Reopening Roadmap

How RecSports navigated a campus closure and prepared for a fall reopening.

MARCH 12

The last day of “normal” campus operations. UT suspends travel through April 30. RecSports issues communication to members and the campus community about safety protocols being implemented to prevent the spread of the virus including enhanced cleaning protocols, sanitization of towels, staggering of equipment, and furniture re-configuration. RecSports cancels all programs and organized activities through March 29 and all travel for sport clubs through April 30.

“There was no existing playbook, yet our team came together and worked to produce innovative solutions that allowed facilities and programs to safely reopen and resume.”

PETE SCHAACK

Director of Facility Operations

MARCH 18

RecSports closes all facilities through the end of the spring semester.

MARCH 15

UT extends spring break for students through March 30. City of Austin issues order banning mass gatherings. RecSports professional staff begins

working from home until further notice.

MARCH 13

The first COVID-19 case identified within the UT Austin community. UT closes operations and cancels classes for the day. RecSports facilities are closed until further notice. Governor Greg Abbott declares statewide emergency.

MARCH 11

The World Health Organization officially describes COVID-19 as a pandemic.

MARCH 17

UT moves all spring semester classes online beginning March 30.

MARCH 16

RecSports announces facility closures to be in effect through at least the end of March.

MARCH 24

City of Austin issues a Stay at Home-Work Safe Order to be in effect until April 13, directing individuals to remain home with the exception of essential work and activities. Non-essential businesses close. Students are instructed to not return to campus unless approved for temporary emergency housing.

MARCH 23

Longhorn Run announces switch to all-virtual race.

“I will remember how this team rose to the challenge and created even better programming for participants now and in the future.”

ADRIENNE MACKENZIE

Associate Director for Fitness & Wellness

MARCH 25

UT announces graduation ceremonies and commencement are postponed and virtual commencement will take place. RecSports launches virtual fitness/weekly TeXercise workout videos delivered on YouTube, social media, and via email.

MARCH 31

Governor Greg Abbott issues executive order and closes schools until May 4.

APRIL 13

City of Austin extends the Stay at Home-Work Safe Order.

APRIL 14

UT announces that summer orientation will take place online.

APRIL 20

RecSports forms the Facilities Reopening Committee to begin developing reopening plans for RecSports.

APRIL 30

TeXercise program holds first-ever virtual auditions for instructors.

RecSports Recess goes virtual for the first time.

MARCH 30

UT spring classes resume; first day of remote learning.

APRIL 9

Intramural Sports launches two seasons of Esports tournaments - FIFA 20, MADDEN NFL 20, NBA 2K20.

“When we meet via Zoom, it is an exciting part of the day where I get to interact and see my colleagues that I deeply respect and miss seeing in person!”

AMANDA PHARES

TeXercise Instructor, UT Class of 2022

APRIL 1

RecSports launches Stay Home Stay Active initiative featuring new ways for the UT community to stay active while they are learning or working from home, including at home workout plans, and guides on finding adventure from home.

MAY 6

UT announces fall reopening decisions will be made by the end of June.

APRIL 18

The first all-virtual Longhorn Run takes place with 977 participants throughout the United States and abroad.

JUNE 10

Summer intramural Esports tournaments take place-FIFA 20, MADDEN NFL 20, NBA 2K20.

“One positive memory from this situation might be reflecting on the resilience of our student staff when faced with this monumental challenge.” DIXON HANKINS

Associate Director for Outdoor Recreation

MAY 23

UT holds virtual Commencement.

AUGUST 12

RecSports announces gradual reopening of facilities.

AUGUST 25

Over 600 students participate in the Back to School with RecSports virtual week-long event.

SEPTEMBER 14

RecSports programming resumes and facility hours expanded with fall semester hours in effect through November 24.

Over 700 new freshman and transfer students participate in RecSports’ summer orientation programming.

AUGUST 20

The Recreational Sports Center reopens.

JUNE 6

AUGUST 17

Caven-Clark Field and Gregory Gym reopen with modifications and new safety protocols.

MAY 12

RecSports holds Final Stretch online to provide a study break during final exams.

AUGUST 15

MyRecSports web-based app launches for weight room, pool, TeXercise, and Climbing Wall reservations.

