11/16/2020
Tacoma Twin Rinks Families,
As a result of Governor Inslee’s update November 15, Tacoma Twin Rinks is required to temporarily close. This means all ice sessions for all programs will be postponed beginning Tuesday, November 17.
We are concerned for our employees during this holiday season. We will be working with our customers and ask for everyone’s continued support as we navigate the challenges of operating an ice rink within the guidelines of the Washington State Government Proclamations. As a member of the recreation/fitness/sports community, we are completely shut down to indoor sporting activities.
We understand PS Iceports Association – Tacoma Rockets, Rainier Hockey League, Tacoma Figure Skating Club and Puget Sound Speedskating- will continue to keep their members engaged during this shut down. Plans for zoom calls, skill challenges and possible out door training sessions will be worked on with coaches and managers.
We look forward to seeing you back at the rink soon.
08/03/2020
To all of our Members;
Tacoma Twin Rinks will follow Governor Inslee Fitness and Training Facility Guidelines set forth today.
Gov. Jay Inslee today announced updates for Phase 2 and Phase 3 fitness guidance as part of Washington’s Safe Start phased reopening plan. The guidance is effective August 10, 2020.
Updates include:
- Clarification on when facial coverings are required in indoor fitness facilities
- Changes to calculation of occupancy limits for large facilities
- Allowance for fitness and sports training other than group fitness classes
Phase 2 and 3 Indoor Fitness and Training
COVID-19 Reopening Requirements – Update
Changes in August 3 update:
• Removing the restriction on independent fitness training by allowing fitness and sports training other than group fitness classes.
• Increasing the distancing requirement while exercising indoors from six feet to 300 square feet per person, except while practicing certain team sports. For large facilities, over 12,000 sq ft, occupancy is limited to 25 percent of the facility’s occupancy limit, as determined by the fire code.
Occupancy and distancing requirements should be determined and posted for every room in the facility.
• Requiring all patrons to wear face coverings when inside indoor fitness facilities, except while engaged in strenuous exercise. Patrons who remove their cloth facial coverings to exercise must wear them at all other times, including immediately before and immediately after exercise.
• Clarifying the use of indoor team sports facilities for practice and limited competition with no spectators.
• Harmonizing Phase 2 and 3 guidance to allow some limited indoor fitness and training activities in all areas of the state.
• Clarifying that outdoors locations for fitness training and team sports are preferred to indoors locations and should be utilized to the greatest extent possible. Outdoor temporary structures may be used. Outdoor temporary structures should have no more than two walls to provide appropriate ventilation.
Included here:
Staffed standalone indoor sports facilities, or indoor sports facilities that are part of a multi-use indoor fitness facility, including volleyball courts, squash and racquetball courts, tennis courts, ice rinks, and other similar indoor facilities that provide private instruction for personal fitness and sports training.
The following areas will be closed: Showers, hot-tubs, saunas, steam rooms, tanning beds, squash courts, and racquetball courts. Locker room use will be limited to use for hand washing and restrooms only, or as required for use of the pool authorized under DOH guidelines.
For multi-use fitness facilities: the following areas will be restricted to small groups of five (5) people for personal training, or amateur use, unless otherwise specified in guidance provided for organized team sports: basketball courts, volleyball courts, pickle ball, tennis courts, and other indoor sports facilities. A minimum of six feet of physical distance between individuals must be maintained at all times.
Team sports specific training guidance:
– High and medium contact sports such as hockey, soccer, cheerleading, dance, and basketball are limited to practice, with no games or competitions allowed. Practice is limited to groups of five, not including the coach or trainer, if applicable, with no contact and a minimum of six feet of physical distance between participants at all time. No spectators are allowed for practices.
03/16/2020
To all of our Members;
Following the advice of the CDC, The World Health Organization and the Governor of Washington due to the CoVid-19 virus pandemic, Puget Sound Amateur Icesports Association will suspend all programming and Tacoma Twin Rinks will be closed for business the next two weeks or until further notice (effective Monday 03/16/20).
This decision has been made with the health of our participants and the community in mind and we will begin operations when we are advised it is in the best interested of our participants.
Please stay tuned to this post and/or our Facebook pages for the latest information and further updates.
We appreciate your continued patronage and wish everyone to be safe during this time of uncertainty.
