Returning to Play

As part of the Government roadmap to lifting Covid-19 restrictions, outdoor grassroots sport for adults and children can return from 29th March 2021.

The summary below covers the main points. But, if you have a specific question that you're struggling to find an answer for, please contact us and the Northamptonshire Sport team will help. From Monday 29th March until Thursday 1st April we're running a 'Back to Play' surgery across our social media channels, where we invite clubs and organisations to submit questions and get advice and support on returning to play.

Sport England Summary - Returning to Play

• 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.

You can find sport-specific covid-19 guidance for outdoor sports and physical activity here, they are being updated constantly but if you can't find an answer to your question, get in touch.