VASRA COVID-19 Pandemic Guidelines for Regattas at Sandy Run Regional Park Purpose

VASRA COVID-19 Pandemic Guidelines for Regattas at Sandy Run Regional Park
                             April 9, 2021

Purpose
The purpose of this document is to provide guidance for safe and effective rowing
regattas at Sandy Run Regional Park in response to COVID19. The information in this
document is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice or
to ensure against the potential transmission of COVI-19. This guidance is subject to
change based on federal, state, local and park guidance. Additional health and safety
recommendations for rowing and high school athletics is available from US Rowing and
the Virginia High School League (VHSL).

All VASRA regattas for 2021 will be held at Sandy Run Regional Park, 10450 Van
Thompson Rd, Fairfax Station, VA 22039, on the Occoquan Reservoir. Regatta
Schedule attached.

All regatta attendees are required to follow these guidelines and all additional guidance
when visiting, training, or competing.

General COVID Guidelines

1. All coaches and athletes must comply with their school district’s COVID-19 Policy.
    Resident scholastic teams must follow the FCPS guidelines for crew.
2. Do not enter Sandy Run Regional Park if you have any signs or symptoms or
    COVID-19.
3. Do not enter Sandy Run Regional Park if you have tested positive for COVID-19
    within the last 10 days.
4. Do not enter Sandy Run Regional Park if you have been exposed to COVID-19 in
    the prior 14 days.
5. Daily screenings of coaches, officials, staff, and rowers for COVID-19 symptoms per
    FCPS athletic guidelines is required.
    5.1. Officials, staff, and volunteers shall be screened in accordance with VHSL
         Screening Protocol and record via Google Docs.
6. Maintain at least six feet of physical distance from other individuals.
7. Follow all signage and follow staff instructions to help us provide a safe environment.
8. While at Sandy Run Regional Park, all individuals must cover their mouth and nose
    with a mask as described and recommended by the CDC. This includes on the
    docks and inside boathouses.
9. Bring adequate water and hydration liquids. Water will not be available in the park. If
    you do not bring adequate hydration materials, you will not be allowed to row. Do not
    bring disposable containers.
10. When moving shells six feet of physical distance is not required. However,
    individuals who are unable to maintain 6 feet of physical distance while moving a
    shell must cover their mouth and nose with a mask as described and recommended
    by the CDC.

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11. Only vaccinated coaches will enter the gas storage area while wearing masks and
    practicing social distancing.
12. Bring only what you need.
13. Do not congregate in groups socially.
14. Each team shall designate a COVID monitor to ensure compliance with rules,
    regulations, and guidance.

Regatta Specific Policies

15. Regattas will be limited to no more than 1,000 participants, coaches, officials, and
    staff on site.
16. Coaches, Coxswain and Referee Meetings will be conducted virtually the night
    before the regatta.
17. Regattas will run on 8-minute centers to allow additional time on the docks for
    launch and recovery spacing. This also allows more time to get people in and out of
    the park.
18. Visiting teams are limited to a maximum of 12 trailers, which allows for social
    distancing while rigging. Trailer and Rigging Map Attached.
19. If the current restrictions are still in place, once heats and finals begin on week 5, the
    events will be grouped to allow a break for event participants conduct heats and
    finals then to clear the park before further event participants enter.
20. Regattas will be formatted to ensure that events maintain the least number of
    athletes in the park at any one time as possible. This will be done initially by
    grouping smaller boat events with large boat events to keep the total numbers onsite
    down.
21. Mask must be worn on the water and in competition.
22. Coxswains in eights or other stern coxed boats must wear a well-fitting mask and
    wrap-around eye protection while on the water.
23. Separate Launch and Recovery Docks.
    23.1.       Launch dock to the left in Sandy Run. Launching crews keep left of the
         pathway.
    23.2.       Recovery dock is at the bottom of the hill. After recovering a shell keep to
         the right when coming up the hill.
    23.3.       Crews are to maintain distancing and not stop adjacent to crews going in
         the opposite direction.
24. Regatta participants should focus on “get in, row, get out” approach to minimize
    unnecessary contact.
25. No spectators at Regattas. Teams that violate this policy are subject to penalties, to
    include exclusion from this and other regattas.
26. No team food tents or chuck wagons. Tents may be provided for shelter, but strict
    social distancing must be maintained.
27. No concession sales.
28. No trash. Any trash must be taken out of the park by teams.
29. No teams attending from outside the Northern Virginia Area.
30. Regatta participants will not exceed pods of 25.

