COVID Guidance
| Update: 10 December 2021 |
| Following the government announcement that new restrictions are being introduced to tackle the spread of the Omicron variant GBWR will be introducing the following measures for club training sessions and competitions.
Clubs
GBWR competitions
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It’s taken a while but we have got there at last and can now prepare to begin training again. The Safe Return to Wheelchair Rugby Guidance, available to download below, sets out to provide clubs and individuals with all the information needed to feel confident about safely returning to our wheelchair rugby communities. We are aware that not all clubs will be returning to play immediately. Some are still not able to access their venues whilst others have decided to wait until a later stage. Whatever the club’s decision, we will be here to support you in whatever way we can.
Safe Return to Wheelchair Rugby Guidance
If you are returning to training or are supporting someone who is then you must familiarise yourself with this guidance and ensure you meet the requirements as they apply to you. Club COVID-19 leads and club officials have particular responsibilities for ensuring that the guidance is followed at all times.
Each club will need to meet the following conditions before starting the first training session:
Club COVID-19 lead: each club must nominate someone to fulfil this role
Training: the COVID-19 Lead and one other person must complete online training, before attending a GBWR webinar for further guidance
Risk assessments: clubs must submit a risk assessment using GBWR’s template, and the venue’s risk assessment must also be reviewed by the club
Club declaration: this form must be submitted to confirm that the club will conform to all requirements relating to COVID-19 safety measures, and GBWR’s 5 Step Return to Wheelchair Rugby programme
When all of this has been checked and signed-off by GBWR then clubs will be authorised to begin training at Step 1 of our 5 Step Plan for Return to Play. Find out more:
5 Step Plan for Return to Play
Once a club has been signed-off to resume training, the club will be responsible for continuing to follow all of our guidance, in particular:
On-the-day checklists: this template must be completed for each session, and a record kept by the club
Individual declarations: these must be completed by everyone attending each training session, and clubs are to submit these session registers to GBWR – a link to the online form will be proved to clubs when signed-off, and we’ve provided guidance notes on this process for club COVID-19 leads
We’ve also included helpful information to answer other questions you may have, before and during your return to training:
5 Step Plan for Return to Play
The return will be based on a gradual ramp up to full play with movement up the steps dependent on a changing and improving COVID-19 picture, and the strict application of government advice. Our priority at all times will be to ensure we only permit training at a level and within conditions which minimises any risk of COVID-19 infection being transmitted within our training environment. It is also our priority to ensure that individuals do not rush into training but begin with chair acclimatisation and fitness training, as most players have been out of their playing chair for some time.
All clubs who are signed off to return to train will for a minimum of two sessions be permitted to train at Step 1 only. This is to ensure that individuals and clubs fully test their COVID-19 safety measures and procedures and that individuals are able to get re-acclimatised to their sports chairs.
After two sessions the club COVID-19 lead should make contact with the RDO and provide an update on how the return to play has gone, noting in particular the risks detailed in the club risk assessment and confirming that all have been managed in line with mitigation agreed with GBWR. On confirmation of this, GBWR will confirm the move to Step 2 of the 5 Step Plan for Return to Play.
Following three sessions at Step 2, clubs may contact their RDO to discuss the move to Step 3. Provided no concerns are identified with the club’s COVID-19 protocols, the club will progress to Step 3.
Currently no authorisation is given for activity at Steps 4 or 5, and we will update clubs as soon as it becomes possible to progress further.
COVID-19 Officer & Club Leads
We have appointed a lead GBWR staff member as the GBWR COVID-19 officer. That person is available to clubs for advice and support either directly provided or by referral to the most relevant expert. This will include things such as helping to interpret any guidance or put into practice protocols. A COVID-19 email address, covid-19@gbwr.org.uk, has been set up which should be used by members and clubs who have specific wheelchair rugby questions or comments relating to COVID-19.
GBWR has now appointed a doctor who will act as the GBWR chief medical officer. He will be responsible for helping us to put in place the right measures and checks to ensure the safety and welfare of our GB and Talent athletes as we prepare for a return to play. The knowledge we gain from this will also be used to help us shape the guidance we will provide to clubs.
Clubs have also been asked to nominate club COVID-19 leads. That person will be the point of contact between the GBWR COVID-19 officer and the club and will be responsible for ensuring that all club practices meet the guidance provided. GBWR has developed a role description (available to download below) to help clubs understand what is required in the role. If you have not done so yet then please ensure you forward the name and contact details of your club’s nominated person to covid-19@gbwr.org.uk.
Training
All club COVID-19 leads plus a minimum of one other club member must complete GBWR’s virtual online training via ReActivate. This must be completed before attending a GBWR webinar for further guidance.
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ReActivate Training
ReActivate is an online training platform, designed to equip anyone working or volunteering in the sport, fitness, leisure and physical activity sector in England with the knowledge and skills they need to confidently return to work or restart their coaching activity, as we emerge from the coronavirus lockdown.
