Following the changes to restrictions announced on Tuesday 22 September, netball remains at stage 4 of the Return to Play Roadmap and must continue to adhere to the Government changes outlined here.
To support you to understand the changes to restrictions, our Restart Guidance has been updated and can be downloaded here.
Any Walking Netball activity must also follow additional guidance which can be found here.
Our FAQs have been updated and are available here.
Here is England Netball’s Return to Play Community Netball Roadmap (click on the image to expand the roadmap):
Whether you’re a COVID-19 Officer, club or league committee member, player, official, coach or host, please take the time to read the below information on how the latest restrictions impact clubs, leagues, pathway and programmes.
Clubs
- For U18s, modified training can continue both indoors and outdoors in line with stage 4a of our Return to Play Roadmap in groups of up to 30 per court.
- For those aged 18 and over, modified training can continue to take place in groups of up to 30 per court outdoors in line with stage 4a of our Return to Play Roadmap. However, if indoors, the group must be organised into discrete bubbles of six. Multiple bubbles of six are allowed per court but bubbles should not mix within the training session and there must be sufficient space to ensure bubbles do not come into close contact with one another.
- Coaches are not included in the bubbles of six however must maintain social distancing and not mix cross bubble. Coaches, officials and first aiders are included in the maximum of 30 per court.
- Current Government guidance stipulates that as soon as a player reaches the age of 18, they will be classified as an adult (18 and over) and must adhere to bubbles of six when playing netball indoors.
- Any indoor training that involves both U18s and those 18 and over must take place in bubbles of six.
- Disabled people aged 18 and over are exempt from the indoor team sport restrictions and may continue to follow stage 4a of our Return to Play Roadmap both indoors and outdoors.
Leagues
- For U18s, competition using the modified rules can continue both indoors and outdoors in line with stage 4b of our Return to Play Roadmap. As soon as a player reaches the age of 18, they must adhere to the indoor team sport restrictions for those 18 and over.
- For those aged 18 and over, competition using the modified rules may take place outdoors only.
- Any competition which involves both U18s and those 18 and over may only take place outdoors.
- Tournaments are not permitted indoors or outdoors for all age groups.
Pathway
Pathway activity for those up to the aged 18 or over is not impacted by the Government restrictions.
Programmes
Planning is underway for the commencement of England Netball programmes. The following programmes will be able to take place outdoors or in bubbles of 6 indoors:
- Back to Netball
- Walking Netball – all Walking Netball activity must follow additional guidance found here
- Netball Now
All programmes should be run in line with stage 4a of our Return to Play Roadmap, with the exception of Walking Netball which currently remains at Stage 3. Careful consideration should be given before moving any activity that was planned to take place indoors to an outdoor netball court. A partnership agreement is required to deliver any of the programmes above. Find out more here.