Frequently Asked Questions

To view a calendar of our upcoming programs, please visit our Calendar Page.
Our monthly newsletter includes information on our upcoming programs. When you join the Gaylord Sports Association, you will be added to our email newsletter mailing list. You can also sign up here.
Visit our Facebook page for updates and to view event postings at www.facebook.com/gaylordsportsassociation

To learn about joining the Gaylord Sports Association, required paperwork, registering for an event and cost, please visit our Get Involved Page.

Medical clearance is not required for most programs. However, it may be required for participation in certain sports or if the injury or diagnosis occurred within the past year. Sports that require medical clearance are: downhill skiing, waterskiing and contact sports including wheelchair rugby and sled hockey. When joining the Sports Association, we will ask about your medical history and will discuss any contraindications to participation. If medical clearance is indicated, it will consist of obtaining a doctor’s note stating that you have clearance to participate.

We welcome guests and family members to attend programs. Please let us know when you register for a program if you plan to have a guest attend with you. All guests must complete a registration form and liability waiver either prior to the event or upon arrival. Depending on the program, guests may have the opportunity to actively participate, however priority will be given to program participants. If your guest would like to participate in a sport, please contact us ahead of time to make sure we can accommodate your request. If a family member or guest is a minor, a legal guardian must be present. If there is a fee for participation, the guest may also be required to pay the fee.

Participants who are under 18 years old or legally conserved must have a legal guardian present during participation. A legal guardian must also sign paperwork such as the liability waiver, media release and member profile.

The Sports Association does not provide personal care assistance. If you require assistance with personal care such as toileting, dressing, eating or taking medications, please plan to bring an assistant with you.

Equipment for each sports program will be provided for use during the event. If you have personal equipment you would like to use, please contact us and we can help determine if it will be appropriate for use during the program.

Helmets are required for cycling, sled hockey and skiing. Helmets will be provided for these sports if you do not have your own.

We do not currently offer adaptive equipment rentals.

Participants are responsible to arrange transportation to and from events. The Sports Association does not offer transportation to programs, with the exception of ski club trips which meet at Gaylord Hospital.

Program Cancellation: Although we don’t ever like to cancel, there are times when we must cancel a program. Participant safety is our main priority and inclement weather will cancel an outdoor program. The Sports Association Programs may also be cancelled for low registration or other unforeseen circumstances. In the event of a cancellation, we will contact all participants as soon as possible via phone, email, or both. If there was a fee for the program, participants will be refunded.

Participant Cancellation: We ask that all participants call us to cancel their registration as soon as possible if you are no longer able to attend. Our programs are often limited to a small number of people and we would like to offer your place to another participant if you cannot attend. If you are registered for a program and do not attend without cancelling, we reserve the right to place you on the wait list for the next program you would like to attend. Fee based programs may not be refundable upon participant cancellation.

Our watersport programs (Kayak and Waterski) require participants to meet Essential Eligibility Criteria prior to participation. All participants must meet the following criteria:

• Be able to breath independently without any medical devices.
• Pass a water safety test:
• Feel comfortable in the water: 
  • Float on back independently with a properly fitted PFD
  • Hold breath while under water
  • Propel self in water 
  • Right oneself independently (turn from face down to face up) and remain face up in the water with a properly fitted personal floatation device (PFD)
  • Be able to exit the watercraft or ski independently in the event of a capsize and right oneself to remain face up with the aid of a PFD.
• Be able to manage all personal care and mobility independently or with the minimal assistance of a companion who accompanies the participant.
• Additional criteria may apply, please contact us for details.

Participants are responsible to arrange transportation to and from events. The Sports Association does not offer transportation to programs, with the exception of ski club trips which meet at Gaylord Hospital.

The Gaylord Sports Association is committed to a strong safety program that protects its participants, its staff, its property and the public from accidents. Everyone is responsible and accountable for the Sports Association’s overall safety initiatives, including our management, staff, coaches, instructors, volunteers, participants and guests. Complete and active participation by everyone, every day, in every role is necessary for the safety among all participants. We support a safe environment for our participants by educating our staff, coaches, instructors and volunteers and by providing proper equipment, training and procedures. Our staff are responsible for following all procedures, working safely, and, wherever possible, improving safety measures. An injury and accident-free program is our goal. We ask any participant who has a safety concern or experiences a safety incident to let us know immediately so that we can respond to the situation promptly.

To support our Safety policy statement we are committed to the following duties:

• Create a safe environment by putting safety measures in place.
• Ensure that all members are given the appropriate level of instruction for safe participation in the sport based on their ability level. 
• Ensure that all members are aware of, understand and follow the Sports Association’s safety policies. 
• Ensure that normal operating procedures and emergency operating procedures are in place and known by all members.
• Provide access to adequate first aid facilities, telephone and qualified first aider at all times.
• Report any injuries or accidents sustained during any Sports Association program or while on premises. 
• Implement athlete protection measures such as background screening for staff, coaches and instructors, Safesport training and non-tolerance for verbal or physical misconduct, abuse or harassment.
• Ensure that the implementation of the policy is reviewed regularly and monitored for effectiveness.

Sports Association members have a duty to:

• Take reasonable care for your own health and safety and that of others who may be affected by what you do or not do.
• Follow the Sports Association safety policies.
• Follow the Sports Association Code of Conduct.
• Correctly use all equipment provided by the Sports Association.
• Not interfere with or misuse anything provided for your health, safety or welfare.

The Sports Association is committed to creating a positive environment for all involved persons including participants, team players, coaches, team personnel, instructors, volunteers and any others involved with or working under the auspices of the Sports Association. The Sports Association expects that all persons shall follow the code of Sports Association Code of Conduct. Click here to view a copy of the full Code of Conduct.

• Demonstrate respect for all participants.
• Use appropriate language.
• Not engage in any form of verbal, emotional, physical, sexual misconduct, harassment or abuse.
• Not use of possess illegal substances or drugs.
• Not engage in destruction of property.
• Not commit any acts of violence.
• Not engage in any behavior which would endanger the health, well-being or safety of any persons involved.

Programs are organized by the Sports Association staff at Gaylord Hospital. Our staff includes CTRS’s (Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialists) and Adaptive Sport Specialists. Programs are run by our staff, certified instructors, certified coaches and trained volunteers.

Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialists, also known as Recreational Therapists, are specifically trained to provide treatment services designed to restore, remediate and rehabilitate a person’s level of functioning and independence in life activities. Recreational therapists promote health and wellness by utilizing a wide range of activity and community based interventions, one of which is adaptive sports. A CTRS must meet eligibility requirements through the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification, which includes a bachelor’s degree or higher in an accredited Therapeutic Recreation program, an extensive internship, passing a knowledge based exam and recertification every five years. For more information, please visit www.atra-online.com.

We are continuously recruiting new volunteers to help us with regular programming, special events and team sports. Volunteer opportunities range from a dedicated volunteer position to a one-time special event volunteer. Our volunteer application can be found on our Get Involved page.

There are many ways to get involved in supporting the Sports Association. Opportunities include volunteering, sponsoring a program or event, making a donation, fundraising, participating in a fundraising event or referring our program to people who may benefit. If you are interested in making a donation, please visit our Donate page and fill out our online donation form. If you would like information on sponsoring a program or event, please visit our Support Us page or contact us for more information.

We are committed to providing the highest quality programs possible and value your feedback. Please contact us at any time by phone, email or in person at Gaylord to discuss your experience with us. A Sports Association survey will also be emailed once a year. During this time, we ask that participants provide their feedback as well as any suggestions for program improvements. We appreciate feedback at any time.