Currently Waco (TX) Agility Group's November trial allows the handler to run without a mask. The only other person who may pull their mask down in the person who is announcing the dog on the line which is done using a microphone outside the ring at a distance from everyone else. The facility we are using has been having agility trials almost every weekend since late August. Some of the trials have had 700 runs per day. Ours will be less than half that size and will have about 1/4 the number of handlers because it will be a one ring trial set in 2 rings. There is a well established protocol and everyone else has to wear a mask or they will be asked to leave. We are hoping to use the Agility Gate App so that no one needs to be near the gate until it is time to run. There will be four people in the ring: the judge, the handler, a leash person - bar setter and a bar setter. Timer-Scribe and Gate announcer are outside the ring away from the gates. Entrance and exit doors will be marked as such so there is one way traffic. Leash grabbers are dipped after each use. Hand sanitizer, gloves, face masks, and wipes will be located around the arena. Bleachers are gone to allow much more crate space, people and dogs are socially distant. Ribbons and stickers are not self serve. We have learned by watching and working trials offered by other venues and trying to adopt their best practices. So far this has been successful. Of course, things could change by Thanksgiving and if they do, we will change. The facility washes everything down and bathrooms are sanitized throughout the day. I was hesitant at first, but am much more comfortable attending trials at the Bell County Expo Center than I am going to my curbside grocery pickups.
Rena