AUGUST 26

All RecSports facilities reopen with reduced hours. First day of fall semester classes at UT with in-person and virtual classes.

innovative thinking

Program areas had to quickly develop new ways to deliver their programming to participants regardless of where they were working or learning from.

Fitness & Wellness

Launched TeXercise on Campus featuring 35 in-person classes per week at indoor and outdoor locations. Created TeXercise on Demand, a digital option with 30+ livestream classes per week and a library of 70+ pre-recorded classes.

Outdoor Recreation

Resumed local trips at Lady Bird Lake. Reopened the Climbing Wall for indoor climbing and the Outdoor Center for all outdoor gear needs. Launched a new workshop series focused on the outdoors that offers valuable training.

Intramural Sports

Added new sports such as foot golf, disc golf, and soccer tennis (you read that right!), and expanded cornhole offerings. Increased participation in pickleball, 2v2 sand volleyball, three-point basketball contest, and tennis. Offered 30 total inperson leagues, special events, tournaments and skills contests.

Sport Clubs

Resumed practice with new safety protocols despite travel being suspended through the end of 2020. Fundraised over $110,000 during the fall 40 Hours for the Forty Acres campaign.

Instructional

Resumed swim and tennis lessons with private and buddy options only to maximize participant safety.

Xiomara CieCie” ” Leonard

Assistant Director, Fitness & Wellness

Passionate. Professional. Creative. Encouraging. Innovative. These are but a few of the words chosen to describe Xiomara “CieCie” Leonard by those who know her best. “She is professional, committed and passionate about her work and has a dedication to quality that ensures excellence in programming while staying in tune with the latest fitness trends,” says Adrienne MacKenzie, associate director of Fitness & Wellness and CieCie’s supervisor. CieCie came on board as assistant director for the Fitness & Wellness program in June 2019. Prior to that, she served as the fitness and wellness graduate assistant at Texas A&M–Commerce where she earned her Master of Science degree in Kinesiology, Sports and Health Studies. The Florida native received her bachelor of science in Applied Physiology and Kinesiology from the University of Florida. One of her main goals at RecSports has been to provide cutting edge classes and programming for participants and staff. Since her start just over a year ago, she added Barre, POUND®, and Stand-Up Paddle Board Yoga to the TeXercise schedule. She taught a free outdoor Zumba

Members of the Fitness & Wellness team at the 2020 TexFit competition. class in conjunction with RecSports Recess to over 350 student participants. She led the Longhorns to victory over the Aggies in the Texas Fight Cycling Challenge that took place last fall. “These measures not only keep the Fit/Well programs competitive and current, but also helps us keep up with the changing needs of our participants,” MacKenzie said. One of her most important accomplishments to date has been working with the team to develop the TeXercise on Demand virtual program and the modified TeXercise on Campus program in response to COVID-19. “CieCie was able to pivot programming to a virtual platform, facing challenges with quick and effective solutions, all the while staying laser focused on the job at hand, in a strong display of grit, determination and professionalism,” MacKenzie said. Despite being one of the youngest full-time RecSports staff to serve on the management team, CieCie has leveraged her experience and education to supervise a diverse team of 70 group fitness instructors and assist in overseeing 20 personal trainers. Shannon Briggs, a group fitness instructor and personal trainer who’s been practicing in the field of fitness for 30 years, admits to being a bit skeptical when she learned that she would report to CieCie. After all, Briggs has children CieCie’s age. “Wow, was I wrong! I grossly underestimated her skills, talent, vision and leadership….(CieCie) works to build up each one of the instructors under her leadership to be the best they can be. This past year has been the most fun I have had at UT, the most challenging, too!,” Briggs said. CieCie also manages the highly specialized F45 Training Studio and trains, develops and evaluates all of the instructors and coaches. Her other major responsibility is instructing curriculum for the ACE Group Fitness and Personal certification course for 10 weeks each semester. “CieCie brings a breadth and depth of fitness knowledge and her expertise has been vital to the training of instructors and continuing to grow our staff development opportunities,” noted senior director Jennifer Speer, who once upon a time filled the position CieCie now holds. While it’s easy to peg CieCie as only a hardworking, dedicated professional and always on the job, she’s the epitome of playfulness and fun, on and off the clock. She loves to laugh, is known to practice her aerial skills (yes, she’s trained in Circus Arts), and enjoys hiking with her boyfriend Michael and dog Drishti (which in Sanskrit or in yoga terms means “focused gaze”).