Feb 8, 2021

Return to Judo Guidelines (Updated February 8, 2021)

Hello Judo Alberta Members,

The Government of Alberta has lifted some Covid-19 restrictions effective February 8th that allows judo to resume in some capacity.

As a result, Judo clubs will be able to offer in person one-on-one training (all athletes) and “mini” group training (only for athletes 18 years of age and younger) however there are some strict measures that must be followed.

To ensure the safety of our membership we have made updates (in bold text) to section 4.1 in the Return to Judo Guidelines:

4.1 Private Training Sessions (Updated February 2, 2021):

Private Individual Sessions:

  • Athlete can participate in individual conditioning and individual judo exercises led by a coach
  • Athlete can participate in strength training sessions led by a coach at the dojo
  • The instructor assigns one area per participant (1 person/8m2). This will become their designated training space throughout the session.
  • Participants bow with 3 metres physical distancing or in their designated area (1 person/8m2)
  • Sessions must be scheduled by appointment. No drop-in or groups allowed. (Amended Feb 2, 2021)
  • Coaches must wear a mask during the session; participants are not required to wear a mask during exercise. (Amended Feb 2, 2021)
  • More than one coach and client ‘pair’ (ex: 3 athletes and 3 coaches) are allowed into the facility so long as: (Amended Feb 2, 2021)
  • Each coach and client stays 3 metres away from all other trainers and clients at all times, including in entryways and exits.
  • Each coach can only interact with their assigned client, and each client can only interact with their assigned coach.
  • No interaction between clients or between coaches is allowed.
  • No ‘cycling through’ multiple coaches as in circuit training.

Exercises Permitted:

  • These sessions can involve judo elastics, foot work, judo exercises, hops, ropes, shadow uchi-komi

Private Multi-Person Sessions (Household Members Only):

  • Athletes who have multiple people in a single household can participate in judo training led by a coach.
  • Athletes who have multiple people in a single household can participate in strength training sessions led by a coach at the dojo.
  • The instructor assigns one area per participant (1 person/8m2). This will become their designated training space throughout the session.
  • Participants bow with 3 metres physical distancing or in their designated area (1 person/8m2)
  • Sessions must be scheduled by appointment. No drop-in or groups allowed. (Amended Feb 2, 2021)
  • Coaches must wear a mask during the session; participants are not required to wear a mask during exercise. (Amended Feb 2, 2021)
  • More than one coach and client ‘pair’ (ex: 3 athletes and 3 coaches) are allowed into the facility so long as: (Amended Feb 2, 2021)
  • Each coach and client stays 3 metres away from all other trainers and clients at all times, including in entryways and exits.
  • Each coach can only interact with their assigned client, and each client can only interact with their assigned coach.
  • No interaction between clients or between coaches is allowed.
  • No ‘cycling through’ multiple coaches as in circuit training.

Exercises Permitted:

  • The sessions can involve crash mats, uchi-komi, technical development, ne-waza technique, drilling, kumi-kata training, randori

Mini Group Sessions – Athletes 18 years of age and under ONLY (Amended Feb 8, 2021):

  • Athletes 18 years of age and younger can participate in group conditioning and group judo exercises led by a coach. (Maximum group size is 10 people, including the coach)
  • Athletes 18 years of age and younger can participate in group strength training sessions led by a coach at the dojo (Maximum group size is 10 people, including the coach)
  • Group Options:
  • Single Athlete: 9 athletes with 1 coach physically distanced (3m). Non-contact activities only.
  • Family Practice: Athletes from the same family household can participate in contact activities. (Ex: 3 groups of 2 from a same family, 1 group of 3 from the same family and a coach. All groups are physically distanced from each other. Family members only have contact with their family.
  • Individual Sessions: Individual sessions are still able to continue with a coach.
  • The instructor assigns one area per participant where 3m safe distancing can be met. This will become their designated training space throughout the session.
  • Participants bow with 3 metres physical distancing or in their designated area.
  • Sessions must be scheduled by appointment. No drop-in or groups allowed. (Amended Feb 2, 2021)
  • Coaches must wear a mask during the session; participants are not required to wear a mask during exercise. (Amended Feb 2, 2021)
  • More than one group (Ex. 2 groups of 10 people) is allowed into the facility at the same time so long as: (Amended Feb 8, 2021)
  • The facility has enough space to maintain safe 3m distancing at all times (Ex. 10 people per mat area). If the dojo cannot support this capacity, group sizes must be reduced to meet a safe 3m distancing.
  • Each coach and client stays 3 metres away from all other trainers and clients at all times, including in entryways and exits.
  • Each coach can only interact with their assigned client(s), and each client can only interact with their assigned coach.
  • Physical interaction between clients, coaches or groups is NOT permitted. Only household family members are permitted to physically interact with each other.
  • No ‘cycling through’ multiple coaches as in circuit training.

Exercises Permitted (With members from the same household):

  • The sessions can involve crash mats, uchi-komi, technical development, ne-waza technique, drilling, kumi-kata training, randori.

Length of Private Judo Sessions:

  • 1 Hour = 45-minute training session/ 15-minute cleaning transition

All sanitization and screening protocols outlined in Phase 4 are enforced.

A detailed plan of activities must be included in the club Return to Judo guidelines and submitted to the Judo Alberta Office.

For more information on the provincial update please visit https://www.alberta.ca/enhanced-public-health-measures.aspx#restrictions for more details.

Operate at Your Comfort Level

*It is important to note that clubs can operate in any phase currently permitted by Judo Alberta. Some clubs may wish to only do 1 on 1 sessions instead of the mini group sessions. These guidelines are consistent with what is permitted by the provincial government at this time so they must be respected at all times.

If you have questions please do not hesitate email judo@judoalberta.com

Judo Alberta

Judo-Alberta-Covid19-Return-to-Judo-Guidelines-Version-7-February-8-2021

Judo Alberta Return to Judo Guidelines (Updated February 2, 2021)

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