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UPDATE: 1/6/2022:
The Matrix is asking NO parents with athletes over age 6 accompany them into the gym until further notice (under age 6, only 1 parent please). Please utilize the front and side doors for pick up and drop off. With the extreme rise in COVID-19 cases, we are trying to keep indoor crowds and unintended exposures to a minimum as much as possible. Masking is preferred. Self-monitoring policies for athletes, members and families have not changed:
---------------------------- Hello Matrix Families, As we begin a new year and athletes are returning as safely as possible to our programs, we ask you remain vigilant in the effort to lessen the risk and exposure that still remains to COVID-19. COVID-19 POLICIES AND PROCEDURES AS OF 1/1/2021:
------------------------------------------------ Hello Matrix Families, As we continue to navigate this unprecedented time together regarding the worldwide pandemic of COVID-19, we want to put into place a second set of directives as of Friday 3/13/20 for The Matrix in an effort to keep the gym open as a safe outlet for athletes. We ask for full compliance so that we can continue do our best to minimize crowds and unnecessary exposure of germs. Even before the coronavirus outbreak, we continue to be committed to deep cleaning with products listed on the EPA website as effective for killing the COVID-19 virus. AS OF FRIDAY 5/8/20: Hello Matrix Families! The Matrix is working tirelessly on what our class schedule will look like as we are able to re-open. With the Governor's surprise announcement today reopening many close contact businesses as of Monday 5/11/20 at 5:00pm, we have been in communication with several gyms throughout the state and are confident our facility will be able to reopen slowly in the next phases with safety precautions and social distancing in place. As of right now (unless gymnastics/cheer are given a hard "no" from the state), we are planning to reopen with smaller Artistic Team training groups (no spotting), smaller All Star training groups (no spotting or stunting), and designated Private Lesson time slots on Monday, May 18th and will continue with this schedule through the month of May. We will also continue to offer Virtual Training for those who wish to take advantage of the at home training being offered by our coaches. We are planning to phase in modified recreational classes, school squads (if allowed), and day camp beginning the week of June 1. I am literally tweaking our phased reopening protocol daily of how we will run classes with everything from drop off/pick up flow, to an assigned coach cleaning during classes in both gyms. Attached is my proposed phased reopening schedule for the gym. As you will see there are no dates and all phases overlap, meaning any and all of the phases could ebb and flow given restrictions/recommendations at any given time. We will open in the red phase and continue from there. It has been brought to my attention that several gyms are already open and operating in what I am calling our yellow or orange phase. While I understand people are anxious to get back to "normal" activities, there has been absolutely no guidance or recommendations given to facilities/sports like ours. Therefore, we will proceed with caution as outlined. We miss you and your athletes VERY much and we can't wait to see you back in the gym, but ultimately we will do what is the safest and most compliant option with the guidance of local leaders and government agencies. At this point, your recreational class registration will rollover to June unless you send us a drop form that you do not want to return to class in June. Remember, being enrolled in summer classes gives you priority registration for Fall 2020. Fill out your drop form here. The Matrix 24-hour Fitness facility will OPEN Tuesday, May 12th 8:00am for current members (billing will resume) without our PlayCare option at this time. If you are looking for a gym to join, now is your chance to become a Fitness member for only $19 for your first month and support The Matrix Gym while we are still partially closed. And then have an incredible facility to work out in! We sincerely appreciate all the support to keep things moving in the right direction! The phones will be back on and the desk will be open next week Tuesday-Friday 9am-1pm if you would like to join or you need to call us 256-533-5599. Here are some ways you can continue to support the gym until we are able to physically reopen all programs:
