Here is the latest information for coaches on the current coronavirus (COVID-19) situation from across the UK – updated 22 February 2021.
The government announced on Monday, 22 February, as part of its roadmap out of lockdown, that outdoor sports facilities – such as tennis courts, basketball courts and golf courses – will be allowed to reopen in England from 29 March, while organised adult and children’s sports, such as grassroots football, will also be allowed to resume on that date.
The opening of gyms, leisure centres and indoor swimming pools comes under Step 2 of the roadmap, which will come into force no earlier than 12 April. Adult indoor group sports and exercise classes fall under Step 3, and will be allowed to begin again no earlier than 17 May.
Meanwhile, all schools in England will reopen to all pupils on 8 March, when outdoor after-school sports and activities will be allowed to restart.
We will be releasing more details on how the government’s lockdown easing plan will affect sport and physical activity and the safe return to play, along with the implications for coaching activity, as new information becomes available.
The current national lockdown restrictions became law on Wednesday 6 January and here are the key points for coaches to be aware of:
- Personal training/coaching can continue one-on-one. Sessions must take place in a public outdoor space, and social distancing must be maintained. Sessions can’t take place in private gardens.
- A coach/personal trainer can see multiple clients on the same day, as the coach/PT would be in attendance for work purposes.
- Elite sportspeople (and their coaches, or parents/guardians if they are under 18) – or those on an official elite sports pathway – will be allowed to compete and train.
- Indoor gyms and sports facilities, such as leisure centres, swimming pools, sports courts, fitness and dance studios and climbing walls, will be closed.
- Outdoor sports courts, outdoor gyms, golf courses, outdoor swimming pools, archery/driving/shooting ranges and riding arenas will be closed.
- Organised outdoor sport for disabled people is allowed to continue.
For detailed guidance on what you can and cannot do, read the Government’s National Lockdown: Stay at Home guidance.
Sport England has given the following additional general advice. The full statement can be read here.
- People should minimise time spent outside their home. It’s against the law to meet socially with family or friends unless they are part of an individual’s household or support bubble.
- People can only leave their home to exercise, and not for the purpose of recreation or leisure, and can do so with one person from outside their household.
- This should be limited to once per day, and individuals should not travel outside their local area.
- When around other people, individuals should stay two metres apart from anyone not in their household – meaning the people they live with – or their support bubble.
- Where this isn’t possible, they should stay one metre apart with extra precautions (such as wearing a face covering).
And Sport England has also compiled answers to some frequently asked questions on the national lockdown restrictions.
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.