Indoor Sport Facilities to Re-open from 25th July (England)
The UK Government announces indoor sport facilities to re-open from 25th July in England.
Today (9th July) the government announced that indoor sport facilities will re-open from 25th July, 2020 in England.
The announcement also referred to individual sports receiving government approval for resumption of activity.
Over the next week, British Fencing will be updating it’s Return to Fencing resources (currently published here) in light of the updated guidance and submit for approval where appropriate. Please check back regularly to the website or follow our social media channels for further updates and announcements.
In the meantime please note:
- There are currently no changes to the position on permitted fencing activity. In England some low intensity 1:1 activity is permitted (see here). For Home Nations where 2m social distancing remains, fencing activities where one person is hitting another person on the body with a sword (eg lessons and sparring) is not permitted.
- The government has updated its advice for providers of grassroots sport and gym/leisure facilities here. Whilst most fencing clubs do not operate their own facilities, it is important to understand the guidance facilities will be operating under and ensure that these are in turn reflected in your risk assessment and communicated to your members.
In the meantime, clubs looking to open should:
- Ensure that they have appointed a COVID-19 officer (see here)
- Update their club risk assessments. Note that elements of these risk assessments may change as we respond to further government advice up to the 25th July.
- Contact your club facility to discuss their plans for opening and work collaboratively with facility managers on risk assessments. We expect that any club or coach using a facility (that they do not themselves operate) will provide a copy of their risk assessment to the facility manager.
