Coronavirus update: No changes in Covid-19 rules and regulations

England Boxing can confirm that there will be no changes to the Covid-19 rules and regulations in amateur boxing following the government’s decision to delay the final easing of restrictions by four weeks.

It was hoped that all existing restrictions – including social distancing – would be removed on Monday 21st June and that the country would move to Step Four of the lockdown-easing road map.

However, a surge in cases caused by the dominant Delta variant means Prime Minster Boris Johnson yesterday announced this will now not happen until Monday 19th July at the earliest, with England remaining at Step 3 until then.

As a result, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and Sport England have confirmed that all existing restrictions around amateur boxing must remain in place.

You can find details of what is and is not permitted in the England Boxing Return to Boxing Framework, but, for the avoidance of doubt, all members are reminded of the following key points:

• Children (defined by the government as under-18 before 31st August 2020) remain at phase 2, which means they may do pad work and spar providing they follow guidance in the Return to Boxing Framework, but they cannot take part in competition, including shows.
• Adults remain at phase 1, which means they may do pad work providing they follow guidance in the Return to Boxing Framework, but they cannot spar or take part in competition, including shows.
• Coaches must wear protective equipment for pad work, as described in the Return to Boxing Framework.
• Inter-club sparring is not permitted. This is to ensure boxers remain within their own club bubble and prevents widespread mixing.
• Permission to box abroad will not be granted until the government allows it under the International travel regulations, and competitive boxing is permitted in this country.

Level 1 coaching courses

As a result of the continuation of the government’s Covid-19 restrictions beyond 21st June, all Level 1 courses planned to restart in June and July will have to be rescheduled because of the increased risk caused by face-to-face contact.

All people who have booked on a Level 1 course will receive email notification of this within the next seven days, with dates of when their course has been moved to. It is anticipated that courses will be put back by around three weeks.

If a course attendee cannot make the rescheduled date, they will be given the option to re-book on another course.

“We are extremely disappointed to have to put courses back and were looking forward to getting back restarted, but we have no other option given the government’s decision to postpone a full unlocking of restrictions,” said Holly Pearce, England Boxing’s Training Course Coordinator.

“By moving all courses back, those people who had priority booking previously – by either having been part-way through a course or having booked a place on one before the onset of Covid-19 – will again be among the first to take courses when restarted.

“Providing we get the go-ahead from the government, courses will restart on the weekend of 24th and 25th July, meaning the delay is kept to a minimum.”

Level 1 refresher coaching courses

Because Level 1 refresher courses are now to be delivered online, these will continue to be staged, as planned, from mid-July.

More details on these courses will be announced shortly.

Level 2 coaching courses

As previously detailed, Level 2 coaching courses will follow the resumption of Level 1 coaching courses, with details to be announced when available.

Access to funding

England Boxing has pulled together the financial assistance available for clubs during the Coronavirus outbreak, which you can access by clicking here.

If you have any questions or need support regarding this, then please contact the Club Support Officer for your region.

Enquiries

If you have any questions or queries, please email enquiries@englandboxing.org