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COVID-19 Updates, Information, Resources

Updated: Wednesday May 5, 2020.

As the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak rapidly evolves in Canada, we are now facing significant and unique challenges. These are difficult times and our number one priority is the health and well-being of our rowing community.
 
We have been working closely with RCA and Sport Nova Scotia to ensure we monitor the current status of the pandemic in order to make reasonable recommendations for our members. We encourage our member organizations to remain informed, through regular updates from health authorities and other governing agencies.

Updates

RCA released a directive earlier this week, and Row NS fully supports the advice included therein: Following the advice of RCA Chief Medical Officer Dr. Mike Wilkinson, RCA strongly advises that all of our member organizations cancel or postpone upcoming spring regattas and suspend camps, clinics, workshops and club programming for the time being.

Rowing Canada COVID-19 Updates

Consistent with the Government of Nova Scotia’s State of Emergency directives, Row NS advises that all club facilities are to remain closed and no rowing activities are to take place at the clubs until Municipal and Provincial authorities advise otherwise. Notwithstanding these limitations, we hope that clubs and Row NS will continue to work collaboratively and creatively to provide virtual opportunities for training, education and connection within our rowing community during these challenging times.

Regatta and Event Updates

Row NS has created a decision-making protocol for hosting regattas, camps,  clinics and events for the spring, summer and fall of 2020 in light of the Coronavrius (COVID-19) pandemic. The purpose is to ensure decisions of events/services provided by Row NS align with provincial and federal protocols and directives and account for the health and well-being of our members and the greater public. We hope to provide approximately 4-5 weeks notice for regattas and 2-3 weeks notice for clinics and camps to avoid any inconvenience for our members. The following changes have been made to regatta and events in Nova Scotia.

  • Learn to Row Coach Workshop – March 22 – CANCELLED
  • Atlantic Erg Marathon – March 29 – CANCELLED
  • Swim, Row, Go – April 18 – CANCELLED
  • RCA Coach Weekend #1 Workshop – May 2-3 – POSTPONED (to be re-assessed in approximately one month)
  • Learn to Row Coach Workshop – May 9 – POSTPONED (to be re-assessed in approximately one month)
  • Ice Breaker Regatta – May 30 – CANCELLED
  • LYC Coastal Regatta – July 5 – CANCELLED
  • Nova Scotia Sprints Regatta – July 25-26 – In the event of a cancellation/postponement, the decision will be communicated approximately 4-5 weeks in advance of the regatta.

Updates on events will be made on a case by case basis. We will continue to reassess events further into the Spring and Summer and we will update our website and our membership as more information becomes available. Row NS will do our best to reschedule or make alternative plans to the best of our ability.

Club and Membership Supports

  • Continue to liaise with Sport NS and RCA and other umbrella organizations to keep Row NS and our member clubs up to date.
  • Increase communication with our member clubs through regular President’s Meetings and email communication.
  • Clubs have access to Row NS’s Zoom account to book online meetings. Clubs can email pthompson@sportnovascotia.ca to set up a meeting.
  • Annual membership – Row NS will be delaying the invoicing of our annual club dues ($250) and the first quarter invoicing of participant dues (Jan. 1- March 31) until more clarity around the rowing season is determined. If the rowing season is significantly delayed or canceled, Row NS will make a decision to waive the annual club dues ($250) for the 2020-2021 season. Clubs will still need to fill out and return their club membership forms.
  • Row NS will be increasing our social engagement over the coming weeks to engage members and member organizations during the COVID-19 pandemic and we support clubs moving to online/virtual modes of programming that aligns with the training recommendations from RCA below.
  • Row NS will be creating access to home and self isolation physical training tips, advice, videos and resources for clubs and the membership to access. Stay tuned for more details.
  • Free Financial Consulting with Row NS Treasurer Will Bryden. Will works in commercial banking and works with organizations planning and assisting with accessing various government/bank resources. He can assist in the following ways: forecasting income and expenses for a variety of scenarios, accessing and navigating government and bank programs to ensure that they have access to funds should they need them, workforce planning to budget for critical employees, answer any financial questions regarding their club finances. You can reach out to Will using the following email: wabryden@gmail.com
  • For information on the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy Program. This wage subsidy aims to prevent further job losses, encourage employers to re-hire workers previously laid off as a result of COVID-19, and help better position Canadian companies and other employers to more easily resume normal operations following the crisis by providing a 75 percent wage subsidy to eligible employers for up to 12 weeks, retroactive to March 15, 2020.
  • For information on the Canada Emergency Business Account. The new Canada Emergency Business Account will provide interest-free loans of up to $40,000 to small businesses and not-for-profits, to help cover their operating costs during a period where their revenues have been temporarily reduced.
  • RCA is hosting a webinar on Tuesday, April 7 to discuss financial supports and initiatives. Stay tuned to RCA for more details. In the meantime here are further financial support resources to access.
  • RCA is preparing to host a webinar on Tuesday, April at 12pmPT/3pmET to address insurance-related questions and concerns. Stay tuned to RCA for details.

Training Recommendations

Follow this link to view training resources during the COVID-19 pandemic.

We encourage you to stay active to maintain your health, but it’s imperative that you train smart and safe. The following information was developed by Dr. Mike Wilkinson, Rowing Canada Aviron’s (RCA) Chief Medical Officer and Jordan Clarke, RCA’s NextGen Sport Science Lead.

Guidelines on Appropriate Exercise During COVID-19

  • Self-isolation is recommended for everyone. For those who are in self-quarantine for reasons of recent travel, symptoms, or contact with cases of COVID-19 MUST remain indoors; no outside exercise allowed.
  • Athletes should exercise at home but may exercise in wide-open outdoor spaces if available and if it does not violate the municipal and provincial directives.
  • You should not exercise in large groups, and maintain distance from others (>2m at all times), and you should not come into contact with frequently touched surfaces of any kind.
  • The focus of athletes’ exercise programs at this time should be to maintain general health, not to achieve world-best performance capacity.
  • The optimal dose of exercise from an immune system point-of-view is moderate-to-vigorous aerobic activity (60-120 minutes per day of moderate-intensity activity). Maximal or very high intensity training is not contributory.
  • Resistance training to maintain lean mass is good; work with whatever equipment you have available, perhaps just body mass, inertia and gravity!
  • Now is also a good time to work on things like stability, balance, and flexibility.

Other Resources

If you have any rowing related questions or concerns please feel free to contact me by phone or email.  For medical-related questions and advice, please visit www.novascotia.ca/coronavirus/ or call 8-1-1. 

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