Step 3 guidance: adult indoor game returns; some rules eased

We are pleased to confirm the return of organised indoor volleyball activity for adults from Monday, 17th May.

The change comes as England prepares to move to Step 3 of the lockdown roadmap, which allows more volleyball activity to resume.

Currently, in Step 2 of the lockdown roadmap, only organised volleyball that takes place outside and organised volleyball indoors for U18s and disabled athletes is allowed. Visit our Covid-19 support page, www.volleyballengland.org/coronavirus, for the guidance that must be followed to organise safe volleyball activity.

From Monday, 17^th May, volleyball activity – whether indoor or outdoor – must follow the updated sport-specific safety plans for the relevant discipline. Key changes are highlighted further down.

The sport-specific safety (Return to Play) plans detail important measures, such as conducting risk assessments, regular sanitising of hands and wiping of volleyballs and banning congratulatory touches, to keep participants safe.

As we move to Step 3 and can organise volleyball competitions between larger groups, please also ensure the sport-specific requirements around competitive matches are, where relevant, met. Switching mouth whistles for electronic or handheld whistles is an example of one additional measure.

Use the links below to read the updated sport-specific safety plans in full:

• Return to outdoor volleyball
• Return to beach volleyball
• Return to indoor volleyball
• Return to sitting volleyball

We must stress that it is vital for social distancing to be maintained between people who do not live together when not actively participating.

What are the new limits on the number of participants?

OUTDOOR:

• Organised volleyball, beach volleyball and sitting volleyball: The upper limit should be determined by a risk assessment. For example, organisers will have to consider whether there is enough space for participants to remain socially distant off court.
• Informal volleyball, beach volleyball and sitting volleyball: Up to 30 people can meet outdoors but must remain socially distant at all times.

INDOOR:

• Organised volleyball, beach volleyball and sitting volleyball: Please speak to your venue and conduct a risk assessment to determine the maximum occupancy of your indoor playing space. The amount of ventilation will be an important factor and should be maximised by opening doors and windows. Venue guidance will take precedence here, but in its absence our guidance is that there should be no more than 17 participants per full volleyball court (18m x 9m). If you use badminton court markings with the tramlines (13.4m x 6.1m) there should be no more than 8 participants per court (7 participants without using tramlines). This is based on the Government’s maximum occupancy rates for indoor facilities.
• Informal volleyball, beach volleyball and sitting volleyball: Indoor gatherings of either six people or two households can take place but must remain socially distant at all times.

What is the definition of ‘organised’ activity?

Activity that follows the sport-specific safety plans and is formally organised by Volleyball England OR a constituted volleyball club that is affiliated to Volleyball England OR a registered level two (or above) volleyball coach OR an organisation or charity that completes our event registration process.

In all cases, the organiser must conduct a risk assessment, appoint a Covid-19 officer and take all reasonable steps to limit the transmission of Covid-19.

We must stress that any activity that is not classed as organised (i.e. recreational) will need to follow the overall Government guidance and outdoor legal gathering limits.

The return of spectators

OUTDOOR: Remaining socially distant, spectators can gather in distinct groups of up to 30.

INDOOR: Remaining socially distant, spectators can gather in distinct groups of six people/two households. The total number of participants in that indoor space must be adhere to the venue’s maximum occupancy rate. Spectators must also wear a face covering.

Travel and venues

You can leave your home to exercise and take part in informal and organised sport and physical activity. Car sharing will be permitted in Step 3 for sport and physical activity. The guidance for safer travel will be updated ahead of Step 3 to provide further information about this.

Clubhouses and facilities that serve food and drink can open. In Step 3, both indoor and outdoor hospitality will be permitted. The guidance on hospitality settings will be updated ahead of Step 3 to provide further information about this. 

Changing rooms can also open, but participants should be encouraged to avoid or minimise use where possible.

Overnight stays for sport and physical activity is also permitted in line with social contact rules (i.e. ‘rule of six’/two households).

Webinar

To help the community return to organising volleyball with confidence, Volleyball England is organising a webinar for Monday, 17th May from 6pm until 7pm. Use the following link on the day to join: https://bit.ly/3uJWJIo

Roadmap

We are awaiting further information from Sport England and DCMS to allow us to fully understand the guidance around Step 4, when all legal limits on social contact may be removed. This is not expected until middle of June..

For more information, please read our updated FAQs or visit www.volleyballengland.org/coronavirus.

Please note this guidance is valid until Step 4 comes into force. This change will happen no earlier than Monday, 21^st June.