We are in the midst of a surge in COVID cases across the country and we will continue to do all that we can to keep the gym a clean and safe place for you all.

That said, both Joe and myself tested positive and will be out of the gym this week. We were out of town over the weekend so feel confident that no one in the gym was exposed to us during the contagious period. We will follow the CDC guidelines for isolation and be mindful of the same guidelines when we return to the gym. We know how important it is that you continue to have access to the gym, so we will remain open this week with some changes to the schedule. Please read the information below for this week’s updates! If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to Heidi via email or phone.

Reduced Staff & Hours This Week

We will be a bit short-staffed this week, so we have made the decision to reduce the schedule for both classes and open gym for this week only. Please note the following changes:

-Morning classes will continue as usual, with 1 hour of open gym available as soon as class is over.

-Open gym hours in the mornings will be reduced to the hour immediately after morning class.

-Noon classes in-person will be canceled this week, but will be available online both Wednesday and Friday.

-Evening hours and classes will continue as usual.

-1:1 training will be postponed for the week.

-Sparring class on Saturday is canceled for this week.

-Youth class on Saturday is canceled for this week.

-Masks will be required for anyone in the gym at all times. See below.

The Mask Mandate is Back!

As of last week, Mayor Jacob Frey has reinstated the mask mandate for the city of Minneapolis. In accordance, we will require masks in the gym at all times. Please come to class prepared. Surgical masks and N95 masks are proving the most protective against the latest variant of COVID, though any mask will do as long as it covers your nose and mouth.

Please continue to monitor your symptoms and general health and let us know if you have any concerns or need anything. We appreciate the honesty and integrity this community has shown throughout this pandemic and we are so grateful for you all. Thank you for continuing to make choices that honor yourselves and your community.

Be well and we will see you in the gym!

If you are interested in sparring or obtaining coach/official credentials for USA Boxing, you must have a current Passbook and registration through the National Office. It can be a little bit tricky to get all the necessary paperwork in to the right people and in the right place, so we’ve added the steps here to help make it a bit easier for you.

Athlete Registration (required for sparring and competition)

1. Visit USABoxing.org and select Join/Renew from the drop-down menu.

2. Select Register, then select either “New Member” or “Renew Your Membership” depending on whether you’ve registered in the past or not.

3. Complete the forms and steps that follow. Remember to select “Minneapolis Boxing Club” as your affiliated club and select “Athlete Membership” instead of “Non-Athlete” or “Fitness Membership”.

4. It is important that all of your documents (photo, athlete physical form, copy of birth certificate OR passport) be uploaded digitally! In the past these were things you mailed in to the local registrar. But that has recently changed. Please see the image below for more details on uploading your documents to your account.

5. Once all your documentation has been uploaded, email Heidi to let her know you need a new passbook (new members). She will order one for you and have you sign it upon receipt in order for it to be valid. For returning/renewing members, once your documents have been verified, you may print your new member card and fix it into your existing passbook. Passbooks must be handed in to Heidi or Joe, and will be kept on file at the gym until they are needed for competition. Click here for an example of what a “perfect” member card looks like!

6. After your Passbook has been received at the gym, your name will be added to the sparring list. Until your name is on the list (posted on the bulletin board) you will be ineligible for sparring.

Non-Athlete Registration (required for officials/coaches)

1. Follow steps 1-3 as above, remembering to select “Non-Athlete Membership” as your classification.

2. Coaches will need to pass a background screening, as well as complete the SafeSport certification (to be completed every 2 years) in order to be eligible.

3. Officials will need to pass an exam in order to be eligible.

As projected, we are all set to resume group training (still at a limited capacity) starting tomorrow, January 4. The schedule has been updated on Mindbody as well as on our website. We will continue to limit class participation to 6 individuals and we ask that you wear a mask at all times when you are in the gym. It will take some getting used to, but it's do-able! And it is a precaution that will keep all of us safe. Open gym/DIY is still on the schedule and is available via pre-registration as well. Virtual classes will continue to be offered Monday-Saturday and there have been just a couple changes. You can view the updated virtual class schedule here.

We just wanted to send out a quick update that classes are back and a reminder of safety guidelines for your gym visits. Here are the details to keep in mind:

• All classes and DIY time slots are live on the schedule and pre-registration is required. Respect each other by signing up in advance and sticking to your scheduled time.

• Please wear a mask in the gym. If you need recommendations on decent workout masks, let us know!

• DIY slots will be 50-minutes in duration. *Note: The schedule says 1 hour, but please leave time for cleaning and exiting the building so we don’t have any crossover from slot to slot.

• Capacity is limited to 4 members per hour for DIY slots to allow for ample social distancing. We ask that you gather your equipment in one area and stick to that area for the duration of your workout. Be mindful of others around you and try not to move through multiple stations across the gym frequently.

• Capacity is limited to 6 members for group training.

• Please also limit yourself to one slot per day so that everyone who wants time has access.

• Late cancellations/No-shows will result in an $8 charge for DIY and a $10 charge for classes.

• Athletes should perform a temperature check upon arrival by a coach.

• You are welcome to use equipment - weights, med balls, etc. Just be sure to clean everything and put it away when you are finished.

• Spray bottles and paper towels will be provided so spaces and equipment can be sanitized after use.

We hope you all had a beautiful holiday and enjoyed a happy and safe New Year's Eve celebration. We are so excited to welcome you back to the gym and hope to see many of you over the next few days and weeks. Please reach out if you have any questions or concerns!