The Prime Minister’s announcements on Sunday night will have significant implications for the sport and physical activity sector.
We know the restrictions that were originally put in place in late March to combat coronavirus (Covid-19) have had a profound impact on community sport.
With activity literally stopped overnight, many clubs and organisations have been dealing with the significant challenges that created and the financial implications of lockdown. Alongside that, it has undoubtedly led to a change in many people’s relationship with physical activity,
That’s why even a small change to the restrictions on our way of life, and an increase in the amount of physical activity we are all able to do, is to be welcomed.
I know keeping up with what can and can’t currently be done can be confusing, so we’ve updated our website to explain what the new regulations coming into force tomorrow mean for us in practical terms.
These changes represent significant steps forward for many sports and activities and it will be great to see those like golf, tennis and watersports resume in at least some form.
While many of us will be desperate to get going again, however, it’s vital all organisations thoroughly understand the guidelines and create detailed and robust plans before they even think of restarting.
It’s also important national governing bodies, sports clubs and community organisations communicate with their members so they clearly understand their rights and responsibilities and are reassured that a more widespread return to sport will be as safe as possible.
Failure to do this could see the public return too soon, which could see the infection rate rise and a harsher lockdown re-imposed, or people feeling too anxious to return to organised sport and the long-term problems this would cause. Both would represent retrograde steps from where we are now.
