COVID-19 Affiliate Advice: Thinking Outside the Box

The COVID-19 pandemic has been an on-going challenge for the CrossFit industry. While it seemed things were looking up, cases have spiked in some states, requiring closures again.

One of those states is California. On July 13, Governor Gavin Newsom announced 30 counties are now required to stop indoor gym operations, and one Box being affected by this order is First City CrossFit in Monterey, California.

Starting July 14, the Box changed their schedule and moved all classes outdoors. First City CrossFit set up a temporary yard in their parking lot with mats and weights, all set six feet apart from one another.

Another gym taking their operations outdoors is Polarize CrossFit in Oceanside, California. Starting July 15, the Box transitioned outdoors. Members were reminded via Facebook to wear masks when not working out, they have to have their temperature taken when checking in, they must reserve a spot ahead of time via WODTogether, and to hydrate and wear sunscreen.

While stopping indoor operations can be disappointing, the Box is trying to look at it from a positive perspective, using this time to make improvements and revamp the inside of the gym.

Whether or not outdoor workouts are now required in your state or you want to prepare your Box in case a mandate may come up, below are three things to keep in mind when hosting outdoor workouts according to ClassPass:

1. Space. If your Box does not have room outdoors to hold workouts, ClassPass recommends checking in with your local parks department, school district and other community organizations to see if you can use some of their spaces. However, don’t overlook things like room to social distance, shade and accessibility to water. Your member’s safety during a workout should always be the No. 1 priority.

2. Marketing. If you are implementing outdoor workouts, you want to get your members excited for the change. Market your new class schedules on social media to not only inform your members, but also attract other Crossfitters who’s gym might be closed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

3. Backup plan. While taking workouts outdoors is exciting it can also be challenging due to the weather. According to ClassPass, if the weather is going to be a total washout or if storms are in the forecast — or if the weather near you is just unpredictable — then you’ll want to have a backup plan in place just in case. Consider taking workouts to an outdoor shelter or just giving your members a rest day.