17th May: Return of adult indoor sport and group exercise

Posted: Mon, 17 May 2021 08:30

17th May: Return of adult indoor sport and group exercise

The government has confirmed that we'll move to Step 3 on 17th May.

These frequently asked questions have been developed by Sport England in line with the government sport-specific guidance. They're intended to support you in your work in preparing to restart and to understand what the government guidance means for you.

Sport-specific guidance will also be updated ahead of Step 3, and they will continue to work with the government to add further information on the next steps in its roadmap as they get further clarity.

Summary

  • Indoor: Indoor gatherings of either six people (the 'rule of six') or two households can take place. Organised indoor adult and children sport and physical activity can return (including exercises classes) subject to sport-specific guidance. For organised indoor sport and physical activity, there's no limit on group numbers so long as people adhere to capacity restrictions on indoor facilities. The maximum occupancy of each indoor facility should be limited by providing a minimum of 100 sq ft per person.
  • Outdoor: Up to 30 people can meet outdoors. Organised outdoor sport and physical activity can take place in any numbers, subject to sport-specific guidance.
  • Organised sport and activity includes:
    • Organised group activities (such as, but not limited to, exercise classes, group cycle rides, walking groups etc.)
    • Organised team sports, including adapted versions for 'higher risk' team sports (following approved guidance)
    • Other organised sports (such as, but not limited to, tennis, badminton, golf, horse riding, water sports etc.)
    • Organised sport participation events (such as, but not limited to, road races, running and cycling events, triathlons etc.)
    • Organised contact combat sports (following approved guidance). See contact combat sport FAQ for information about what phase activities can return at.
  • Exemptions for elite sport training and fixtures apply.
  • Facilities: All sports facilities can open. This includes facilities which can be used for sport but are primarily used for leisure (such as trampoline parks, bowling alleys and ice rinks) or which provide physical activity which is not a recognised sport (such as airsoft venues).
  • Changing rooms: Changing rooms can open, but participants should be encouraged to avoid or minimise use where possible.
  • Spectators: Spectators will be permitted to view events on both public and private land in Step 3, but need to adhere to social distancing rules and social gathering limits (groups of 30 outdoors and six people/two households indoors). Spectators are allowed indoors, but the total number of all participants, coaches, officials and spectators must be aligned with the ventilation rates permitted by the particular venue. During Step 3, there should not be more than 1,000 spectators indoors at any venue.
  • Travel: You can leave your home to exercise and take part in informal and organised sport and physical activity. Car sharing will be permitted in Step 3 for sport and physical activity. The guidance for safer travel will be updated ahead of Step 3 to provide further information about this.
  • Hospitality: Clubhouses and facilities that serve food and drink can open. In Step 3, both indoor and outdoor hospitality will be permitted. The guidance on hospitality settings will be updated ahead of Step 3 to provide further information about this.

Alongside the original guidance from 12th April:

  • Indoor leisure facilities can open for adult individual/household use only (no group activities are allowed)
    • This includes facilities such as, but not limited to, gym and leisure centres, indoor sports courts and pitches, swimming pools, fitness studios, multi-sport facilities (such as climbing walls, driving ranges, archery venues, indoor riding centres, and indoor skate parks).
  • Children's activities can take place indoors in line with Department for Education and Out of School Setting guidance
  • Changing rooms can be opened, but participants should be encouraged to avoid or minimise use where possible
  • Travel should be minimised but can take place for the purpose of sport and physical activity. Car sharing, however, isn't permitted
  • Spectators are only allowed on public land, where they must adhere to social gathering limits either in groups of six or two households.

Alongside the original guidance from 29th March:

  • You should minimise travel, however, travel for sport and exercise is permitted
  • Outdoor gatherings of either six people (the 'rule of six') or two households can take place
  • Outdoor sports facilities such as tennis and basketball courts, sports pitches, outdoor skateparks and outdoor swimming pools can reopen
  • Organised outdoor sport and physical activity for adults and children can return, which will be exempt from the legal gathering limits. The threshold on participant numbers will be decided by each national governing body (NGB) or organising organisation and will follow Covid-secure guidance
  • Organised outdoor sport and activity includes:
    • Organised outdoor group activities (e.g. outdoor exercise classes, group cycle rides, walking groups etc.)
    • Outdoor team sports (including adapted versions for 'higher risk' team sports)
    • Other organised outdoor sports, such as, but not limited to, tennis, golf, horse riding, water sports will be able to resume
    • Organised sport participation events (road races, running and cycling events, triathlons etc.).
  • Spectators are not allowed at any grassroot sport and physical activity sessions or events. This does not apply to carers for disabled people, or adults needed to supervise under-18s in a safeguarding role. Where it's necessary for them to be present, supervising adults should not mix with others from outside their household or support bubble
  • Informal sport and physical activity is not covered by any exemptions, and will have to follow the legal gathering limits for outdoors: the 'rule of six' or two households
  • Disabled people can take part in organised outdoor and indoor sport without being subject to social contact limits.

Click on the link to view Sport England's full FAQ section.

Click here to view the Government's latest guidance.

Swimming clubs, operators and all involved in swimming can find the latest guidance here.

Our Sport Organisation Support (SOS) section also provides further guidance and support.

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