MONMOUTH, IL – When Monmouth College strength and conditioning coach Brian Woodard took over as the head of the college’s Trotter Fitness Complex, he could not have imagined the changes that would need to take place over the course of the last six months.
After COVID-19 hit the U.S. in early spring, Woodard spent his summer researching, analyzing and preparing for the start of the fall semester and making the necessary changes – both physically and functionally – in order to safely reopen the fitness complex. CDC safety guidelines necessitated a variety of changes in Trotter, one of the most-used facilities on campus.
Among the most noticeable changes are the location of the main check-in desk and a required appointment to use the facility. Woodard relocated the check-in desk just inside the former exit on the Huff Athletic Center’s main concourse to better control the traffic flow. Individuals using Trotter will now enter past the massive pillars framing the entrance to the original 1925 Monmouth College Gymnasium. The fitness complex is currently limited to a per-hour maximum of 10 individuals in the weight area and 10 in the aerobic area. Patrons will also need to schedule their workout times through a new app which was shared with the campus community as classes resumed last month.
“Other than a few glitches with the scheduling, everything has gone pretty well, and better than expected,” said a cautiously optimistic Woodard, whose nearly 30 fitness center student-workers manage the main desk and handle much of the cleaning and sanitation duties. “The scheduling app helps us maintain a good flow through Trotter, and it’s another tool we can use for contact tracing should the need arise.”
Other new protocols include temperature checks, face coverings, social distancing and a complete one-hour shutdown each afternoon for deep cleaning and disinfectant fogging. Upon check-in, each person using the complex is issued a cleaning towel and disinfectant for use before and after using a piece of equipment.
Woodard credits the main users of the facility – the coaches and their teams – for a relatively smooth transition to a new routine.
“The coaches understand what we’re trying to do,” said Woodard. “They understand we’re trying to limit contact and keep everyone safe and healthy. They’ve had to adjust their training routine, but they’ve done a good job of spreading their kids out and working with us. We hope in the coming weeks we can gradually increase the number of people allowed in the space per hour. The student-athletes have also been great working with us and doing what we’ve asked of them.”
Woodard stressed the fitness complex isn’t just for the Fighting Scots teams. Everyone on campus is urged to use the facility, provided they follow the newly instituted protocols.
“Yeah, the entire campus has been very understanding,” said a pleased Woodard. “We are limiting non-campus contact, which means no family members in Trotter. It’s just students, faculty and staff. We’re uncertain when or if that will change, but either way, we’ll continue to use the scheduling app.”
Not all of the fitness center’s COVID protocols will end when the pandemic ends. Woodard expects a few of the changes will stay in place.
“I really like the new location of the check-in desk,” he said. “I like the history of the building and the way the architects allowed for a skylight over the pillars from the original Wade Gym. That’s one of the coolest parts of our building. The ramped-up sanitation, maybe minus the fogging, will stay.”
While Woodard may be the man in charge of the fitness complex, he’s quick to credit others – especially his student-worker staff – with keeping Trotter open and functioning.
“The student staff has been very diligent with their cleaning routine,” praised Woodard. “They spend 20 to 25 minutes every hour making sure every point of contact is being cleaned and vacuumed. It’s not a glamourous job, but it’s very important and they’ve embraced the task. That, as much as anything, has kept the facility safe to use.”
***Story courtesy of Monmouth College***
