Eastern Region is running a series of Open Forums to discuss the challenges faced when organising a return to rowing. The sessions have been organised and run by Tracy Muir, Chair of the Regional Coaching Committee, and Louise Rivett, Regional Representative.
The sessions enable Clubs to collaborate in developing processes and using all the guidance that is available.
New Date for SGP September
Our next Sharing Good Practice session will be on Monday 14th September – 19.00 – 20.30.
The session will focus on the latest version of the Return to Rowing guidance with an emphasis on the potentialto run Learn to Row courses.
For further details, including registration please click here.
Notes from SGP Forum 3rd August
The notes from the latest Sharing Good Practice Forum held on 3rd August are now available here.
The session focused on the approaches Clubs are taking towards a return to crew rowing. Another positive session demonstrating the prudent, detailed approach the rowing community is taking.
Notes from the Open Forum of 9th July are now available here . The session focused on the most recent developments of guidance and the challenges clubs are facing in a range of areas. Good practice and new ideas were shared on:
- Membership fees
- Indoor gyms and other areas indoors
- Support for coaches
- Club constitutional issues
- Crew boats
Notes from the session on 19th June are available here.
Lou Rivett writes:
The information I gave you on recent guidelines from the Resuscitation Council was not entirely correct for the general public and although performing CPR without medical fitted masks is not safe in terms of being infected through aerosol generation of secretions from the victim, the guidelines do give suggestions of what you can do to minimise your risk, should you decide to do it. (See link in notes)
I also reflected on what I said about health care professionals not giving CPR, and realised that this would sound quite alarming and I would like to clarify that I meant without medical masks, which of course would be available in hospital. I work in the community where there is a possibility of being somewhere without access to a mask, and only in that case would we be in a position potentially not to attempt it.
Notes of the session on 25th May are available to download here
Notes from the sessions of 16th and 18th May are available here.
Clubs willing to share the protocols that they have published are welcome to send links or documents to Andrew Blit or to add links as Comments below. All such plans remain the responsibility of Clubs.
Clubs should also refer to the ERRC Covid-19 page for latest news as it emerges.
Broadlands BC C plan, expected behaviours and risk assessment 15/5
City of Cambridge COVID-19 Protocols and Risk Assessment
Lea RC – COVID-19 Rules and Risk Assessment
Milton Keynes RC Procedures for Rowing during COVID-19 Restrictions
St.Neots RC Club Plan, Risk Assessment and Polices
Sudbury RC Plans, Processes and Risk Assessments and Video
During the Forums Clubs mentioned online booking systems. Is it possible to know what any club is using please? -Off the shelf system or bespoke or perhaps just email. Any information would be most helpful.
Hi Karen, we have been using TeamUp: https://www.teamup.com
It’s just an online calendar, but seems to work well for us…and it’s free!
Simon (WNRC)
Hi Karen
At Huntingdon we are using TimeTree. It’s a shared calendar app – and is also free. It works well for us.
Hi Karen, at Ardingly we’re just using a simple Google sheet -mostly works well (and can see revisions if someone decides they are exempt from session limits!)
Hi Karen, http://www.fitclub.me is free and has boat bookings. It is used by a number of UK rowing clubs.
There is a notes field where you can enter the crew in case you need to do tracing.
I should mention that I am the developer.
Here in Milton Keynes like everyone else we have moved gradually –
Step 1 – Private boats only – all racked outside with no access to boathouse or clubhouse – new booking system in place to limit group numbers to 6 per hour
Step 2 – Additionally Club boats/oars allocated to members on request for exclusive use all racked outside with no access to boathouse or clubhouse – new booking system to limit group numbers to 6 per hour
Step 3 – 1st August – Restart of Club Sessions – shared use of club boats with cleaning with bleach solution- boathouse access and limited clubhouse access for this now plus safety /coaching launch on water. Normal Planner booking resumed and crews/boats allocated by Captain (me) for each Club Session. We usually have 2 – 3 groups of 6 people on a Club Session with staggered arrival times and 2 separate cleaning areas. Tomorrow morning for the first time we have 21 members down for the morning. We have opened up all Club Sessions to our Development Members ( hence launch out all times as its club policy when Dev Members on lake) There is a steady trickle of members returning and a few new members joined but we estimate we will have lost 75% of Dev Members and 25% of Full Members next year. Some members have told us they did not come back the first couple of weeks as they wanted to see how it was all working but as they have seen how crews have been organised in 1x/2x and stable 1x and 2x they are now confident to return. We have bought more slings to allow for more 1x/2x and cleaning. We have touch points marked and cleaning of launch. If I create a 2x bubble I always make sure I check with them first. We currently only have 3/4 mixed household bubbles for 2x.
We agreed to continue with our paid professional coach on a Sat am for 2 Sessions for a few weeks to get club restarted and relieve pressure on volunteer coaches. Our launch is on water with 4-6 volunteer coaches (some qualified – others not but all experienced members ) on a rota one at a time on a Mon/Thurs evening Club Session. And also on Tuesday am Rec Sessions ( crews/boats allocated by Recreational Captain) We will have to reduce/stop the paid coaching next season.
Also – outside of Club Sessions Club boats can be requested to be allocated with Captains permission to experienced scullers only – with a keyholder present and cleaning in place as boats/oars are now shared and the new booking system in place for Shared Use Time to limit numbers boating to 6 per hour.
Step 4 – Sept 1st – will be shared use of quads and coxless fours in Club Sessions I am working towards creating regular crew bubbles for these larger boats without coxes by talking to members about their preferences. We have 2 coxless fours and 2 quads to use (we have just bought riggers for a quad to make an additional sweep four as we recognise that there are sweep members who do not want to scull who have yet to return despite all the measures we have put in place – lots of coaching/ safety launch/ stable boats to start etc …….
Step 5 – use of coxed boats – we have not worked out how this will work yet in our club…..