The Government has announced that most legal restrictions will be lifted from Monday 19 July but stresses that we are still in the third wave of the pandemic and there remains a risk you could catch or pass on the virus, even if you are fully vaccinated. It is therefore necessary for us all to continue to exercise caution and maintain many of the safety measures we have put in place as part of our Return to Play (RTP) protocols.
Clubs in England
As of the 19th July the GBWR 5 Step Plan is suspended and clubs in England are permitted to resume training without restriction. There will be no limit to the number of people who can attend a training session, masks are no longer mandatory, and full contact is permitted in groups of any size.
While this is a positive step towards us getting back to playing the game we love, given the ongoing rise in cases we advise that you continue to exercise caution and in particular:
- Individuals who attend training must continue to complete the opt-in form and each club must continue to submit registers as per the GBWR guidance
- PPE and masks should be made available to all volunteers and players should they choose to use it
- Chairs, balls, and equipment should still be cleaned in accordance with the GBWR guidance to minimise any unnecessary transmission
Everyone must continue to follow the NHS and public health guidance on testing and self-isolation. If you have been informed that you need to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace you should not attend any training or GBWR events.
From 16th August, double jabbed individuals and under 18s will no longer need to self-isolate if they are identified as a close contact of someone with COVID-19.
Clubs in Wales
The Welsh Government has announced that they have moved to Level 0 from Saturday 7th August which means that clubs in Wales are now permitted to return to full training without restriction.
There will be no limit on the number of people who can attend a training session, masks are no longer mandatory, and full contact is permitted in groups of any size.
The Welsh Government is still recommending to minimise the risk of the spread of COVID-19 through physical distancing so we recommend that social distancing is observed when not in training activities.
While this is a positive step towards us getting back to playing the game we love, given the ongoing rise in cases we advise that you continue to exercise caution and in particular:
- Individuals who attend training must continue to complete the opt-in form and each club must continue to submit registers as per the GBWR guidance
- PPE and masks should be made available to all volunteers and players should they choose to use it
- Chairs, balls, and equipment should still be cleaned in accordance with the GBWR guidance to minimise any unnecessary transmission
Everyone must continue to follow the NHS and public health guidance on testing and self-isolation. If you have been informed that you need to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace you should not attend any training or GBWR events.
Clubs in Scotland
Clubs in Scotland must continue to follow the existing Scottish Government guidance and full GBWR requirements.
Clubs who have yet to RTP must meet all GBWR requirements and be formally signed off by GBWR before training is permitted.
Finally, although restrictions may permit a return to full play it does not necessarily mean that it is advisable to do so immediately. From a basic duty of care perspective coaches should ensure that RTP is progressive and that players are given time to adjust to being back in their playing chairs. Please continue to be responsible and take precautions to avoid the spread of COVID-19.