Funded by Sport England, commissioned by CIMSPA and delivered by a consortium of partners led by Future Active Workforce CIC, ReActivate provides online training that brings government and industry guidance to life in an easily digestible format, giving anyone who needs it the ability to return to their sport and physical activity roles with confidence.
A certificate is awarded for successful completion of the above modules, on general COVID-19 awareness.
GBWR has also included wheelchair rugby specific guidance on the platform, relating to on equipment cleaning, managing session registers, and completing risk assessments.
Separate training links for England, Wales and Scotland are provided, and the training reflects any variations in guidelines required by each country.
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Return to Play Webinar
This webinar is designed to support the ReActivate training as part of GBWR’s Return to Play plan. The webinar will cover the main areas required for clubs to return and provide an opportunity to ask any questions. Before attending the webinar please ensure you have completed the online GBWR ReActivate training (details above).
Upcoming webinars The next webinar will take place on 8th June at 6pm, and will be held virtually via Zoom:
Risk Assessments
A risk assessment is a vital tool to support clubs to identify risks and to put in place measures to manage them. It is critical that all clubs carry out COVID-19 specific risk assessments ahead of returning to play, along with following all GBWR guidance. The completion of a thorough risk assessment is an essential insurance requirement and GBWR has created a template and guidance for clubs to use.
Risk assessment template & guidance
In addition to completing and submitting the GBWR template risk assessment, the club must review its venue’s risk assessment and confirm that all identified risks are managed. The club is asked to confirm this as part of the Club Declaration Form, and there is no requirement for clubs to provide copies of venue risk assessments to GBWR.
Funding
We recently launched our COVID-19 Club Recovery Fund aimed at supporting clubs to return to training. Since we have done this Sport England have launched their Return to Play: Small Grants Fund which not-for-profit organisations such as sports clubs can apply for. On that basis we are now asking clubs in England to apply to this fund rather than the GBWR one. Clubs in Wales and Scotland can still apply for the GBWR COVID-19 Club Recovery fund.
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GBWR's COVID-19 Club Recovery Fund (Wales & Scotland)
GBWR’s COVID-19 Club Recovery Fund is a new initiative to support clubs which are returning to play but have incurred additional costs due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Clubs can apply for up to £300 funding to pay towards PPE and other costs related to the effects of COVID-19.
Clubs can claim a maximum of £100 to pay for PPE, including, gloves, masks, aprons, wipes and detergent. Clubs can then apply for extra funding, up to a maximum of £200, to put towards any additional costs caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, such as:
- Court hire costs, where the club has been forced to change to a venue which is more expensive
- Additional chair transport costs
- Additional storage costs
- Additional player / volunteer transport costs
- Any additional equipment, such as exercise bands for Step 1 training
- Any additional staff training needs
Clubs can apply only once to the Recovery Fund, and the fund will be open whilst the COVID-19 restrictions are in place.
Hear from Tilly Robinson, Talent Pathway athlete, with the details of the GBWR COVID-19 Club Recovery Fund How to Apply
Clubs must have completed, and have been signed off, for the Return to Play (RTP) protocol before being eligible to apply for the Recovery Fund. To apply, please complete and submit the
Clubs will be notified within 2 weeks after submitting the application form if they are successful and the funds will be paid directly into the club’s bank account.
If you have any questions, please email Lauren Templeton at lauren.templeton@gbwr.org.uk.
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Sport England's Return to Play: Small Grants Fund (England)
Sport England’s Return to Play: Small Grants seek to support projects addressing the challenges coronavirus (COVID-19) has posed to people taking part in sport and physical activity.
You can apply for grants of between £300 and £10,000, to help not-for-profit community organisations create coronavirus-secure settings for community sport and physical activity to resume this autumn.
The fund will have flexible priorities: these could include having to deliver sport and physical activity in smaller groups, having the correct sanitation and safety equipment, not having enough sports equipment to safely deliver activities and having the appropriate training for club volunteers to ensure you’re meeting the current guidelines. Funding could therefore be used for additional sports equipment, signage, sanitation, and training courses to help you deliver your activities safely.
Funding priorities
Sport England will assess your project against the current guidance on safely returning to the activity you provide, and will be unable to make awards that go against that guidance – even if it was correct at the time the application was submitted. Priorities relevant to wheelchair rugby:
- All projects / club training session need to start with the next six weeks
- Clubs working with Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities, people on lower incomes, disabled people, people with long-term health conditions and people experiencing a greater burden of care because of coronavirus
- Clubs that don’t have a significant level of reserve funding available to utilise
Who can apply?
Your club can apply if you’re:
- a not-for-profit voluntary group or sports club
- a not-for-profit community club or organisation
- a registered charity
- a not-for-profit company
- a community interest company (CIC) or other social enterprise
- a leisure operator, operating a single site
What can be funded?
- Volunteer training, e.g. health and safety requirements, risk assessments, etc.
