Every part of England is now under the same COVID-19 (coronavirus) restrictions which will apply until Wednesday 2 December.

The new restrictions have many implications for sport and physical activity, but the main things to know are:

Outdoors

• People can go outdoors to be active as many times as they like, either on their own, with their household or support bubble, or on their own with one person from another household while keeping two metres apart.
• Children who are under school age if they're with a parent/carer, or people dependent on round-the-clock care, do not count towards the limit of two people from different households meeting outside.
• Outdoor public places, such as parks, the countryside and public gardens can stay open, as can playgrounds.
• All organised community outdoor sport is not permitted, meaning facilities including outdoor basketball and tennis courts, outdoor gyms and pools, golf courses, archery, driving and shooting ranges are closed.

Indoors

• Indoor sport and leisure facilities, such as leisure centres and gyms, swimming pools, tennis and basketball courts, fitness and dance studios, climbing walls, archery and shooting ranges, are closed.
• People cannot meet indoors with family or friends unless they're part of their household or support bubble.

Children

• All children's grassroots sport outside of school – both indoor and outdoor – have stopped, but schools and nurseries will stay open and activity will be permitted within these settings during school hours, with playgrounds staying open.
• Schools can work with external coaches, clubs and organisations for curricular activities where they're satisfied it's safe to do so during school hours.
• Out-of-school activities, including wraparound care, may continue to operate if their primary purpose is providing registered childcare. They can also continue when offering other childcare activities, where this is reasonably necessary, to enable parents to:
  • work or search for work
  • undertake training or education.

Schools should consider carefully how such arrangements can operate within their wider protective measures.

See the Sport England website for more FAQs: Sport England FAQs

Many believe that the power of sport and activity to support people's physical and mental health has never been more important than it is right now – we believe this.

To help you, as a sport club and/or activity provider, inspire and motivate the people in your communities to continue to be physically active, Sport England have produced an Autumn and Winter Activity Toolkit that's packed with resources and information.

Funding, such as that from Sport England is available to many groups, clubs and organisations who need financial support. See more on our Support for the Sector page.

Guidance is correct at time of publishing, 9th November 2020, and will be reviewed should government guidance change.