We will be closed for all events until further notice.
We will continue to monitor State, local and CDC health guidelines. Please continue to check our calendar regularly to stay up-to-date with our events. Events are changing by the hour. Thank you for your patience during this time
- As you all have been notified, USA Hockey has decided to cancel all National Tournaments. The following is advice we have received from USA Hockey. As a facility, Tacoma Twin Rinks began the staff recommendations as soon as the events in King county began in February because our number one concern is the safety of the members of our PS Icesports community and our staff. We are committed to being diligent.
- We are asking everyone to get the word out to our participants and ask them to follow the recommendations for the participants.
- Finally, the strongest advice from the Chief Medical Officer of USA Hockey is to closely monitor local and state health department direction because it is important to manage this locally as each locale will be in different stages of this constantly changing situation. He also suggested that if you travel to be sure to understand and monitor the recommendations of the health department where you are going.
At Tacoma Twin Rinks we are using the USA Hockey Ice Rink Association Guidelines stated for the Covid-19 Bulletin, March 11,2020
- RECOMMENDED PRECAUTIONS FOR STAFF
- Increased signage outlining advisable precautions (e.g., hand-washing)
- Adding alcohol-based hand sanitizer stations throughout the facility
- Ensuring soap is stocked in restrooms
- Cleaning high traffic areas of the building with disinfectant throughout events (and ideally several times per day) including concession areas, door handles, elevator buttons, handrails, vending machines, arcade games, and rest rooms
- Implementing more regular cleaning procedures with disinfectant for areas such as players’ and officials’ locker rooms, and training rooms.
- Shared PPE, like safety glasses, cut resistant gloves, face shields, etc. should be disinfected before and after use
- POS touchscreens should be regularly disinfected and staff should minimize sharing these
- IR steering wheels and operational controls, hand tools, etc. should be disinfected after personnel completes shifts
- Always wear disposable gloves while cleaning
- Don’t eat or drink anything while performing cleaning tasks2. RECOMMENDED PRECAUTIONS FOR PARTICIPANTS
- Practice frequent and meticulous hand-washing with soap and water or alcohol-based hand rub
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands
- Cover your nose and mouth when coughing and/or sneezing with a tissue or flexed elbow
- Avoid close contact with anyone with cold or flu-like symptoms• Quarantine anyone who is sick (players, coaches, parents, roommates)
- Ensure safe food sources; thoroughly cook meat and eggs
- Handshake lines after games should include fist bumps with gloves on OR eliminate handshake line and consider a stick tap or clap to the other team as a sign of sportsmanship.
- Use individual water bottles; do not share them
- Towels should not be shared in any way.
- Stay informed. Through trusted sources like the Tacoma Pierce County Health Department: www.tpchd.org/coronavirus, the CDC https://www.cdc.govand Washington State Health https://www.doh.wa.gov/Emergencies/Coronavirus
-Limits on large gatherings- On Wednesday, March 11, Gov. Inslee imposed restrictions on large gatherings in Pierce, King, and Snohomish counties through March 31 to limit the spread of COVID-19.
Please cancel gatherings of 250 or more people for social, spiritual and recreational activities.
How can I protect myself and my family?
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- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands.
- Avoid close contact with sick people. Use a tissue or your elbow to cover your mouth and nose when you sneeze or cough.
- Throw used tissues in the trash and wash your hands.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces. Stay home and away from others when you’re sick.
- Cold and flu are out there, too. So far this season, flu has made hundreds of Pierce County people sick and at least a dozen have died. Vaccine is your best protection against the flu. It’s not too late to get your flu shot.
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As we move forward, remind all your participants that we need to work together to keep our environment safe for our participants
- Since our gatherings are below 250 we are within the state guidelines. However, please be sure to vacate the building promptly after practice to allow for minimal gathering between groups
- If at all possible, shower at home
- No sharing of water bottles
- Wash hands regularly
- If you are sick, please self quarantine for 14 days
- If you or a family member are in the high risk category, please consider not attending practices
- Even though the facility is open under these guidelines, make sure we respect the ability and right for families to make the decisions that are best for them
- Be flexible – As we monitor hourly events and decisions in our community by the public health advisors, we will be reacting and changing programing with the safety of our participants and staff as our first priority.
Thank you,
Donna Kaufman
