Training

Scottish Government household number rules apply for exercise, sport and recreation in Level 4. Outdoor sporting bubbles should not operate in a Level 4 area except for non-contact activity being delivered to children under 12 years of age.

The number of participants allowed to take part in organised indoor sport or physical activity should follow Scottish Government guidance on the opening of sport and leisure facilities and sport specific SGB Guidance.

Restrictions on the number of people who can take part in sport, exercise and recreation has been updated and is as follows;

  • A maximum of 15 people (12 years or over) can meet outdoors for sport, exercise or recreation purposes if 2m physical distancing is maintained, before, during and after the activity.  Participants should leave facilities immediately following exercise. NOTE: Outdoor contact sport is temporarily permitted (5-25 April) for under 18s only, to allow activity to start.
    • From 26 April only under 12 outdoor contact sport and activity will be permitted in Level 4 areas.
  • Group sport, exercise or training activity can be undertaken by young people or adults over 12 years of age in a Level 4 area when following restricted numbers.
  • Children under the age of 12 years can meet outdoors for sport, exercise or recreational. Children under 12 years can therefore take part in non-contact group activity.  In such circumstances the number of coaches involved must not exceed household limits i.e. maximum of two for any given session.
  • Read and follow general guidance.
  • Exemption available for professional and performance sport.

Training numbers (Level 4)

  • Under 12s – 27 players + 3 coaches. (1 to 10 coaching ratio) per 1/2 pitch.
  • Under 18s – 15 maximum including coaches. (1 to 10 coaching ratio for U18s) per 1/4 pitch
  • Over 18s – 15 maximum including coaches per 1/3 pitch.
  • Indoor maximum bubble of 15 at all levels.

Coaches

Getting Coaches Ready for Sport provides a 4-stage approach/checklist to further support coaches to plan and deliver safe sessions.

The local protection level in place for sport and physical activity will dictate what activity can be coached, indoors and outdoors and to whom in that area.

Coaches can take multiple indoor sessions per day, however the numbers allowed in each session will depend upon the protection level in place.

  • Coaches must maintain 2 metres physical distancing.
  • Coaches operating within clubs and facilities should liaise with the relevant COVID Officer before undertaking coaching and all sporting or physical activity must adhere to operator and relevant SGB Guidance.
  • Create a register adhering to maximum pitch numbers.
  • Plan and risk assess for the session in advance with players observing 2 metres physical distancing for non-contact activity.
  • Apply cleaning procedures for equipment.
  • Ensure a 2 metre buffer zone when splitting the pitch.
  • Wear a mask indoor at all times
  • Physical distance at all times
  • Where possible stay off the pitch.
  • Read and follow general guidance.
  • Coaches working with children should familiarise themselves with the additional considerations developed by Children 1st:  Child Wellbeing and Protection Considerations.

Umpire

  • Follow all Scottish Hockey; Scottish Government; club and facility guidelines.
  • Umpires should maintain two metres physical distancing.
  • No matches can be played in regions at Level 4.
  • Further advice for umpires can be found HERE.
  • Read and follow general guidance.

Transport

  • Where possible travel by walking; running; or cycling.
  • Avoid car sharing with people outside your extended household wherever possible.
  • Do not use public transport except for essential purposes. Face coverings are compulsory.

Travel Guidance

Travel guidance outlined by the Scottish Government should always be followed.   Further information on what travel is permitted in the five protection levels for each local authority area is available at Coronavirus (COVID-19): local protection levels .  Specific information on car sharing is available from Transport Scotland:  advice on how to travel safely.

Those living in a Level 4 local authority area can travel within that area to undertake outdoor sport, exercise and recreation including walking, cycling, golf or running that starts and finishes at the same place (or up to 5 miles from the boundary of their local authority area for informal exercise), as long as they abide by the rules on meeting other households.

  • Adults should not travel out of your local government area, if it is at Level 4, to undertake organised sport, activity or exercise.
  • Adults can travel out of their local government area for informal physical activity, not for organised sport.
  • U18s can travel to their club’s normal location of training  This can be by car to the place of the activity.
  • Teams should not travel in or out of levels 3 or 4.
  • Keep journeys within the area to an absolute minimum.
  • Coaches can travel for paid work or to provide voluntary or charitable services.
  • Travel allowed through Level 3 & 4 areas by road or public transport if journey begins & ends outside area.

