We want all of our clients to know that TRS will always follow local, state, and national guidelines that are in place on the date of an event. This is difficult as the guidelines change quite often as the infection rate for the virus varies for different locations. Above and beyond the guidelines, our main objective will always be to help produce events that are safe for the athletes (participants), volunteers, and administrators of the event and our staff.
The State of Tennessee has published guidelines for Noncontact Sporting Events as part of the “Tennessee Pledge” which is a plan to help Tennesseans get back to work in a safe environment, restore their livelihoods, and reboot our state’s economy. You can view these guidelines as a pdf file by clicking this link. The state has rolled out these guidelines in phases. Phase one limited participation to 10 people or less-phase two limits participation to 50 people or less (we are in this phase now)-phase three will limit participation to 100 people.
The City of Knoxville has released their Phase 2 Guidance for events per the Knox County Health Department Strategy for Phased Reopening effective July 1, 2020.
Basically, under the phase two guidelines, we are limited to no more than 50 participants in a group at any given time. In other words, if an event has 100 participants, they would need to start in waves of no more than 50 participants.
The other two guideline requirements that affect running events is the six foot distancing requirement and the requirement for all participants, volunteers, spectators, and staff to wear protective face masks.
We realize that each event will be different due to the venue, the length of the course, different state and local guidelines, and other unforeseen factors. We will work with each event to assure that these differences are taken into account while adhering to the guidelines in place at the date and location of their event.
TRS will utilize the following procedures in order to comply with the guidelines to the best of our ability:
- There will be no day of race registration. Registration shall close at 6 pm on the day before the event date.
- All volunteers, spectators, event staff, and timing staff must wear protective face masks at all times at the race venue. Athletes must wear protective face masks before and after competing in the event. We encourage everyone to bring their own mask to the event. Masks will be available at the race site for anyone who does not bring their own mask. Athletes are encouraged to wear the protective face mask on the course during competition.
- All athletes, volunteers, event staff, and timing staff will be temperature screened upon arrival at the event venue as part of the check in procedure. Temperature will be screened with a no touch thermometer. Maximum acceptable temperature will be 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit. Anyone exceeding this reading will not be allowed to participate in the event. The person administering the temperature test will be required to be closer than the six foot guideline. TRS has touch thermometers available for our clients. Athletes, volunteers, event staff, and timing crew members should maintain a minimum six foot distance from each other during this process.
- On the day of the race, all volunteers must submit the Covid-19 Questionnaire Sheet at volunteer check in. The Covid-19 Questionnaire Sheet will be available on the event registration site as a pdf file and should be downloaded and completed for submission at volunteer check in. Copies of the form will be available at the check in site but the process will be safer and quicker if you have completed the form prior to your arrival on site. Volunteers should maintain a minimum six foot distance from each other during this process.
- On the day of the race, athletes must submit the Covid-19 Questionnaire Sheet at packet pickup as a requirement to claim their race bib, safety pins, and any swag offered by the event. The Covid-19 Questionnaire Sheet will be available on the event registration site as a pdf file and should be downloaded and completed for submission at the packet pickup site. Copies of the form will be available at the packet pickup site but the process will be safer and quicker if you have completed the form prior to your arrival on site. Athlete should maintain a minimum six foot distance from other athletes during this process.
- Athletes will be assigned to a start wave as part of the packet pickup process based on the projected finish time that they submitted during the registration process. For events staged in Knox County, start waves will consist of no more than 5 waves of 50 participants per wave and will start at 15 minute intervals. Athletes should arrive at the start line ten minutes before their assigned start wave time. Athletes should maintain a minimum six foot distance from other athletes at the start line staging area.
- Athletes should exit the finish line area as quickly as possible when they complete the event. Water and prepackaged snacks will be available at designated locations that are distanced from the finish line. Athlete must wear a protective face mask when exiting the finish line area. Athletes should maintain a minimum six foot distance from other athletes and spectators after they finish the event.
- No day of race awards ceremony. Awards will be distributed as outlined in the event’s pre race plan for awards distribution. Each event will need to define a format that works for them while conforming to the guidelines in place on the date and location of their event.