Return to play guidelines
Safely get back into your sport
As we re-open our centres, we can't wait to help you get back into the sports you love.
There may be a few changes to the way your sports run though and it's important you read through the guidelines before you attend. Please find links below to each sport.
Unsure which sports have restarted at your local centre? Find your area's re-opening information here. Our re-opening guidance will still apply to the centres that you attend, so please take time to read through our FAQs.
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Hockey | Indoor Bowls | Martial Arts
 Netball | Outdoor Bowls | Squash
Table Tennis | Tennis and Padel | Tenpin Bowling
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Athletics
- Clubs, groups and coaching/leading activity can now take place in unlimited numbers if it is within a COVID-19 secure environment, otherwise the limit of groups of 6 (including a coach or leader) remains.Â
- Each coach is able to train 12 people at one time so in a club/running group setting, multiple coaching/training groups can be run if the requisite number of coaches/trainers are present.Â
Visit England Athletics for latest updates
Badminton
- You can now play in groups of 6 with social distancing. This includes full court singles and doubles, with multiple groups allowed in a hall if you're following venue guidelines.Â
- Each coach is able to train 5 players people at one time, but don't share rackets and regularly clean your hands and equipment.Â
Visit Badminton England for latest updates
BasketballÂ
- You can now play with up to 30 people per court including players, coaches, support staff and officials. Everyone should complete pre-play screening questionnaires and have their temperature taken outside the venue.
- Train in small groups or bubbles where possible and contact training should not last for more than 20 minutes, with cleaning breaks in between.Â
- For the full guidance please visit Basketball England's return to play document.
Visit Basketball England for latest updates
Football
- There are extensive rules for the resumption of Football depending on your level and venue. Please consult the guides below:
Visit The FA links for latest updates
Gymnastics
- Social distancing must be maintained during Gymnastics, as such bubbling and close contact within groups is not allowed unless athletes are from the same household. This also means that coaches and gymnasts cannot have contact currently.Â
- For unstructured sessions, supervising adults should accompany each participant to ensure all relevant social distancing is followed.Â
Visit British Gymnastics for latest updates
Hockey
- You will need to regularly hand sanitise, wear your playing kit and self-assess for Covid symptoms before playing. Whilst outside of play, socially distance at 2m in groups of 6 maximum
- During play take free hits and penalty corners promptly, only touch the ball with your equipment, do not handshake or celebrate close to other players and avoid excessive shouting.
Visit England Hockey for latest updates
Indoor Bowls
- You will need to wear a face covering at all times, until you leave the premises.
You are permitted to remove your face covering when on the rink bowling with 2 metre social distancing in place, when partaking in exercise, or due to a physical or mental illness or impairment, or disability. - If you are using the social distancing of 1 metre, rather than 2 metre, then the players need to wear a face covering to provide a mitigating action to reduce the risk of transmission.
Martial Arts
- Judo
You will need to come dressed ready for your session, work in a minimum area of 3m x 3m with a maximum of 15 Judoka on any matted area. British Judo recommend you wash all of your kit at 60 degrees or as per manufacturer guidelines.Â
Return to play document - Karate
You will need to come dressed ready to participate and maintain 2m social distancing at all times. Mats and flooring will be cleaned frequently. For more information please speak directly to your Karate instructor. - Taekwondo
You will need to come dressed ready to participate, maintain 2m social distancing at all times, reducing bag and pad usage. Mats and flooring will be cleaned frequently.
Return to play document
Netball
- You will be require to come to your activity ready to participate and will need to hand sanitise frequently during training and matches.
- There are currently rule modifications for both training and match days which are found in the Return to play document.
- You can now play with up to 30 people per court including players, coaches, support staff and officials. Non-playing team benches, coaches, officials and first aiders should wear face masks for indoor activity.
- Train in small groups where possible with frequent cleaning breaks.Â
Visit England Netball for latest updates
Outdoor Bowls
- You can play lawn bowls where facilities have reopened, but you can only take part in these activities by yourself, or with members of your household or with no more than 5 other people outside of your household, as long as you are able to maintain social distancing.
- Try to avoid sharing equipment and frequently clean hands where this is not possible and where 2m social distancing cannot be maintained please remember the 1m plus mitigations rule (eg. face coverings).Â
Visit Bowls England for latest updates
Squash
- Squash bubbles have been introduced which means a maximum of 6 players within a bubble with modifications. This means only 2 players on court at one time, play best of three games, play first to 11 points or sudden death at 10-all, at 6 points wipe excessive sweat and sanitise hands and ball, the same player should serve for each half of the game, protective eyewear is recommended and shouting or wiping hands on walls is not allowed.Â
Visit England Squash for latest updates
Table tennis
- You will need to regularly hand sanitise, wear your playing kit and wash or wipe balls with disinfectant regularly.
- During play, take free hits and penalty corners promptly, only touch the ball with your equipment, do not handshake or celebrate close to other players and avoid excessive shouting.
Visit Table Tennis England for latest updates
Tennis and PadelÂ
- Please arrive ready to play, following best practice for sanitising hands and equipment. Players should still avoid using their hands to pick up tennis balls from other courts where possible - use your racquet/foot to return them as those players
may have decided to use their own marked tennis balls - Both singles play and doubles play is permitted with people from outside of your household, as long as you remain 2 metres apart as far as possible –
meaning that four people from different households can play doubles. For coached sessions, there is a maximum of 15 participants. - For guidance on tennis lessons at Graves Health and Sports Centre, click here.
Visit The LTA for latest updates
Tenpin Bowling
- Customers are advised to wear their own shoes whilst bowling, with exceptions being high heels and open-toed shoes. Please follow all sanitising guidance and disposable gloves are available to wear whilst bowling.
- Every other lane will be in operation and you will only be allowed to bowl with up to 6 members of your bubble or household.Â
- For more information on tenpin bowling restarting at Farnborough Bowl, click here.
Volleyball
- You will be require to come to your activity ready to participate and will need to hand sanitise frequently during training and matches.
- Specific guidance for both training and match days are found in the Return to play document below.
- Non-playing team benches, coaches, officials and first aiders should wear face masks for indoor activity.
- Train in small groups where possible with frequent cleaning breaks.Â
Visit Volleyball England for latest updates
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