29 March: Return of grassroots sport for adults and children

From 29 March, outdoor grassroots sport for adults and children can return.

Photo by Stephen Hateley

From 29 March, the rules on social contact will change. People will not be required to stay at home, and will be permitted to meet outdoors in groups of up to 6 people, or as a group of two households, for exercise or recreation.

A group made up of two households can include more than 6 people, but only where all members of the group are from the same two households (or support/childcare bubbles, where eligible). Social distancing must be maintained between people who do not live together or share a support bubble.

Organised outdoor sport

• Outdoor sport for adults and children is permitted in larger numbers, provided it is formally organised (for example, by a national governing body or a qualified instructor.

• Organised sport and supervised children’s sport and physical activity can take place outdoors in any number, but people should maintain the rules on social contact before and after sporting activity. This applies to organised outdoor (individual and team) sports, outdoor exercise classes, organised sports participation events and outdoor licensed physical activity.

• Participants should adhere to social distancing when not actively participating (e.g. during breaks in play, or when awaiting substitutions). Social interaction before and after playing any sport should only take place outdoors, and in separate and distinct groups consisting of up to 6 people or two households.

• Sports which require participants to be in frequent close proximity to each other (such as rugby league, rugby union, netball, contact combat sports) should adapt both training and game-play to reduce the level of contact so far as reasonably possible and take steps to minimise risk.

• Where sport is not formally organised, it can only take place within the rules on social contact above - in groups of up to 6 people, or two households.

Specific sports and activities

• Personal training is permitted outdoors, in outdoor sport facilities, and in private gardens, where it is formally organised and follows COVID-secure guidance.

• Contact combat sports can resume outdoors at phase 2 of the contact combat sports framework for children and phase 1 for adults. Indoors, contact combat sports can resume for children only at phase 2 of the framework as part of sport for educational purposes or wrap-around care. You can find more information in the government  guidance on safe provision of grassroots sport (including the contact combat sport framework)

• Organised sport participation events such as races and organised walks can take place outdoors and are exempt from legal gathering limits. However they must be organised in accordance with the guidance for the safe provision of grassroots sport (including organised sport participation events).

Sport facilities

• Outdoor sport facilities can reopen, and can be used for sport, physical activity and exercise. This applies to all outdoor sport facilities, including but not limited to outdoor gyms, swimming pools, courts, pitches, golf courses (including mini-golf), water sports venues, climbing walls, driving and shooting ranges, riding arenas at riding centres and archery venues. Outdoor skating rinks and trampolining parks must remain closed. Gathering limits must be adhered to unless being used to facilitate organised sport.

• Indoor sport and physical activity is not permitted and indoor sport facilities must remain closed, except for specific groups.

• Changing rooms should not be used, except by people with disabilities, although toilet facilities can be accessed. You should inform customers that these are areas of increased risk, that they should shower and change at home where possible, and those that do need to use changing rooms should minimise time spent inside.

Spectators

• Spectators are not permitted in any indoor or outdoor sport facility.

• This does not apply to carers for people with disabilities, or adults needed to supervise under-18s in a safeguarding role. Where it is necessary for them to be present, supervising adults should not mix with others from outside their household or support bubble.

Guidance for specific groups

Elite sport

• Elite athletes and their support staff can use indoor and outdoor sport facilities for training and competition. Elite sport events can continue to take place in sport facilities, where permitted in line with the government guidance on elite sport.

• Professional dancers and choreographers can use indoor and outdoor dance studios, fitness studios and skating rinks.

People with disabilities

• People with disabilities can participate in organised outdoor and indoor sport without being subject to social contact limits.

• Non-disabled people are not permitted to participate, except where necessary to enable the activity to take place (such as a carer or coach helping the disabled person to exercise).

Sport for educational purposes

• Indoor facilities can be used by schools and post-16 education and training providers (such as colleges and universities), for organised sport or individual fitness activities related to their curriculum. This could include running an indoor basketball session for a school group, or a sport science student training for their sport in a gym.

• Indoor organised sport is permitted where it is part of formal education, and can take place indoors if necessary, but outdoor provision should be prioritised.

• Indoor sport for under-18s can also take place at school as part of educational provision, or as part of wraparound care.

Activities for children

• Indoor sport and physical activity for children is permitted, where this is part of wraparound childcare which enables parents or carers to work, seek work, attend education, seek medical care or attend a support group. Indoor sport and physical activity for vulnerable children is permitted, regardless of whether this is part of wraparound care.

• Parent and child groups can also take place outdoors with a limit of 15 attendees (children under 5 do not count towards the attendee limit).

Traveling for sport

• Always check that it is safe to travel before you set out to take part in sport or recreation.

• You should minimise travel wherever possible, but you can travel to exercise and take part in informal and organised sport, where necessary. You should not stay away from home overnight for sport and physical activity.

• You can find more information in the government guidance on safer travel.

How to participate safely

Check for COVID-19 symptoms and health conditions

Before attending any sporting activities, all participants, officials, volunteers and spectators must self-assess for COVID-19 symptoms:

• A high temperature

• A new, continuous cough

• A loss of, or change to, their sense of smell or taste

If you have one or more of these symptoms you should not attend any sporting activity, and must follow NHS and PHE guidance on self-isolation.

ESS can provide online COVID declarations for you and your organisation. For more details, contact us via email info@ess-consultants.co.uk

People with health conditions that put them at increased risk should consider the risks of participating in group activities like sport and physical activity.

Check if your sport is safe to play, and if there are modifications

Before participating in any sporting activity, you should check whether your sport is safe to play. Every sport’s national governing body should have published guidance on how to participate safely. You should ensure you are following the national governing body’s latest guidance, and follow any measures put in place by the sport provider or event organiser, even where this means modifications to the game.