New guidance announced for athletics and running following latest national lockdown restrictions
4th November 2020
Following the UK Government’s new national COVID-19 restrictions and the publication of bespoke instructions from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS), we have revised the current guidance for athletics and running. Despite us lobbying DCMS for certain exemptions, this new guidance will apply from Thursday 5 November 2020 until Wednesday 2 December 2020.
From this Thursday [5 November 2020], the UK Government is requiring everyone in England to stay at home, except for specific purposes, and not gather with other people who do not live in the same household, again except for specific purposes. As a result, the impact on athletics and running will include suspension of the following (we may update this guidance as and when more information from DCMS becomes available, for example, in relation to U18s / disability provision):
- All indoor club group coaching activity
- All outdoor club group coaching activity
- All indoor track and field competitions
- All outdoor competition (track and field, cross country, road, trail, fell and multiterrain)
- All face-to-face coach and officials’ education
What can take place?
The UK Government have confirmed that you can exercise with people from your own household OR with one other person.
For athletics and running this means;
- You can train with your household or one other person in a public outdoor space
- 1:1 coaching can take place in a public outdoor space following social distancing measures (Please note: We are seeking clarity on 1:1 coaching with U18s and disability athletes/runners)
- Virtual training sessions can be delivered by qualified coaches
- Virtual competitions will still take place, and a list of virtual road races can be found here England Athletics will continue to coordinate the Weekly 30