As many states are lifting the restrictions on businesses, one critical decision facing clubs is when to re-open. Regardless of timing, eventually each of us will restart our business with expanded knowledge of the potential for communicable diseases to greatly impact operations for either the short or long term. It is improbable that any of us will restart and go back to ‘normal’ – our pre-COVID-19 state. The likelihood is high that the coronavirus will remain among us for quite some time so it’s important for clubs to have a well constructed plan to restart, operate safely to protect your people and the community at large, and act appropriately should COVID-19 become present in our club environment.

The purpose of this article is not to tell you when or why to re-start but simply to help Club Directors create a plan for restarting once you deem it appropriate for your given situation. The next article will share recommendations to maintain safe operations to protect the health of your athletes and staff once you are open.

When do you Restart?

“WHEN you RESTART” will ultimately be a personal decision, which will depend on a variety of factors addressed below.

Staying tuned into local, state and federal guidelines and recommendations will be critical. Decisions will also be dependent on current disease progression, testing and contact tracing capacities, and economic factors.

Examine your priorities for Restarting

  1. Are you considering restarting as soon as allowable to train athletes irrespective of whether or not competition opportunities remain for the 2020 season?
  2. Are you considering restarting as soon as allowable to generate programming revenue or other sources of income?
  3. Do you have partners/renters who will be using your facility and you are anxious to get them back on stream as well?

Understand Market Readiness

  1. What do know about how your members/customers/staff feel about getting back into the gym.
  2. Use a survey to receive feedback as to how comfortable your families and coaches are with returning to the gym under different circumstances. This can help your club tailor your offerings and programming to what is desired throughout the club, as well as assist you in developing a phased approach to reopening.
  3. Although you have been given the “OK” to restart, your members, customers and staff may not be ready. A survey will help you make your decision. Click HERE to view a Sample Survey.

Perform a Financial Analysis

  1. Costs to operate in the COVID-19 era will likely be higher.
  2. In the initial phases of reducing restrictions, court density will be lower.


In this clip from a JVA webinar Steve Sack (MI Elite) and Gabe Aramian (A5 Volleyball) talk about the key factors that clubs should consider and plan before opening your business. This includes insurance status, local and federal guidelines, staff readiness, customer readiness, and equipment readiness.

Have a Plan

When the decision is made to restart, it is important to have a plan in place. Here are basic considerations for you and your staff as you prepare your plan to re-open.

  • Insurance status and risk assessment
    • It will be important to talk to your insurance agent and an attorney
    • Will your liability insurance be in effect when given the official clearance to restart?
    • Supplemental Waiver and Disclosure for transmissible (Legal input recommended)
      Here are a few waiver examples:
      1. Sample Waiver 1
      2. Sample Waiver 2
      3. Sample Waiver 3
  • Know your states/local/county/CDC guidelines/protocols and monitor them regularly
    • CDC Guidance Documents (***this information is updated often so check back often)
      • CDC Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for COVID-19 (35-page guide)
        Infectious Disease Preparedness and Response Plan
      • CDC signage
      • Cleaning & Disinfecting Your Facility
        Sufficient stock of gloves, cleaning supplies, hand sanitizer, etc. Some of these items have long lead times. Make sure you have ample supply BEFORE restarting.
      • CDC Guidance for Administrators in Parks and Recreational Facilities
        In general, most organized activities and sports such as volleyball, basketball, baseball, soccer, and football that are held on park fields, open areas, and courts are not recommended during times in which individuals are encouraged or required to practice social distancing. These activities and sports typically require coaches and athletes who are not from the same household or living unit to be in close proximity, which increases their potential for exposure to COVID-19.
      • State Level – Many states have started to relax restrictions. The current guidelines for Barber and Cosmetology Salons is available and can serve as an indicator of how other states may progress with opening back up the economy.
    • Escalation to higher risk activities – keep your plan consistent in 2-3 week increments
  • Gauge Staff Readiness/Capability
    • Plan for appropriate staff levels to support new operations and protocols
    • Assess each coach’s health risk (low, moderate, high depending on health status) and comfort levels with your work/gym environment. Given health status and home situation some may not be prepared to come back and availability based on ongoing work exposures. Make staff adjustments as necessary. (sanitization and operational/training plan (below), prerequisite guidelines -> polling, education)
    • Educate staff on all safety protocols, cleaning protocols, and other expectations
  • Determine Athlete/Customer Readiness
    • Survey/Query (2 approaches)
      • 1-Describe what your plan is (phases if applicable) and ask if they are in
      • 2-Comfort level w/ 1:1> small group> team-based>>>travel/competition
    • Recognize and accept that risk adversity will vary widely
    • Be sensitive to athletes with compromising medical conditions or immediate family with the same.
    • In these cases how will you disperse this valuable commodity across your club/teams?
    • Will require an explanation of your specific protocols for gym, equipment and staff; let alone the financials
    • Pre-opening webinars with staff, athletes and parents to describe changes and precautions
  • Determine Gym & Equipment Readiness
    • Operational Control & Accountability
      • Do you have operational control of your facility? If not, are the facilities you typically rent going to allow outside groups during this time.
      • Does someone else have control? What are their protocols?
      • Do you have to set up/supply equipment? Can that be done safely?
    • Cleaning Supplies, PPE access and inventory
    • Accessibility and Space
      • Single and controlled entry
      • Limited people movement/contact to move within the space (i.e. narrow hallways/corridors. Crossing one court to get to another?
      • Are you able to close off areas of congregation (break rooms, locker rooms, etc.)
      • Remove bleachers, etc. to limit contact surfaces and cleaning responsibilities
      • Restroom access control and cleaning

View the recent webinar: Junior Volleyball Club Readiness in the COVID-19 era – Getting back to the gym safely and responsibly – HERE. This webinar addresses the various protocols and measures your club should consider as you prepare to re-open your doors. Among the factors addressed is: risk assessment, preparing office and coaching staff, getting your facility ready to meet local/state guidelines, cleanliness protocols, and safety measures to insure you are protecting the welfare of your athletes, coaches and families.

JVA Business Solutions articles address important decisions that club directors are currently faced with, and JVA will work to provide information regarding those decisions that pertain to clubs across the wide spectrum of organizational and operational structures that clubs operate within. The next article in the series will focus on maintaining safe operations to protect the health of your athletes and staff.

For related reading and resources visit the COVID-19 Club Resources page.