Logistical information and guidance for elite athletes, coaches, and athlete representatives

USATF Elite Athlete Medical Updates

Topic List

1. Emergency warning signs of COVID-19
2. IMPORTANT guidelines to minimize risk of contracting COVID-19
3. What to do if you are feeling sick
4. What to do if you are injured or have a musculoskeletal problem
5. What to do if you are feeling anxious / stressed / depressed
6. USATF medical and scientific expert videos and online Q&A sessions
7. USADA update

1. Emergency warning signs of COVID-19

Any athlete/individual who develops emergency warning signs of COVID-19 needs to seek immediate medical care, which may include calling 911, depending on your situation.  Emergency warning signs can include:

• Severe difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
• Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
• New confusion or inability to arouse
• Bluish lips or face

*Note: This list is not all inclusive. Please consult your medical provider for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning.

2. IMPORTANT guidelines to minimize risk of contracting COVID-19

Your best source of advice for information on COVID-19 is the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).  The CDC has the best medical and scientific experts in the country, and you should follow their guidance.
Even though you are young, healthy, fit, elite individuals, you still need to take aggressive steps to protect yourself.  You do NOT want to become infected.  Follow all local advisories.  Strongly consider staying home, except for essential needs.

Key Points from the CDC:

• There is currently no vaccine to prevent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

• The best way to prevent illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus.

• The virus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person.
  • Between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet).
  • Through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
  • These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs.

CDC Guidance on how to protect yourself

Clean your hands often.

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds especially after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
• If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub them together until they feel dry.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.

Avoid close contact – maintain social distancing.

• Social distancing – stay at least 6 ft / 2m away from others if possible
• Avoid going out, except for groceries and necessary items
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick

Take steps to protect others.

• Stay home if you are sick, except to get medical care. Learn what to do if you are sick.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze or use the inside of your elbow.  Throw used tissues in the trash.

Clean and disinfect.

• Clean AND disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily. This includes tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets, and sinks.

Guidance for training.

• Maintain social distancing.
• Wash hands before entering a common area where training takes place.
• Thoroughly disinfect all implements, equipment, etc. – anything you might touch.
• Keep your equipment and gear at least 6 ft / 2 m away from others.
• Wash hands immediately after ending the training session before touching other items, getting in car, etc.

​3. What to do if feeling sick

• Take action if you have any of the emergency warning signs of COVID-19 (see above for details)
• Stay at home, except to get medical care, and isolate yourself from others in your house.
• Start by calling your primary care physician or your local / county / state Department of Health for advice.  It is important to know that guidelines for who can be tested and the amount and type of care given may be different in each municipality, based on the degree of infection spread, demand for care, amount of resources, etc.  These guidelines are often being modified daily.
• If you have Elite Athlete Health Insurance through the USOPC, you can also utilize the option to do a Telemedicine appointment through Highmark BCBS (EAHI’s insurer).  Follow the instructions on this webpage to log into the Highmark member website or call the number on the back of your insurance card.
• If any Tier/TPP athlete feels they have symptoms of COVID-19 (fever above 100.4 F, cough, shortness of breath), recommend you email Robert.Chapman@usatf.org or call him at 812 340 0691 for guidance and help facilitating a call from a USATF or USOPC affiliated medical provider—an appropriate first step in diagnosis for mild to moderate symptoms with our current situation.

4. What to do if you are injured or have a musculoskeletal problem

• Reach out to your USATF Regional Medical Provider
  • Southeast US – Jerrica Thomas
  • Austin / College Station, Texas athletes – Christie Coad
  • Remainder of Texas – Erin Hassler
  • Chula Vista and Southwest US – Scott Mackay
  • Areas not listed above – contact Robert Chapman
  • If you cannot reach your USATF Regional Medical Provider, or are unsure of who, contact Robert Chapman
• Your Regional Medical Provider will consult with you and medical staff at USATF and the USOPC to determine best options that are available – local, national, or via phone / telemedicine.

