Coronavirus update: post-lockdown 2.0 guidance

Following the government’s announcement last week of a return of a tier system to control the spread of the Coronavirus Pandemic from Wednesday (2nd December, starting at 00.01am), England Boxing has been waiting for specific detail on the legislation and guidance to be provided by DCMS / Sport England.

The queries being raised include such things as what group sizes are permitted for under 18s, but, to date, this has not been available, with the current government advice found here.

We can confirm all clubs will be allowed to open for individual, socially distanced, non-contact training for adults and under 18s, but what is allowed for adult groups will vary depending on which local tier your venue is located in. You can check which tier you are in here.

Club should remind themselves of the England Boxing guidelines before re-opening and make sure they meet all the criteria.

Tier 1 areas

• Both adults and Under-18s can train individually in an indoor gym or facility provided the club concerned follows England Boxing guidelines as this is deemed  to make it a COVID-19-secure. This includes doing the risk assessment and that both individuals and the club follow the protocols / guidelines set-up before the second national lockdown, namely everyone stays 2m apart at all times, all equipment is thoroughly cleaned before and after each session and before and after each individual use, using a suitable sanitiser, hands are washed before and after a session, contact details are taken etc.
• The numbers of people who are allowed to attend at any one time should be based on the guidance issued previously and based on the size of the gym.
• Group exercises classes for both adults and under 18s (such as BoxFit) can continue to take place providing the rule of six is followed and social distancing is maintained at all times.
• Larger group classes are permitted for indoor disability boxing, boxing for educational purposes and supervised boxing for under-18s, with the limit on those numbers still to be confirmed.
• Contact boxing – including pad work, sparring, shows and competitions – is not permitted at this time.
• It is important that those participating follow the governments guidelines when they travel to and from the boxing club.

Tier 2 areas

• Both adults and Under-18s can train individually in an indoor gym or facility provided the club concerned follows England Boxing guidelines as this is deemed  to make it a COVID-19-secure. This includes doing the risk assessment and that both individuals and the club follow the protocols / guidelines set-up before the second national lockdown, namely everyone stays 2m apart at all times, all equipment is thoroughly cleaned before and after each session and before and after each individual use, using a suitable sanitiser, hands are washed before and after a session, contact details are taken etc.
• The numbers of people who are allowed to attend at any one time should be based on the guidance issued previously and based on the size of the gym.
• Group exercises classes for adults (such as BoxFit) can only take place if it is possible for people to avoid mixing with people they do not live with (or share a support bubble with).
• Larger group classes are permitted for indoor disability boxing, boxing for educational purposes and supervised boxing for under-18s, with the limit on those numbers still to be confirmed.
• Contact boxing – including pad work, sparring, shows and competitions – is not permitted at this time.
• It is important that those participating follow the governments guidelines when they travel to and from the boxing club.

Tier 3 areas

• Both adults and Under-18s can train individually in an indoor gym or facility provided the club concerned follows England Boxing guidelines as this is deemed  to make it a COVID-19-secure. This includes doing the risk assessment and that both individuals and the club follow the protocols / guidelines set-up before the second national lockdown, namely everyone stays 2m apart at all times, all equipment is thoroughly cleaned before and after each session and before and after each individual use, using a suitable sanitiser, hands are washed before and after a session, contact details are taken etc.
• The numbers of people who are allowed to attend at any one time should be based on the guidance issued previously and based on the size of the gym.
• Group exercises classes for adults (such as BoxFit) cannot take place.
• Group classes are still permitted for indoor disability boxing, boxing for educational purposes and supervised boxing for under-18s, with the limit on those numbers still to be confirmed.
• Contact boxing – including pad work, sparring, shows and competitions – is not permitted at this time.
• It is important that those participating follow the governments guidelines when they travel to and from the boxing club.

Tier 4 areas

• Clubs must close, as instructed by the government.

Additional questions and answers

Can you travel from one area in one tier to another area in another tier to train?

No. People are advised not to travel into other tier three areas, especially if they are in a tier 3 or tier 4 area.

Are face covers required?

No. As before, face coverings are not required whilst training in tiers 1 to 3, but social distancing of 2m must be maintained. Government guidance should be followed on use of face masks when traveling to and from the gym.

Can I travel together with another member, who is not from the same household, to train at a venue?

No. It is recommended that people travel to and from their venue only with members of their own household.

When will pad work and sparring be re-introduced?

England Boxing continues to push for the reintroduction of pad work with safety mitigations, as explained in the Q&A here. We will let clubs and members know if there is any change.

Can I still get funding for the time our gym was closed?

You can click here to find out how to get Financial Assistance, or contact one or our regional Club Support Officers.

Thank you for your ongoing support

We would like to take this opportunity thank Clubs and Members for their excellent cooperation during the second national lockdown by the government and the subsequent move into the tiering system.

We know that shutting clubs’ doors when instructed has been physically and mentally challenging for many at an already difficult time, but your continued compliance will ultimately help to protect your family and friends and play a significant part in reducing the number of deaths and serious illnesses in your respective communities.