Here is the latest information for coaches on the current coronavirus (COVID-19) situation from across the UK – updated 17 May 2021.
The Government's roadmap out of lockdown restrictions for England is now at Step 3, which came into force on 17 May.
As part of this stage, indoor group sports and group exercise classes can restart, along with outdoor adult contact sport.
NGBs/sports providers for contact sports have developed action plans in line with the government’s Contact Combat Sport Framework, which takes into account the level of risk of their sport. For example: Stage E1 of the rugby roadmap allows full contact training from May 17. Stage E2 on May 31 permits full contact matches to be staged.
Here is a summary of Sport England’s updated advice:
Indoor: 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.
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)
Changing rooms: Changing rooms can open, but participants should be encouraged to avoid or minimise use where possible.
Car sharing is permitted for sport and physical activity.
A note about indoor sports facilities:
Below are the key points from CIMSPA’s Step 3 guidance around organised group training and exercise classes that can take place at a gym, leisure facility or community centre.
- An organised activity must be formally organised by a qualified instructor, club, national governing body, company or charity and follow sport-specific guidance where appropriate. 2m social distancing is required for exercise classes.
- These organised activities can take place with any number of participants, as long as they are undertaken in line with Covid-secure guidance and adhere to the capacity and social distancing restrictions for indoor sport facilities.
- If the activity is not organised, the limit on group sizes is six people or two households, with social distancing.
- Regarding personal training sessions inside a private home: gatherings of up to six people or two households can take place. Social distancing and hygiene measures should still be maintained.
Further information on how to participate in grassroots sport and physical activity during COVID restrictions is available on the Government website. See also the Government’s National Lockdown: Stay at Home guidance for what you can and cannot do.
We will update and refresh this guidance as new information becomes available.
UK Coaching urges all coaches to continue following health and safety measures to protect themselves and their families against the virus. These can be found via the WHO (World Health Organisation) website.
We are proud of how much our coaching community has done to support society by offering a supportive network for people all over the UK during the pandemic. We love seeing and sharing the work of all coaches, so please continue to post and tag us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Linkedin. We encourage you to continue your journey of self-improvement and up-skilling by accessing our learning and development resources.
And we will continue to support you by offering further guidance, resources and lobbying for more support for you from a range of funding sources.