You can now exercise alone, with members of your household, or with up to 5 other people from outside your household. From 4 July, up to two households are permitted to gather in groups of more than 6 people indoors or outdoors, provided members of different households can follow social distancing guidelines. Otherwise, gatherings of more than 6 people indoors or outdoors continue not to be permitted, unless this is essential for work purposes.

Single adult households are now able to form a support bubble with one other household. For the purposes of this guidance, all references to ‘households’ also include their support bubble.

Social distancing guidelines should be followed between people from different households wherever possible. From 4 July, this means a distance of 2m between people from different households, or 1m plus mitigations (such as face coverings or avoiding face-to-face contact) where 2m is not possible.

Check in advance if the facilities you want to use have reopened.

When exercising in the countryside remember to follow the countryside code and act responsibly.

If possible, hand sanitise at intervals if your sport or recreation means you have to touch communal surfaces.

Once you are home remember to wash your hands.

Try to avoid using shared equipment such as racquets and bats.

If catering facilities are open at the venue (for takeaway items) respect social distancing whilst queuing for food and drink. Do not share food items, cups, plates or eating utensils with anyone else.

If you are symptomatic or living in a household with someone else who has a possible or confirmed COVID-19 infection you should remain at home and you should not have visitors to your household.

If you have been asked to isolate by NHS Test and Trace because you are a contact of a known COVID-19 case, do not exercise outside your own home or garden and do not exercise with others; you can spread the virus to others even if you never get symptoms.

It is important, as more sports and activities restart, that absolutely everyone is able to access these opportunities. This includes disabled people, for whom the health and well-being benefits of activity can be particularly important.

What facilities are open

Outdoor sports courts and other outdoor sporting activities have been permitted to reopen if those responsible for them are ready to do so and they can do so safely, following COVID-19 Secure guidelines.

From 4 July outdoor gyms and playgrounds can open, as can clubhouse bars and restaurants (see below for more details). Indoor facilities should be kept closed, apart from toilets and throughways. Outdoor and indoor swimming pools will also remain closed to the public.

Travelling for physical activity

You can travel for physical activity. Ideally use your nearest, local appropriate venue to reduce pressure on transport infrastructure. But you can travel to outdoor open space irrespective of distance. You shouldn’t travel with someone from outside your household unless you can practise social distancing – for example by cycling. It is not possible to practice effective social distancing in small vehicles. You should consider all other forms of transport before using public transport.

To help keep yourself and your fellow passengers safe, you should not travel if you: are experiencing any coronavirus symptoms, are self-isolating as a result of coronavirus symptoms or as a result of being in contact of a confirmed case of COVID-19, or sharing a household with somebody with symptoms, or are clinically extremely vulnerable.

If you have been asked to isolate by NHS Test and Trace because you are a contact of a known COVID-19 case, do not exercise outside your own home or garden and do not exercise with others; you can spread the virus to others even if you never get symptoms

See the government’s safer travel guidance for passengers for further information.

Clinically vulnerable people (such as people aged 70 and over)

The advice for clinically vulnerable groups has changed. If you are in this group you could be at higher risk of severe illness from coronavirus. Although you can meet people outdoors and, from 4 July, indoors, you should be especially careful and be diligent about social distancing and hand hygiene.

If you are classified as clinically extremely vulnerable you should follow the guidance for those shielding. This has been updated to advise that you can now consider taking safe exercise outdoors and meeting up with one person outside your household, always maintaining social distancing and robust hand and respiratory hygiene.

If you have children with you

You can bring your children with you to exercise. You can exercise with members of your household, and it’s important that children have as many chances to be as active as possible.

But please remember that if you have children with you, you are responsible for supervising them at all times and in line with social distancing guidelines. Children are not always good at hand hygiene; the virus can be spread by touching contaminated surfaces. Therefore pay special attention to children’s hand hygiene.

Using sport facilities

From 13 May, sports Courts including basketball and tennis courts, bowling greens and playing spaces like golf courses (public and private) were able to reopen. Other outdoor sports facilities such as angling were also allowed to resume.

All of these activities must only be undertaken alone, with members of your household or, providing you are following social distancing guidelines, with up to but no more than 5 other people from outside your household. From 4 July, 2 households can also meet, provided members of different households can follow social distancing guidelines.

It is important that when facilities reopen, they ensure that disabled people and those with access requirements are able to safely access the sports and activities on offer in line with social distancing guidelines.

Timetable for reopening

For the facilities that are now allowed to open, each venue, including council-owned sports facilities, will make their own decisions about when their facilities are ready to open and can be operated safely. Please check ahead on websites and social media to make sure before you arrive at a facility that it has reopened and what advice they are offering users, for example if there is a booking system.

The government has also published high level guidance for elite athletes and professional sportsmen and women, in order to allow them to resume performance training and competition.

Government is working with National Governing Bodies of sport to determine what additional and specific guidance may be needed in future.

Sharing equipment

It is a decision for facility managers whether or not they hire out equipment.

We would expect them to follow sensible precautions and clean in between users, and to follow COVID-19 Secure guidelines.

Where possible we recommend that you limit sharing of equipment, for example you should use your own tennis racquet, golf club or basketball, but if you do, practise strict hand hygiene.

If you are sharing equipment, including balls, you should wash your hands thoroughly before and after use.

Changing rooms

Indoor facilities, apart from toilets and through-ways should be kept closed. When accessing and leaving toilets you should wipe down areas of contact, wash hands thoroughly and use paper towels where possible and avoid touching any surfaces in transit.

Personal trainers and coaching

Personal training or coaching is permitted if outside and if people are able to follow social distancing guidelines and provided no more than 6 people from different households are gathering.

Under social distancing guidelines parents can take their children to a coaching or training session, as long as the gathering does not exceed 6 people from different households. Any sports coaches or trainers undertaking 1-1 sessions should ensure they are complying with relevant National Governing Body Safeguarding Policies and Procedures and conduct a thorough risk assessment before engaging in any sessions. This should include particular consideration for under 18s and vulnerable adults.

Bars and restaurants

Bars and restaurants, including any food or drink facilities inside a clubhouse can open from 4 July, in accordance with the latest guidance

Toilets and through-ways may be kept open, but guidance on hygiene should be followed.

Individual sports

Athletics

Athletics tracks can re-open, but this is at the discretion of the facility and must be done in a way that adheres to guidance on social distancing.

Stay Safe!