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Return to play

Coronavirus restrictions may have been removed, but the return to play is not over - here we've got guidance on a range of topics to help you facilitate and maintain the return to play for everyone

Current guidance

As of 1 April, we're in the government's 'Living with respiratory infections, including Covid-19' phase of their response to the coronavirus pandemic.

This means there are now no coronavirus-related legal restrictions in place.

All forms of activity can take place with no coronavirus-related restrictions on how many people can participate, and all sports facilities can open.

If you have any questions related to 'Living with respiratory infections' impact on sport and physical activity, please email returntoplay@sportengland.org.

Read the government's guidance

Funding and advice

We opened a fund focusing on a safe return to play and narrowing the inequalities gap in sport and physical activity. Find out more and see if the open fund can help you.

In addition to this, with all facilities and activities now allowed to return, we’ve compiled five key things people have told us will help them return to play.

A man working out on a treadmill.

Inclusion and accessibility

It's critical that the people who were impacted the most by the restrictions are supported to get active now restrictions have been removed.

We've compiled guidance on how you can engage specific audiences, how to ensure your facilities remain accessible, and more.

See our guidance

Research

We collated research on people's attitudes to sport and physical activity throughout the pandemic.

It looked at the likelihood of people returning to their activity of choice once restrictions were removed, what might hold people back, and how activity providers could help encourage a return.

See our research

A women enjoys a casual game of tennis in the park

Legal support

Legal issues arising from coronavirus need to be taken into account by sport and physical activity providers in order to safely return to play.

This guidance note was produced with Sheridans Sports Group to give providers, be they clubs, governing bodies, community groups or regional associations, advice on what issues needed considering and how to tackle them.

We've also produced a second document, specifically on the issues arising from vaccinations and whether providers can stipulate participants must have been vaccinated.

Clubs toolkit

Club Matters has guidance to help sports clubs reopen, how to develop a risk register, and more.

Guidance for clubs on reopening

Support for the professional workforce

We compiled support and guidance for people either employed or self-employed who work full-time or part-time in sport and physical activity - known as the professional workforce.

It includes advice on planning for the safe reopening of facilities and how to retrain to retain work.

A group of volunteers talking to each other on a playing field.

Volunteering

Volunteers have a vital role to play as sport and physical activity providers continue their return from the pandemic.

So what should you be thinking about when it comes to your volunteers returning safely and well-prepared? We've answered some of the main questions.

Read our volunteering guidance

Case studies

All sport and physical activity providers had to prepare for the return to play, so we spoke to a variety of types and sizes of organisation.

We asked them how they and their users have fared during the pandemic, what they learned and how they prepared for reopening.

Read the case studies

  • The legal bit

    The guidance, tools and resources provided in this support hub ("Guidance") is provided solely for general information. Sport England is not your adviser and any reliance you may place on this general information is entirely at your own risk.

    Care has been taken over the accuracy of the content of the Guidance, but Sport England cannot guarantee that such information is up to date or reflects any or all relevant legal requirements.

    Sport England makes no claim or representation regarding, and accepts no responsibility for, the quality, content, nature, reliability or safety of third party websites or services accessible by hyperlink (“Links”) from any webpage on the Sport England website https://www.sportengland.org/  or Club Matters website https://www.sportenglandclubmatters.com/, including, for the avoidance of doubt, any Guidance, (“Websites”) or third party websites linking to the Website.

    Such linked websites are not under Sport England’s control. Sport England is not responsible for the content of any such linked websites and/or any link contained in a linked website, or any review, changes or updates to such websites. Sport England provides these Links to you only as a convenience and/or for educational purposes, and the inclusion of any Link does not imply any affiliation, endorsement, or adoption by Sport England of the website or any information contained in it. When leaving the Websites, you should be aware that Sport England’s Terms and Conditions no longer apply, and, therefore, you should review the applicable terms and policies, including privacy and data gathering practices, of any third party website.

    The information contained in this support hub is general and not specific and therefore may not be suitable for you in any way. You should ensure that you obtain professional specialist technical and legal advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of information contained in any of the Guidance.

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