Travel guidance outlined by the Scottish Government should always be followed.   Further information on what travel is permitted in the five protection levels for each local authority area is available at Coronavirus (COVID-19): local protection levels .

Specific information on car sharing is available from Transport Scotland:  advice on how to travel safely.

International travel

Travellers arriving from certain countries overseas may be required, by law, to quarantine by self-isolation for 14 days after arrival.

If you travel back from a country, which requires quarantine, to another part of the UK, but your final destination is Scotland, you must follow the rules that are in place in Scotland.

Guidance on international travel and quarantine.

Travel between Scotland and the rest of the UK

Unrestricted travel is allowed both within Scotland and between Scotland and England, Wales, Northern Ireland, the Channel Islands, and the Isle of Man – with the exception of any areas of Scotland in Level 3* or Level 4). Travel restrictions will change between Scotland and the rest of the world – see international travel section below.

(* Depending on the state of the epidemic in Moray, that local authority area may be in Level 3 from 17 May.) These rules may be changed depending on the state of the pandemic in Scotland and in other countries. Please check back here for up to date information before you travel.

 

Public Transport

Transport providers will have procedures to promote the safety of customers and staff, but it is an individual’s responsibility to comply with guidance.

On public transport you must by law wear a face covering, unless you are exempt, and comply with the physical distancing measures that are in place.

If you can walk or cycle please do as this will save space on public transport for those who need it.

 

Car Sharing

You should avoid sharing a vehicle with people who are not members of your household or extended household as much as possible.

If you have no other option, you should:

  • keep to small groups of people
  • keep your distance and take care entering and exiting the vehicle
  • sit as far apart as possible in the vehicle, avoiding face-to-face
  • maintain good ventilation by keeping the car windows open
  • wear a face covering, unless you are exempt
  • clean your hands before and after your journey
  • if the vehicle is your responsibility, clean the door handles and other areas that people touch

If you regularly share transport whether it is a car or minibus or other private vehicle, try and share with the same people each time.

See: information on safe travel.

Outdoor competitions

  • Adult competitions are NOT allowed in regions at Level 4.
  • U18 competitions are NOT allowed in regions at Level 4.

Spectators

  • No spectating should take place other than where a parent/guardian is supervising a child or vulnerable adult. In all cases physical distancing should always be followed.

Indoor Sport & Leisure Facilities 

Indoor sport and leisure facilities including club houses, changing rooms and activity areas should remain closed at Level 4. Exemptions are available as noted below.

Public Toilets

  • Operators may open indoor toilets for public use if they follow Scottish Government Opening Public Toilets Guidelines.
  • Public toilets are defined as any toilets accessible to the public. The opening of toilets should be accompanied by local risk assessment, and control measures should be proactively monitored by operators.
  • All appropriate cleaning procedures and equipment/disinfectant should be provided as per Health Protection Scotland guidance.

Storage Areas & Lockers

  • One off access to storage areas and locker rooms is permitted to retrieve personal equipment which is essential for an activity to be undertaken.  Personal equipment should not be returned to these areas.
  • Where equipment cannot reasonably be taken home and is stored on site, such as kayaks, boats etc, access to retrieve and return such equipment to storage areas is allowed if appropriate risk assessments are undertaken.
  • Risk assessments should include mitigating actions to reduce the risk of virus transmission such as individual access, booking slots and cleaning/hygiene protocols.

Club houses

Clubhouses and sports facilities which provide catering and bar services, can operate providing they adhere to Scottish Government guidance appropriate to the protection level in which they are operating.  Further information is available at Coronavirus (COVID-19): tourism and hospitality sector guidance.

Retail units operated by sports facility operators may reopen provided all specific Scottish Government guidance for retailers appropriate to the protection level in which they are operating is in place and adhered to.  Further information from the Scottish Government is available at Retail Sector Guidance.

Consider whether meetings and training must be completed in person or whether alternative approaches can be used. If it is essential that meetings and training takes place in person, Scottish Government guidance for general workplaces must be followed and a risk assessment should be completed.

Where changing rooms and showering facilities are to be used specific guidance relating to use of ‘Changing and Showers’ is available at Getting Your Facilities Fit for Sport.  This is applicable at all levels where facilities remain open.

Operators may open public toilets if they follow the guidelines outlined on the Scottish Government website Opening Public Toilets Guidelines

  • Club houses without a bar cannot open in level 4.
  • Club houses with a bar cannot open in level 4.
  • Read and follow general guidance.