COVID-19NewsUpdated COVID-19 Guidance

Following a review by the PE Board of the latest UK Government guidance, we are updating our advice and guidance to our members, clubs, leagues and regions as set out below.

As always, PE national officials are available to advise further if further information is required or there are any questions which arise.

The key change is that UK Government has stated that we are now allowed to play in groups of up to 30 people as long as everybody follows the latest UK Government and PE COVID-19 advice.

You MUST also follow the PE PLAY SAFE GUIDELINES – RETURN TO RESTRICTED PLAY guidance.

At present, the UK Government are only allowing groups larger than 30 for professional and elite sports. We are not classed as either.

However, before any region, league or club can bring up to 30 participants together (including players, officials and spectators), they MUST do the following:

Carry out a COVID-19 risk assessment

Before restarting play you should ensure the safety of the venue by:

• carrying out a risk assessment in line with the HSE guidance
• consulting with your members;
• sharing the results of the risk assessment with your members and on your website if you have one.

Develop cleaning, hand washing and hygiene procedures

You should increase the frequency of hand washing and surface cleaning by:

• encouraging people to follow the guidance on hand washing and hygiene
• providing hand sanitiser around the venue, in addition to washrooms if you are responsible for these facilities;
• frequently cleaning and disinfecting objects and surfaces that are touched regularly;
• enhancing cleaning for busy areas;
• setting clear use and cleaning guidance for toilets if you are responsible for them;
• providing hand drying facilities – either paper towels or electrical dryers if you are responsible for providing them.

Maintain 2m social distancing, where possible

Where possible, you should maintain 2m between people by:

• putting up signs to remind members and visitors of social distancing guidance;
• avoiding sharing workstations/desks used for administering or organising play;
• using floor tape or paint to mark areas to help people keep to a 2m distance;
• arranging one-way traffic through the venue if possible.

Where people cannot be 2m apart, manage transmission risk

Where it’s not possible for people to be 2m apart, you should do everything practical to manage the transmission risk by:

• considering whether an activity needs to continue for the event to run
• keeping the activity time involved as short as possible
• using screens or barriers to separate people from each other
• using back-to-back or side-to-side play whenever possible
• staggering arrival and departure times
• reducing the number of people each person has contact with by using fixed teams or partners

You MUST also follow the guidance for ‘Grassroots sport and Gym/Leisure providers’ and in particular section 4 around ‘Large Gatherings’.