in team boats may resume when the local infection rate is less than 50 new cases per 100,000 people in total for the last seven-day period or 7.14 daily new cases per day *. USRowing recommends that organizations determine their rate by county. The best way to calculate this number is to divide the total number of cases in the last seven days by your county’s population and then multiply by 100k. Please check your state or local health authority’s COVID-19 webpage for the most relevant data.
•  Ex. Philadelphia, Pa. (as of 6/10/2020): 692 (total new cases from 6/4- 10) / 1,584,000 (population of Philadelphia) x 100,0000 = 43.68 new cases/100k. o If your county’s infection rate is near the recommended case limit and in an upward trend, USRowing encourages organizations to proceed with caution before moving to rowing in team boats in order to prevent having to shut down again.
• USRowing recommends rowing in the same training groups each day to limit cross-group exposure. o If eights, or other stern-coxed boats, are being rowed, coxswains MUST wear a well-fitting mask (or a surgical mask) and wrap-around eye protection while on the water. 

BRC/Algonkian Specific Measures:

• Athletes are responsible for following rules, we can not monitor every athlete at every moment, nor should we have to. Have integrity, be responsible and accountable.
• Athletes MUST complete on-line Health Screening via Teams Snap BEFORE arriving at practice.
• Masks MUST be worn at all times (land and dock) unless ON WATER.
• Coxswains and Stroke Seats will be required to wear masks on water.
• Coxswains must wear eye wear.
• Hand sanitizer will be readily available on site.
• WEAR SOCKS, no bare feet will be allowed in foot stretchers.
• No one with symptoms of COVID-19, such as fever, cough, aches, or known exposure to a COVID-19 case in the prior 14 days is permitted at BRC.
• Anyone who has been exposed to COVID-19, or who is experiencing the following symptoms is not permitted to participate in BRC:
  • A fever of 100.4° Fahrenheit or higher. 
  • A sense of having a fever.
  • A new sore throat or new muscle aches that cannot be attributed to another health condition.
  • A new cough, chills, or shortness of breath that cannot be attributed to another health condition.
• Athletes/Legal Guardians will be required to sign an Assumption of Risk form prior to participating in BRC.
• Only athletes will be permitted. No guests.
• Groups will be limited in size according to the current "Phase" guidelines.
• Socializing before and after practice is not allowed, athletes should arrive ready to practice and leave promptly after being dismissed.
• Boats, oars and other equipment will be sanitized as per current guidelines.
• Limit personal items to essentials only.
• NO SHARING water, masks, or any other personal items.
• Please allow six (6') feet of social distancing between unrelated athletes, to the best of your abilities, when not actively practicing.
• Masks are encouraged at all times.
• Properly dispose of any/all trash. 
• Although BRC has taken steps to attempt to reduce the risk of transmission of the COVID-19 virus throughout the common practice area and Algonkian Park, your use of the these areas and your presence at them creates risks that you may contract the virus.
• 
  

Therefore, as a condition to your participation in BRC you agree that you are voluntarily assuming the risk of contracting the COVID-19 virus because of your presence and use of BRC equipment and Algonkian Park practice facilities. If you do not wish to assume such a risk, you should not participate in BRC.