Get answers to some of the most common questions about the return of sport and physical activity.
We know this is a hugely challenging time for the sport and physical activity sector as the country deals with the outbreak of coronavirus (Covid-19).
Our two immediate priorities over this period are:
- Supporting the sector: action to ensure it comes through this period in as strong a position as possible
- Keeping the nation moving: doing everything we can to encourage people to stay active, wherever possible, which we think is now more important than ever.
Click on the links further down this page to find out more about this, including our funding support and Join the Movement campaign.
Latest government guidance
People can go outside more than once a day for exercise alone or with their household, with up to five people from outside their household providing they observe social distancing, or with their and one other household indoors or outdoors, providing members of different households follow social distancing guidelines.
Most outdoor and indoor sport and physical activity facilities can reopen if those responsible for them feel ready to do so and if they can do so safely following government guidelines.
This includes basketball and tennis courts, playing spaces like golf courses (public and private), playing fields, watersports, playgrounds, outdoor and indoor pools, outdoor and indoor gyms and leisure centres.
Team sports can also restart when each sport's national governing body has published a government-approved action plan and related guidance on playing safely.
Group sizes
While social gatherings of more than six people will be banned in England from 14 September, the government’s confirmed that organised sports and activities that have been through return to play protocols can continue, as can organised outdoor sports and physical activity events such as parkrun, which is due to return next month.
People can also continue to use leisure facilities, including gyms and pools - classes within these venues can continue as they are now. People should not go to these venues socially in groups of more than six.
That's because these sports and activities have stringent plans in place to reduce the risk of Covid-19, and because these venues are classed as Covid-secure given the measures they’ve introduced. The importance of sport and physical activity to people’s physical health and mental wellbeing has also been recognised by the government.
For more information about the latest government guidance and what that means for your facility, click below.
Return to play
We've compiled advice and guidance on how the sport and physical activity sector can prepare for, and successfully and safely return to play.
Our support includes the current government guidance, as well as advice for clubs, the professional workforce, volunteers and much more.
Join the Movement
Our Join the Movement campaign is all about inspiring people to keep active during this time, pulling together trusted resources to help people do just that.
It's encouraging people to share their own ideas on social media.
Activity levels research
We know how and if people are getting active during this time will of course change.
We're working with Savanta ComRes to understand the true picture throughout this period, and how people view getting and keeping active.
Funding, flexibility and innovation
A £210 million package of government and National Lottery funding has been developed to help the sector through this crisis. We've also put out a call to innovators for solutions to inequalities in activity levels worsened by coronavirus.
And we've introduced flexibility in managing our existing support to individuals and organisations, as well as giving guidance on rules around the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and publically-funded staff.
What happens next?
We've worked with the government to help explain its guidance as lockdown restrictions ease, and what it means for the sector both now and looking ahead.
You can also watch the latest webinar from our chief executive, Tim Hollingsworth, about the crisis and what it means for our upcoming new strategy.