Stay well! Any and all updates can always be found on our website. Sincerely, Meredith AS OF WEDNESDAY 4/29/20: In accordance with Governor Ivey's COVID-19 new "Safer at Home" directive effective at 5:00pm on Thursday 4/30/20, The Matrix will remain CLOSED. We continue to hold billing indefinitely and will hope that at minimum the 24-hour Fitness center will be able to reopen with her next phase announced closer to May 15, 2020. AS OF THURSDAY 3/19/20: Hello Matrix Families, In the best interest of social distancing, we have decided to remain closed this next week of 3/23/20 through 3/29/20 (at minimum). We are working on a modified schedule that would allow us to have no more than 25 students in the gym at one time with classes spread out throughout the day, but we feel concerned that if we open this week with that in place, the CDC may lessen their group size recommendations or possibly mandate all non-essential businesses to close, forcing us to close again. So, to avoid any confusion, it is better for us to remain closed another week in hopes that by March 30 we will be able to open with the modified schedule (if needed) and Spring Break camp (if possible). In an effort to help keep your athletes (and you!) from going stir crazy without gymnastics and cheer, our coaches will be making virtual coaching videos providing you with challenges, strength, conditioning, games and more that you and your family can do together at home! Be sure to follow us on Instagram and Facebook and post your pictures, videos, and results for a chance to win some awesome Matrix prizes when all this is behind us! All videos will also be posted on a new page on our website labeled "Virtual Gymnastics" where you will be able to access all the information! We hope you and your family will stay home, stay well, and never stop training! AS OF SATURDAY 3/14/20: Hello Matrix Families, As Alabama and Madison County begin to identify positive COVID-19 cases and the state issues mandated school closure, we are modifying our Matrix action plan effective Monday 3/16/20: THE MATRIX WILL BE CLOSED FOR ALL OPEN GYMS, CLASSES, MEETINGS, PRIVATE LESSONS, and PRACTICES MONDAY, MARCH 16th THROUGH SUNDAY, MARCH 22. (The desk will be OPEN Monday 3/16 from 9am-5pm. The desk will be closed the rest of the week.) TENTATIVE PLAN AFTER 2/22/20: The tentative plan is to reopen Monday, March 23 with a modified schedule--classes, team, and All Stars spread out throughout the day since schools are out to minimize crowds, with parent drop off at the front and side doors to lessen crowds and unnecessary accidental exposure to athletes, staff, and others. (Clearly the other possibility is to remain closed based on state information and outlook at the end of next week.) The classes missed this week (3/16 through 3/22) will tentatively be made up the week of Spring Break (March 30-April 3) since most people will not be traveling now. Spring Break Camp will remain as planned for now. (March 30-April 3). If we have to remain closed the week of March 23-March 29, we will find a weekend(s) in April or May to provide make up classes. This way, no one is missing any class time they have paid for in March (4 week session, we normally don't have class Spring Break week.) The HH NICU Event and BUDS Event have both been rescheduled. Any birthday party scheduled for Sat. March 23 and Sun. March 24 must be rescheduled (we will be reaching out on Monday). Birthday parties Sat. March 28 or Sun. March 29 can be rescheduled. All reschedules from the next 2 weekends will incur no penalty and we will be adding on the slide for free. The 24-hour access Fitness center will remain open. Our employees are cleaning machines and weights top to bottom everyday, however, we strongly encourage members to wash their hands before beginning their workout and use the hand sanitizer stations several times throughout. Be overly cautious and please do not come workout if you feel sick in anyway. COVID-19 is transmitted through droplets from coughs and/or sneezes directly or picked up on someone's hands and then touching their face. PlayCare will be closed the rest of the month--I have asked Ms. Vicky to please stay home seeing how she is high risk due to her age. We are taking care of her; albeit a slight inconvenience for some of our Fitness members, we sincerely appreciate your understanding to not open childcare until April 1. As always, we appreciate your flexibility and understanding during these trying times. We are trying to make the most educated responsible decisions for our families and staff. Please remember, any updates can also be found on our website. Be on the lookout for some emails from our coaches giving you at home ideas for conditioning and flexibility you can do during these weeks of home instruction! Sincerely, Matrix Management AS OF FRIDAY 3/13/20: PLAYCARE CLOSED THROUGH MARCH 31st. For those of us who know and love Ms. Vicky in PlayCare and our day camps, I have decided it is in her best interest due to risk factors to keep her at home beginning today through at least the end of the month. I will be covering her hourly pay, but unfortunately, that does not allow us to offer fitness childcare for the rest of March. We appreciate your understanding and hope you agree with us that while a short term inconvenience for some fitness members, Ms. Vicky's health and well being is the most important to our Matrix family. SIDE DOOR OF BUILDING: Beginning this afternoon (Friday 3/13), we will have the side door to the gym open on the half hour for Ages 6 and up so that adults can drop off their child without parking and all entering the building. A coach will be there to allow students into the gym and to have them sit in front of the window until their class time. This allows for less adult foot traffic in the lobby and waiting areas. Same for dismissal. Athletes will be