Taken from the Sport and Recreation Alliance article earlier this week, here is the outline for returning to sport (Feb. 2021)
On 22 February, the Prime Minster outlined the government’s roadmap for the easing of COVID-19 restrictions in England.
Restrictions will be lifted through a series of four steps and progress through the roadmap will be dependent on an assessment of the data against four key tests including continued vaccine rollout, reductions in hospitalisations and deaths, level of infection rates and additional risks posed by new variants.
Step 1
From 8 March, all schools will reopen with school sport allowed as part of educational provision and wraparound care. From this date, outdoor recreation will also be able to take place alone, with your household or support bubble or with one person from another household.
From 29 March, outdoor sports facilities such as tennis and basketball courts, and outdoor swimming pools will be able to reopen for use in line with wider social contact limits. Organised outdoor sports for both adults and children will also be able to resume with any numbers, where this takes place under NGB guidance.
The rule of six for outdoor gatherings will return from this date and will include informal outdoor sport and recreation.
Step 2
Step 2 will begin no earlier than 12 April and will allow indoor facilities to reopen including gyms, leisure centres and community centre for use individually or with household groups. Indoor sporting activities for children will be able to take place. Outdoor hospitality will also be able to reopen at this step.
Step 3
Step 3 will start from 17 May at the earliest, at which point organised adult indoor group sports and exercise classes will be able to resume. This stage will also see the return of some spectators at sporting events.