Clinic Frequently Asked Questions

Where are the Clinics located and how do I get there?
This year, Brandeis University has graciously agreed to host our entire JVBC Clinic lineup on their beautiful campus in Waltham, Massachusetts. Brandeis is a little over 10 miles from the campus of Tufts University and still right outside of the Boston city limits. Later this month, we will release more details about parking, pick up & drop off, and registration when it has all been confirmed. Click here for directions to the Brandeis University campus. 

How has COVID-19 affected the clinics and what precautions have been taken?

The priority of our JVBC Staff will always be the safety and wellbeing of our participants, coaches, and support staff. As we look forward to operating our clinics this summer on the campus of Brandeis University, we have worked closely with them to adjust our programming in order to follow the strict guidelines of the CDC, the state of Massachusetts, and local health officials as well as their University protocols. We will always prioritize the safety of all involved and communicate clearly about COVID-19 safety protocols throughout the clinics. Please continue to read for current updates. 

BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY & JVBC COVID PROTOCOLS: We are fortunate to be able to operate this summer at Brandeis and as a result, we will need to follow their COVID protocols which are currently more conservative than some state and federal guidelines. However, we respect that they are in place to promote the safety of the community and reduce the impact of COVID-19.

• Sports Medicine will be asking COVID-19 screening questions daily upon arrival. A player must be able to answer “no” to all four in order to participate:
  • Do you have a fever, chills, or feel feverish today?
  • In the past 14 days, have you been in close contact with someone who is confirmed as having COVID-19 and which you have not completed a medically supervised quarantine?
  • Are you experiencing new or worsened respiratory symptoms, such as a runny nose, sore throat, cough or shortness of breath (those symptoms known to be related to seasonal allergies may answer “no”)?
  • Have you had any new occurrences of any of the following symptoms: loss of sense of taste or smell, muscle aches, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, repeated shaking with chills, or a rash?
• Only players, coaches, and athletic trainers will be allowed on the courts or in The Gosman Athletic Center.
• Due to building capacity restrictions, parents/guardians/spectators are not able to stay and watch after check-in is complete.
• Masks & Hand Sanitizer will be provided upon check-in, but we encourage players to bring their own.
• Properly fitting Masks covering the nose and mouth must be worn at all times while inside The Gosman Athletic Center. NOTE: Bandanas, scarves, and neck gaiters are not considered acceptable forms of face coverings on campus.
• Masks should also be worn outdoors if not fully vaccinated or unable to maintain a physical distance of 6’
• Social Distancing (3’) is required for players and staff when they are not engaged in physical volleyball related activities or when at all feasible
• Players and Staff will avoid High Fives & Tight huddles
• Hand washing and frequent use of hand sanitizer are expected.

For more details:

• Brandeis Summer Policies – CLICK HERE
• Massachusetts State Travel Guidelines – CLICK HERE

What if I/or someone I was training with tests positive for COVID-19 and or someone I am a close contact with outside of the clinics?

• Please call and email both our Camp Director, Cora Thompson (Cora.Thompson@tufts.edu - 617.627.5471), and Sports Medicine Staff Pat Cordeiro (Patricia.Cordeiro@tufts.edu) and Emily Young (Emily.Young@tufts.edu) to alert us right away, even if you test positive a few days after attending one of our clinics.
• We keep very good records of our player groups and the coaching staff they were trained by. We will be prepared for the contact tracing that is sure to follow and we will alert all players/staff who are considered close contacts. 
• In the meantime, our mask and social distancing policies are in place to reduce the chances of any sport-related transmission.  
• Should you need to withdraw from a clinic due to COVID-19, we will issue an appropriate refund. 
• If you have more specific questions, please feel free to reach out in advance. 

What do I need to bring/wear?

• Please dress in athletic gear that is appropriate and functional for our sport. If you have kneepads, please bring them!
• Masks will be required at all times. 
• To respect our staff and other players, we prefer that players wear t-shirts that are long enough such that no midriffs are showing. In addition, if players do wear tank tops or sleeveless shirts, we ask that no part of a player’s sports bra be visible at any time either. Thank you for your help and understanding.
• Please bring extra socks, t-shirts etc. in case you need to change in between sessions. You will be working hard!
• We kindly ask that players wear indoor training shoes (any non-marking gym shoes are fine). Please make sure to bring different shoes than those you wear outdoors. Clinics will be held on new varsity courts and street shoes are strictly prohibited in order to preserve the court surface. There will be a place to change your shoes upon arrival.
• A water bottle and your smile!

Do I need to bring lunch? 
YES! Please plan on bringing lunch with you. This is different than past years at Tufts. Due to COVID and being at another facility, we are not able to provide a dining hall experience. There will be designated places for players to rest and eat in between sessions. We will have a small concession stand with Gatorade, granola bars, pretzels, and a few other items in case a player needs a little something extra in addition to their lunch. 

What is a typical daily clinic schedule? 

Below we have listed our typical daily schedule, subject to change if needs be. 

Will the College Recruiting Q & A Sessions still happen post clinic? 

In previous years we have been able to provide a post clinic Q & A recruiting session. Unfortunately, due to our change in venue this summer and restrictions on group size we are unable to host this informative event.  It is our hope to work in a general Q & A during our chalk talk sessions, but we cannot guarantee it at this time. If we are unable to answer your specific questions during clinics hours, we will be happy to provide individual feedback and college insight by phone or email (for those who request it) after our camp season ends. We will not be available post clinic to meet with players individually. Thank you for understanding!