Before COVID-19 went ahead and turned our lives upside down from the inside out last year, one of our main goals at every GameBreaker Lacrosse Camp was to provide a top-notch experience with the best instruction around, all while doing it in a fun and safe environment. No matter how much life has changed since we conducted our first lax camp over 20 years ago, that goal has never changed, and it’s taken on a whole new meaning as we continue to welcome campers by giving them something to look forward to during these crazy times.
At the core of it all, how we administer the ultimate goal of our lacrosse camps is exactly the same as it’s been for the 65,000 players who have joined us in past years. Our camps are the only ones in the country that employs a staff that is Double-Goal Certified by the Positive Coaching Alliance. We’ll still be focusing on the following lacrosse skills: triangle offense, stick skills, clears, man up and man down, face-off and wing play, defense (team and individual), ground balls, dodging, shooting, and fast breaks.
The biggest difference will be the COVID safety protocols and policies we’ve employed to make sure that everyone at camp — the players and coaches — feels as safe as possible.
Since we are proud to run more than 150 lacrosse camps in 25 states nationwide, we’re mindful of the overarching safety protocols from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), along with the state and local protocols and regulations as it relates to youth sports. As the guidelines change for certain things, such as youth activities, gathering size, and social distancing, our policies, which can be viewed in full here, could change accordingly.
There are lots of protocols we adhered to throughout the summer of 2020 and plan on continuing to do in 2021, but here are some of the more important ones:
- In addition to adhering to state and local guidelines with regard to wearing masks, gathering in groups, and social distancing, all staff, campers, and camper family members must sign a screening waiver that says they haven’t been sick with or knowingly been exposed to COVID-19 within the 14 days leading up to camp. If this isn’t signed, that person won’t be allowed at camp.
- Every morning, each camper will have to pass a symptom check screening, which includes a temperature check. Those who pass the screening will be cleared to enter the camp.
- Except when they’re eating and drinking, all staff will be required to wear face masks at all times. Campers must have masks available and they must be worn during check-in and check-out, as well as during orientation and closing ceremonies.
- In addition to monitoring how they’re feeling each day, we ask parents to notify camp directors if their child becomes ill for any reason during camp or in the 10 days following the end of camp.
- Campers must have their temperature taken each day and wash hands thoroughly before and after training/during breaks. They should also have hand sanitizer with them and use it frequently throughout the day.
As mentioned before, this is only a small number of the protocols we’ve put in place to run our camps in a safe and healthy environment. If you’d like to see all of them, check out this link. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out and ask. We hope to see you this summer and provide your child with a small sense of normalcy after a very weird year.