Your Questions, Answered

We're excited to welcome members back to the Y during Phase 3 of the Safe Start plan! Use these frequently asked questions to find help with common topics before you visit the Y.

We've organized questions into the following sections:

• Dates and Hours
• Membership
• What's Open and Closed in Phase 3
• Safety Protocols
• Reservations
• In the Building

Dates and Hours

When will you reopen to members?

The Y is considered an indoor recreation facility, which is eligible to open in Phase 3 of the Safe Start plan in King County. Once King County is approved to enter this phase, we will announce opening dates for our facilities. We do not yet have a welcome back date scheduled.

As information about our welcome back plan develops, we will share it with you on our website at seattleymca.org/welcomeback. We also recommend connecting with us on Facebook and Twitter to stay up to date on the latest news.

Where can I find branch hours?

Once branch hours are announced, they'll be posted here and on our location pages. We will announce our date once we know more information about King County's entry into Phase 3.

We will provide dedicated hours for seniors and higher-risk populations when we reopen to members. Those hours will also be posted here and on our location pages.

Why are the University Family and Fauntleroy Y's closed to members? When will they reopen?

In order to open YMCA of Greater Seattle facilities during the Safe Start plan, we must comply with capacity and physical distance guidelines. Unfortunately, due to the square footage and facility configuration, we are unable to meet those guidelines at the University Family Y initially. We will continue to plan for your return and provide updates as we get closer to welcoming you back to the facility.

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Membership & Guests

Where can I find more information about Y Bucks?

Visit our dedicated Frequently Asked Questions about Sustaining Member Y Bucks. Answers include how to pick them up and use them.

When are memberships coming off of hold?

We plan to reopen to members in Phase 3 of the Safe Start plan in King County. Here's how we are processing holds:

• If your hold is scheduled to end before we reopen to members, we will extend it until our reopening date.

• If your hold is scheduled to end in the same month we reopen to members, we will communicate with you via email, direct mail, or phone with our plan to end your hold and welcome you back to the Y.

• If your hold is scheduled to end after we reopen to members, you will remain on hold until its planned expiration date.

You may be charged a pro-rated amount of membership dues on the day we reopen, after which dues will resume at their normal schedule and rate.

There are a few memberships with special circumstances:

• For University Family Y members whose hold is set to expire, we will maintain the hold until their branch reopens.
• For Youth memberships whose hold is set to expire, we will maintain the hold until we lift age restrictions in our facilities.

If you would like to extend your hold or end your hold early, please start that request here.

How do I change my membership status?

Thank you for all that you do as a member of the Y. If you need to change your membership status, we understand. Please use this form to get started.

What's happening to local memberships at University Family and Fauntleroy Y's?

For these local memberships, we've temporarily upgraded your access to include any of our open YMCA of Greater Seattle branch at no extra cost until these locations reopen to members.

I'm a member of another YMCA in Washington state. When can I visit the YMCA of Greater Seattle or use your programs?

You can begin using YMCA of Greater Seattle programs and facilities in Phase 4 of the Safe Start plan. In Phases 2 and 3, we are restricting guest access, including members of other Y's in the state. This temporary restriction is to due to capacity restraints in Phases 2 and 3 for programs and facilities.

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What's Open and Closed?

This information is subject to change as local health guidelines are updated.

Phase 2

What's OPEN or available in Phase 2?

• 5-person small group exercise classes
• Live and on-demand fitness
• Virtual family activities

What's CLOSED or not available in Phase 2?

• Access to facilities for activities like self-guided workouts or swimming
• Services at the membership desk

Phase 3

What's OPEN or available in Phase 3?

• Facilities at 50% of building capacity
• Services at the membership desk
• 60-minute reservations for access to fitness areas or a lap lane in the pool
• Cardio and strength-based equipment, socially distanced
• Pools, specifically lap lanes and individual, private swim lessons
• Indoor tracks with spacing and one-way markings
• Personal training, virtual and in-person
• Limited small group training, varies by branch
• Group exercise (online-only)
• For lap swimmers: changing rooms and lockers

Additionally, the following equipment is available. This list is not exhaustive.

• Treadmills (powered and Assault)
• Ellipticals
• AMTs
• Stairmasters
• Bikes (upright and recumbent)
• Rower
• NuStep
• Strength Equipment, including free weights and limited accessories

What's CLOSED or not available in Phase 3?