5. What to do if you are feeling anxious / stressed / depressed

Recommendations to help with the emotions you may be experiencing:   (e.g. anxious, worried, stressed, depressed, unmotivated, cynical, fearful, confused, angry, numb…or all of the above)

Prepared by Certified Mental Performance Consultants Dr. Anne Shadle, Dr. Chris Stanley, and Dr. Lennie Waite (click on names for email links or here for mobile phone numbers).

1. Lean on your support staff.
   1. Reconnect with support(s) and/or expand support network.
   2. Join Slack to stay informed. The AAC uses Slack to post information as soon as they receive it as well as gather feedback from athletes to take to USATF and USOPC leadership. Click here to join the Slack channel.
   3. Talk about or journal what you are experiencing.
2. Stay present and focus on short-term, process-oriented goals
   1. What can I do today? Set daily goals in your routine (workout times, cooking time, reading time, FaceTime, PT time, roll out time).
3. Practice relaxation techniques and other coping mechanisms
   1. Mindfulness exercises (download apps)
      1.  https://www.stopbreathethink.com/
      2. https://www.calm.com (LeBron James’s choice for mindfulness app J)
   2. Be a “student” of building psychological resiliency and mental skills

1. Find resources (e.g., books such as biographies on your favorite athletes/coaches, articles, podcasts)  Reframe experiences as opportunities.
   3. Work on positive self-talk (Anne, Chris and Lennie can help!)
   4. Practice good sleep hygiene
   5. Limit time on social media and listening/watching the news

1. Recall past moments of uncertainty and lessons learned (i.e., committing to a university, choosing an agent / sponsor / coach)
   1. Recall past stages of athletic development
2. Focus on building confidence in your abilities
   1. A change in dates doesn’t take away your talent, ability or work ethic: you are still the same athlete today as you were last week
6. Engage in tasks that “fill your battery” 
   1. What gives you energy as an athlete? 
   2. Consider exploring other interests and hobbies
      1. place to engage, progress, and succeed

LOTS of additional resources to help you, including more tips, podcasts, and suggestions here 

6. USATF medical and scientific expert videos and online Q&A sessions

Click here to view the newly released USATF medical and scientific expert videos and online Q&A sessions.

This video is an 18 min video from the USOPC on guidelines for strength training in current climate and some suggested creative alternatives if no weight room is available. Note the video was made for Para athletes but applies universally to able bodied athletes.

USATF and USOPC experts will be hosting online Q&A sessions for elite athletes and coaches.  Athletes will be messaged with dates / times / login information.

7. Strength Training Equipment Stipend

To assist in bridging the gap between now and when restrictions are lifted and normal weight room access can occur, USATF and the USATF Foundation are partnering to allocate each Tier and TPP athlete $400 towards the purchase of simple, portable weight training equipment that you can use at home or at the track. While this cannot replicate the major equipment of a weight room, everyone is going to have to be creative and find new ways to train and maintain fitness during this crisis.

Please note that this stipend is specifically for purchasing strength training equipment only. It cannot be used to reimburse costs of a gym membership, as current CDC and USOPC guidelines are to avoid utilizing those facilities at this time. If you are using a gym facility for strength training that is still open in your location, we urge you to stop until this crisis passes.

Instructions on purchasing/reimbursents are available here.

8. USADA update

USADA testing continues, and new USADA updates on out-of-competition testing protocols are available here.  These new protocols are designed to protect your safety, protect the safety of the tester, and maintain the integrity of the testing process for all athletes.

*Note: During this time, athletes in the testing pool should continue to update their whereabouts. Out of competition testing around the world remains stringent.
 

USATF encourages all of our athletes to be safe and to make good decisions. For additional information and regular updates go to www.usatf.org/COVID19.

Olympic & Paralympic Training Center closures

Due to the Governor of Colorado's orders on March 16, the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Training Center in Colorado Springs was forced to close all training venues, effective immediately. This includes the pool, velodrome, all gymnasiums, and strength and conditioning center. This closure will remain in effect for 30 days per the Governor’s orders. Off-site facility access athletes who normally utilize the CSOPTC will not be allowed access to the Training Center during this closure.

The Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center remains open for training for existing on-site and off-site resident program athletes only. No new athletes are being accepted for training at CVEATC. No visitors will be allowed. Resident athletes can utilize the track and throwing areas, but must follow proper guidelines (sanitizing equipment, social distancing). Effective immediately all weight room facilities and the athlete lounge are closed until further notice, by directive of the San Diego County and State of California Departments of Public Health. The dining hall remains open for take-out food only. Sports Medicine open, but with reduced hours.

USADA and Athlete Whereabouts

New USADA updates on out-of-competition testing protocols are available here. *Note: During this time, athletes in the testing pool should continue to update their whereabouts.

USATF Notes

• USATF is fully aware of the closing of nearly all high school, college, open/private/municipal facilities, action that will greatly impact high school and college athletes in trying to stay competitively ready and/or qualify for USATF and World Championships this summer. However, there is a reality that open athletes who use these same facilities or others (private, municipal, etc.) are also being shut out. For the use of college facilities, we await conversations that the USOPC is having with the NCAA about the matter, as well as talks the USOPC is having with the EAS management company of the Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center. High schools, however, remain subject to the rulings from each of their respective State governments. As it pertains to open, municipal and private facilities, USATF will seek to identify facilities that remain available in order that we can post whatever information for all of our athletes.
• With the nearly wholesale cancellation or postponements of both domestic and world/international meets up through April and into mid-May, we are very aware that athletes are losing opportunities to not only perform but to achieve qualifying standards for the USATF Under-20 Championships, the World Athletics Under-20 Championships, the U.S. Olympic Trials - Track & Field, and the Tokyo Olympic Games. Despite the rapidly changing landscapes, USATF National Office intends to soon work with the respective Sport Committees/Chairs to consider adjustments to qualifying standards, qualifying windows, field sizes and time schedules to the USATF Under-20 Champs and/or U.S. Olympic Trials.
• Speaking of the wholesale cancellation or postponements of meets, and pending the development of confirmed lists of domestic meets and international events (including NACAC and World Athletics meets) that no longer will be held, USATF National Office intends to soon begin planning for “substitute” meets that will serve our athletes in staying competitively ready for the USATF Under-20 Champs and Olympic Trials, as well as the World Athletics Under-20 Champs and Olympic Games. Hopefully, as the impact of the Coronavirus wanes, many meets will come back on-line or will not have been cancelled or postponed. At this time, we do not envision the development of meets being a wholesale “tit-for-tat” approach; rather, we would look to having meets that would permit our athletes to compete in targeted, high-level competition.
• Finally, the Coronavirus situation changes daily and, in some cases, hourly. We are still in the “crisis” period of the on-set of the virus and the medical/health situations that exist. Soon, there will be a better understanding of the virus and where it/we are heading in the next few weeks or, hopefully not, months. Only when we have an accurate picture of everything and a “menu” of cancelled and postponed meets, along with a “menu” of meets that remain in place, will USATF be able to begin planning in all areas. Consequently, your patience and understanding are so greatly appreciated.

Sport Psychology

Many athletes and coaches have noted the significant challenges that come with the stress, anxiety, and uncertainty that the COVID-19 situations brings—not only to health and wellness, but to training, competition, life goals, and financial livelihood. To assist with dealing with these stressors, USATF and the USOPC developed the following resources:

• USATF’s Sport Psychology Services subcommittee has produced the following informational video 
• The USOPC Sport Psychology group has produced these one page guides to “Coping with Competition Cancellations or Postponements in the Age of Coronavirus”:
  • For Athletes
  • For Coaches

Sports Medicine & Science

Many of our sports medicine and sport science providers are contractors or are affiliated with universities that currently have travel restrictions in place. Your Regional Medical Provider or Dr. Robert Chapman from the USATF National Office will reach out with updates on changes to medical care options (which will also be posted here). Continue to contact your Regional Medical Provider or Dr. Chapman for any acute medical care needs.

For more information contact HighPerformance@usatf.org.

List of Events Canceled

Click here to view the USATF High Performance Meet Calendar Tracking page.