allowed to exit through the supervised side gym door and into more of a "car line" style of pick up. PLEASE UTILIZE THIS DROP OFF METHOD UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE TO MAXIMIZE SOCIAL DISTANCING AND CROWDS WITHIN THE BUILDING. ADULTS: IF YOU DON'T NEED TO BE AT THE GYM, PLEASE REFRAIN FROM BEING HERE IN THE WAITING AREAS. Cars will enter through the main entrance, drive to the end of the main driveway, turn left at the brewery and come back down the side of the building, allowing athletes to exit on the passenger side of the car and into the gym. Cars will then exit by turning left at the mailbox and then right back out onto the main driveway. WHIZ KIDS OPEN GYMS: WHIZ KIDS OPEN GYM WILL BE LIMITED TO THE FIRST 30 PARTICIPANTS. Since Whiz Kids Open Gyms have been rather large due to rainy weather, in an effort to limit the number of adults all together in the gym, we will be capping ALL WHIZ KIDS OPEN GYM TO THE FIRST 30 participants. Because of this we will be adding more Whiz Kids Open Gym times beginning next week, Monday 3/16: Mondays and Fridays 9:15am-10:15am AND 12:15-1:15pm Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays: 9:15am-10:15am AND 12:15-1:15pm FRONT DOORS: THE FRONT DOORS OF THE BUILDING WILL BE PROPPED OPEN 3:30pm until 6:30pm. We feel this will minimize germs and exposure to dirty hands touching the door hundreds of times a day. Any birthday party scheduled in the next two weeks that wishes to reschedule, may do so with no penalty. We are not cancelling any birthday parties from our end, but want to extend the opportunity to do so to anyone who is more comfortable with that. We are confident our cleaning crew is doing a fantastic job disinfecting nightly, but there is a role all of us can play to help keep the germs away. Please be respectful of our staff, coaches and other athletes and do not send your child to class or practice with any symptoms of illness. (see chart at the bottom for recommended best practices.) We ask for several things to minimize all sickness among athletes and staff: - Please do not come to class with any fever, even if mild or controlled with NSAIDs. Please be a minimum of 24-hours fever free before coming to class or entering the building (both children and adults). Our staff will also adhere to this policy, so please bear with us if we need to shuffle coaching staff or combine class for the time being. -Do not allow drinks to be shared between children or children and adults. -Coaches and staff will be keeping side hugs and high fives to a minimum, so please explain to your children the reason they may not feel as "loved upon" during class in the near future. -If parents are not required to stay during your child's practice time, we ask they do not stay in the building for the time being. Since COVID-19 seems to be affecting adults and you can be infected for 7-10 days before you feel symptoms, we are encouraging all adults and care givers not to sit and wait in the building during class right now. As always, it is your choice, however if it is not necessary to be there, then we feel it in everyone's best interest to minimize adult traffic in the building if possible. -As an extra precaution, parents who have traveled domestically or abroad within the last two weeks are strongly discouraged from coming into the building until they have been a minimum two weeks symptom free (fever, cough, respiratory congestion) since their return. Bathrooms: There are new hand washing signs in the bathrooms reminding everyone the importance of washing your hands with soap. Please encourage your children to do this properly. Water Fountains: Our water fountains are sanitized each night by the cleaning crew, however, during such peak illness times, we strongly encourage athletes and families to bring their own reusable water bottles and not use the water fountains. Athletes will be allowed to bring their WATER bottle into the gym in the coming weeks and classes will choose a designated spot to put their drinks during class (Gatorade or anything other than water will not be allowed in the gym). If you bring a plastic water bottle, PLEASE make sure you label it with your child's name--we want to discourage mix ups and drinking after one another. Hand Sanitizing stations: The Matrix has 12 hand sanitizing stations throughout the gym. We strongly encourage athletes and parents to utilize these BEFORE your class and AFTER your class. Our coaches will remind athletes to do this before and after every class to help keep doors and high traffic door surfaces as germ free as possible. Mats and gym equipment: Our staff will continue to sanitize the mats weekly with commercial strength disinfectant. The pit will continue to be sprayed nightly with disinfectant. Floors are vacuumed weekly. Some resources that may be helpful include:
As always, we are taking necessary steps to help keep our staff and patrons as safe as possible. We will look to the CDC and WHO for recommendations should the coronavirus become a wide spread problem in Alabama, however we do ask that people take flu and other illnesses just as serious right now. So many "bugs" going around. Stay well! Thanks, Matrix Management |