- Additional coaching / facility hire costs as a direct result of having to deliver to smaller group sizes
- New ways of delivering activity for your existing participants / members, e.g. purchasing licenses to use online technology having had to change from delivery in a studio to now having to deliver online, where the classes already existed prior to coronavirus – the fund will not cover new activities that are being newly established for different audiences
- Signage / floor markings – maintaining social distance and avoiding congestion
- Pre-visit guidance / marketing / communications – promoting good hygiene
- Cleaning / hygiene – keeping facilities and equipment clean (PPE)
- Additional sports equipment / kit – minimising sharing
How to apply
If you have not received a Sport England Small Grants award in the past, you will need to register your club, you can use the link below to register your organisation and start your application.
Completing your application
- About your project/club: Think about the people you’re working with, why they need your project/club/training sessions and the impact it’ll have on them
- Delivery: Tell us the resources you need to deliver the project/club/training sessions and how you’ll ensure it is a success
- Budget: A breakdown of what any potential funding will be spent on
If you need assistance completing your application, please contact your RDO.
More Information
Although we have tried to think about all the different things that are involved with return to training, there will be things that we have missed or which crop up when we put all of this into practice. None of us have operated like this before and we are all learning. If you find other things which we need to think about or something just does not work in practice that is currently included in the Guidance then please let us know – you can do that by emailing covid-19@gbwr.org.uk or by speaking to your RDO. We can then look at how we can improve the Guidance.
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Exemptions on Face Coverings
We understand that some members may have exemptions from wearing face coverings in other scenarios, however we must make clear that once a wheelchair rugby club resumes training, face coverings must be worn by all during the training session – this applies to adults and juniors in club and GB training settings.
Whilst we appreciate the concerns some may have, face coverings are in place to keep others safe and, particularly as an indoor sport where people will be training in an enclosed space, we have a duty of care to ensure the training environment is as safe as possible for everyone. This requirement forms part of our Safe Return to Wheelchair Rugby Guidance which has been approved by our insurer and DCMS, and all clubs resuming training must adhere to this.
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Overseas Travel
In some European countries COVID restrictions may be easing more quickly than in the UK and that some of our members have been approached about playing in Europe. It is important that in all cases everyone follows the Government advice which at this point remains against all but essential travel. When this advice is reviewed and relaxed it will still be important to consider the wider issues around individual risk as described above. As an NGB we fully support the current Government advice not to travel unless it is absolutely necessary to do so, and even when this advice is relaxed we believe it will be important for individuals to minimise travel until there is greater certainty that COVID-19 has been brought under control everywhere. As this is likely to be many months away it does not seem sensible for individuals to add to any risk by undertaking unnecessary travel.
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Outdoor Training
Despite working on guidance and an associated risk template it has now become clear that we will not be in a position to sanction organised club training outdoors. Having explored the issues and taken further advice, including consultation with some members, there are a number of factors that have resulted in this decision – please see our full statement on this position.
The Board understands that the decision not to pursue organised outdoor play will be a disappointment for those clubs that were looking forward to coming together for some sort of organised training. We are conscious that whilst we want to ensure we meet our duty of care commitments we also want to be able to facilitate members getting back to play as quickly as it is safe to do so. Our focus now is to continue to plan for getting our members back playing indoors as soon as government restrictions are lifted and we can be sure it is safe to do so.
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Membership
We are moving to a common membership year, 1 April to 31 March annually. We hope that this will make it easier for members and clubs by having the same point in the year for everyone to renew their membership.
Not everyone is going to start back with their club straight away so we have reduced the cost of membership for 2021/22 to reflect this. Please remember that you must renew your membership before you start back training with your club.
We are also making it easier for junior members to submit their supporting documents. All requirements remain the same, however supporting documents will be aligned to the fixed membership period, making it easier for members to manage renewals and supporting documents at the same point each year. The parental consent form will also be available to complete via an online form.
For members who renewed or purchased membership since we entered lockdown last year, we will be ending your membership and you will be refunded in full as we are bring all members into the common membership year. In doing this, you will be able to take advantage of free membership since lockdown last year, and the reduced cost for the forthcoming year.
Our membership portal is currently being updated and you will be able to renew your membership from 7 April 2021.
The above is a summary of the membership changes, but you can read the full detail (including the reduced costs) of at the below link:
Resources
Below you will find useful resources and links to support members and clubs, whether returning to training or remaining at home.
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Club Posters
We’ve produced a series of posters you can print and display around your venue when your club returns, to remind your members of the requirements at each step, and how to maintain good hygiene throughout our Return to Play:
Home printing
Professional printing
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Coaching Training Webinar
Separate to the ReActivate training and Return to Play webinar, this webinar is designed to support coaches to deliver sessions at the different steps of our Return to Play plan.
More details on this webinar will be coming soon!
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Staying Active at Home
Looking for resources to help you keep active at home? Fitness videos with the GB Team, quizzes and more available at:
