Covid-19 Policy

Whats Changed?

From 16 August, people who are fully vaccinated or aged under 18 and 6 months no longer need to self-isolate if they’ve had close contact with someone who has COVID-19. Guidance updated to reflect this.

Check for COVID-19 symptoms and health conditions

Before attending any sporting activities, all participants, officials, volunteers and spectators should self-assess for symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19). These are:

• a high temperature
• a new, continuous cough
• a loss of, or change to, your sense of smell or taste

If you have one or more of these symptoms, you should not attend any sporting activity, even if your symptoms are mild. You should follow NHS guidance on testing and self-isolation.

Follow our safety measures

• We may ask you to ‘check in’ using the NHS COVID-19 app to scan their QR code. This supports NHS Test and Trace, and helps to reduce the spread of the virus.

• We may ask you to take a COVID-19 test before participating. This helps ensure that play can take place safely, and that participants are not at risk of catching or spreading the virus.

• We may use the NHS COVID Pass. This allows people to demonstrate that they are at a lower risk of carrying COVID-19 and transmitting it to others, through vaccination, testing or natural immunity.

• Where these types of measures are used, you should follow our guidance. This will help us to keep everyone as safe as possible, and minimise the risk of transmission, so we can continue to provide play safely.

Take part safely

• You should continue to follow any relevant advice from NHS or Government guidance on how to safely visit the centre.

• You should continue to follow good hygiene practices, to reduce the risk of transmission in sport environments. You can find more information in the guidance on how to stay safe.

• You should avoid sharing water bottles or other refreshment containers. Where possible, you should have your own drink.

• Face coverings are no longer required by law, but the government expects and recommends that people should continue to wear them in crowded and enclosed settings, to protect themselves and others. Where worn correctly, this can reduce the risk of transmission.

• For example, you may wish to put on a face covering after your sporting activity if you are in a crowded area, but you don’t have to wear one during sport. People should not generally wear a face covering while taking part in any strenuous activity or sport, unless advised to do so by a doctor.

• You should avoid sharing equipment where possible and practical, particularly equipment which is used around the head and face (such as masks and helmets). If equipment needs to be shared, it should be cleaned between users, where possible.

Communications and guidance

• Self-assessment: Before attending any sporting activities, all participants, officials, volunteers and spectators should self-assess for COVID-19 symptoms (a high temperature; a new, continuous cough; a loss of, or change to, their sense of smell or taste). If they have one or more of these symptoms (even if they are mild), you should advise them not to attend any sporting activity, and to follow NHS guidance on testing and self-isolation.

• Informed decisions: You should advise participants to consider their own health and circumstances (for example, if they are not yet double-vaccinated or they live with somebody vulnerable), so they can make an informed choice about whether they wish to participate. You should set out the safety measures you have put in place, and how you will mitigate any specific risks associated with your sporting activity. For example, you could advise participants that you are following your NGB’s guidance, and any safety measures you are putting in place.

• Self-isolation: Clearly communicate to participants that they should not take part in your activity if they need to self-isolate (for example, because they have tested positive or are asked to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace). If they are displaying any COVID-19 symptoms (a high temperature; a new, continuous cough; a loss of, or change to, their sense of smell or taste), you should advise them not to attend, even if these symptoms are mild. You may also wish to share guidance on what they should do if they live with, or have close contact with, a positive case.

NHS Test and Trace

• Sport providers are no longer required to collect participants’ contact details, or keep records of your staff and visitors.
• However, you are advised to continue to display an NHS QR code for participants wishing to check in using the app, to support NHS Test and Trace. You do not have to ask participants to check in, or turn them away if they refuse.
• If you display an NHS QR code, you should also have a system to collect (and securely store) names and contact details for those who ask to check in but do not have the app.

Pre-participation safety measures

• Consider whether you should ask participants to take a COVID-19 test before participating, where this is practical and possible. This can help to ensure your sport provision is as safe as possible, and reduce the risk of transmission.
• You can also consider using the NHS COVID Pass to reduce the risk of transmission. The NHS COVID Pass allows people to demonstrate that they are at a lower risk of carrying COVID-19 and transmitting it to others, through vaccination, testing or natural immunity. It can help organisations to reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19.
• The NHS COVID Pass will be available through the NHS App, the NHS website, or as a letter that can be requested by ringing NHS 119. Participants will also be able to show text or email confirmation of test results.
• If you use the NHS COVID Pass, you should ensure that you comply with all relevant legal obligations and guidance, including on equalities. You can find more information in the NHS COVID Pass guidance
• Even when using the NHS COVID Pass, it is still important that you follow the rest of the guidance and put measures in place to reduce the risk of COVID-19 spreading at your venue or event.

Hygiene

• You should continue to follow good hygiene practices, to reduce the risk of transmission in sport environments. For example, you should not spit or rinse out your mouth on or around the playing area. You can find more information in the guidance on how to stay safe.
• Water bottles or other refreshment containers should not be shared. Advise participants to bring their own water bottle or refreshment container, in a labelled or highly distinguishable container. If you are providing water or other beverages, ensure that these are provided to individuals and are not expected to be shared.
• You should consider whether there are any changes you can make to your sport provision, to reduce the risk of transmission. For example, you could ask teams not to shake hands after the match.