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Referees
   30.1.     Referees shall follow the guidelines as set forth by US Rowing.
   30.2.     Additional mask will be provided to the referees for crews’ use in the event
       of a water recovery.

   https://usrowing.org/documents/2020/6/17//Referee_Procedures_COVID19_v1.pdf?i
   d=2305

Medical

31. Athletic Trainer/s will be on site.
32. Trainers will be at the headquarters and/or finish.
33. An isolation tent will be available to isolate any suspected cases of COVID-19.

Sanitation
  33.1.      Additional portable toilets made available per COVID-19 requirements at
       the expense of the regatta host. Located at the recovery dock, rigging area,
       parking pick up and drop off area.
  33.2.      Boat disinfection materials will be provided by each team for pre and post
       use cleaning of the boats.
  33.3.      Hand sanitizing materials will be provided by teams at team locations.

Police
34. Police officer(s) will be onsite to assist with parking and crowd control.

Parking
35. Regatta staff will assist park personnel in Lot C and D.
36. Drop off and pick ups in Lot C. Vehicles to circle through to exit by the side gate.
37. Athletes are to maintain social distancing while awaiting pick up. Spots marked by
    spray paint.
38. Athlete parking in Lot D.
39. Referee, Athletic Trainers and Course Personnel only in Lot B. Staff parking passes
    will be on display.

Event Details

40. Gathering Locations: Map Attached
41. The first 4 regattas will be heats only, which means that rowers will leave after their
    race. Rowers, other than visitors will arrive 1 hour before the start time of their event
    and depart immediately after. Visitors will be allowed additional time to rig
    equipment.
42. Once heats and finals begin on week 5, the events will be grouped to allow for a
    break for event participants to conduct heats and finals, then clear the park before
    further participants enter. Participants will be directed to their team areas to social
    distance between events.

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43. Participants are not to arrive before scheduled time. Coaches will disincentivize
    early arrivals. Participants will wait in their vehicles until their scheduled arrival time.
44. Participants will proceed to their designated team area.
45. Timeline- 1 hour until race time
    45.1.      5 minutes: Meet and get instructions from Coach.
    45.2.      5 minutes: Get boat off racks, clean boat, Get oars, clean.
    45.3.      5 minutes: Walk the boat down to Commission Control for clearance.
    45.4.      5 minutes: launch from the dock.
    45.5.      40 minutes: row up the course.
46. Race
    46.1.      Marshall call for the start, 2 races deep.
    46.2.      Call on the start line.
    46.3.      Race.
    46.4.      5-9 minutes: Race duration.
    46.5.      10 minutes: Row from finish to recovery dock.
    46.6.      5 minutes: Recover and walk boats to slings for cleaning.
    46.7.      5 minutes: Clean boat and oars.
    46.8.      5 minutes: Return boat to rack.
    46.9.      5 minutes: Coach comments and dismissal. Crews instructed to leave
        the park immediately.

Approximate time in the park is 1 hour 40 minutes. An additional 30 minutes for visiting,
trailered crews for rigging and de-rigging.

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2021 VASRA Regatta Schedule

                                                           #
  Date      Start Times             Regatta                                      Events
                                                        Athletes

5/8/2021     8:00 AM           Polar Bear Regatta        1000                 Heats/Flights

5/15/2021    8:00 AM         Regional Park Regatta       1000                 Heats/Flights

5/22/2021    8:00 AM          Walter Mess Regatta        1000                 Heats/Flights

5/29/2021    8:00 AM        Darrell Winslow Regatta      1000                 Heats/Flights

6/5/2021     8:00 AM          Ted Phoenix Regatta        1000      Heats and Finals Championship Boats

             8:00 AM           Al Urquia Regatta                            Heats and Finals
6/12/2021                                                1000
            Afternoon?    Rowing Championships- Day 1     750               Heats and Finals
6/18/2021
             8:00 AM      Rowing Championships- Day 2     750               Heats and Finals
6/19/2021

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Trailer and Rigging Map

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Gathering Location Map

Notes:

Drafted by VASRA
Edited by NOVA Parks
Sent to FCPS Athletic Director

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