University Family and Fauntleroy locations will remain closed during the summer months. Most of the following restrictions will be lifted when King County enters Phase 4:

• Guests and children under 14, to comply with safety requirements
• Areas for children and teens, including Kids Zone
• In-branch group exercise, including cycling classes
• Court sports and net sports, including basketball and pickleball
• Climbing walls and ropes courses
• Showers, saunas, and steam rooms
• Changing rooms and lockers unless you are a lap swimmer
• Some aquatics programming, including water-based group exercise and open swim

See details about our phased approach

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Safety Protocols

Are you requiring masks?

In accordance with the King County directive to wear face coverings, we are requiring that masks be worn by members at all times in the Y unless exercising or swimming. All staff are required to wear masks.

There are some exemptions to this requirement in accordance with local health guidelines, including people with certain disabilities or health conditions. Find more information about face coverings from the state of Washington

Are you giving masks to members?

We are directing members to bring masks or face coverings from home. If you forget your mask, we will have disposable masks available.

Do I have to wear a mask while working out?

According to Washington state guidelines, you only need to wear a mask while working out if you cannot maintain 6 feet of separation from non-household members in the gym.

What will you do to keep people safe in your buildings once you welcome members back?

We’re following guidelines from health experts and local officials to ensure that our facilities meet the highest standards for hygiene and safety. We will deliberately phase-in areas and amenities of low risk as we return to normal operations and resume programs. See our full safety plan.

How are you cleaning?

We've increased cleaning and sanitation, including:

• Professional cleaning every night

• Full-surface clean twice-daily of high-touch areas. Includes restrooms, railings, elevators

• More hand sanitizers, hand-washing stations, and disinfectants

• Continuous surface cleaning by staff, including on the fitness floor

• Improved air filtration and cleaning throughout facilities

See our full safety plan

What is a health screening?

We’re following guidelines from health experts and local officials to ensure that our facilities meet the highest standards for hygiene and safety. One of those guidelines is to conduct health screenings for everyone entering our facilities, including staff.

A health screening will have two parts: a temperature check and a coronavirus symptom check. Anyone who is exhibiting a fever and has experienced any symptoms related to coronavirus within the last 14 days will not be able to enter the building. This safety measure will help keep everyone inside the building safe, from staff to members.

If you are not feeling well, you can still engage from the Y at home. Check out the Healthy Living Room for a variety of wellness activities and resources.

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Pool & Aquatics

Are pools safe?

According to industry experts including the CDC, there is no evidence that COVID-19 can spread to people through the water used in pools. Proper operation and disinfection of pools should kill the virus that causes COVID-19.

We are taking precautions to also keep you safe on the pool deck and in our facilities, including frequent cleaning and limited access to shared objects like pool noodles and googles. Learn more about our safety plan

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Reservations

How do I make a reservation?

We will open reservations at midnight two (2) days prior. Find instructions here

Do I have to make a reservation?

Due to limited capacity, we are requiring reservations for our small group exercise classes and other programming. Reservations are first come, first serve.

When we reopen facilities to members, it will be important to make a reservation prior to visiting to save your space. However, to ensure that everyone is able to access the Y, we are reserving limited space for walk-ins.

If you are visiting the Y to access the membership desk or pick up Y Bucks once we reopen to members, you do not need to make a reservation.

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In the Building

Do I need to bring a mat for my exercise? Can I bring a mat?

We'll have mats for box workouts only. We will not have yoga mats available during Phase 3. You may use the mat provided or bring your own from home to use in your box workout. To ensure safe physical distancing in the branch, members can only use mats inside the box workout area.

If you're bringing a mat from home, be considerate of others by cleaning the floor before placing your mat down. Thanks for working with us to keep everyone healthy and safe.

Can I hang out and socialize before or after my workout or pool use?

We've missed seeing you in-person and are looking forward to welcoming you back soon. While we understand that connecting with friends and staff is a part of the Y we love, we have to balance that with our need to be safe. For that reason we have redesigned seating areas to increase physical distance. We've also added temporary time limits on your visit and require reservations to access the fitness areas and pool.

Members are more than welcome to continue visiting outside of the Y at a safe distance.

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