COVID 19 N.Ireland Recommendations

https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/articles/coronavirus-covid-19-regulations-guidance-what-restrictions-mean-you#toc-13

NI Executive Restrictions for Sport

1. Elite training and competition can continue, both indoors and outdoors.
2. The definition of an elite athlete is set out in the regulations(external link opens in a new window / tab)
3. Outdoor exercise is permitted in groups of up to a maximum of 15.
4. Outdoor sports events and gatherings are permitted subject to a risk assessment if more than 15 are attending and measures are in place to limit risk of virus transmission, with an upper limit of 500 on participants. An upper limit of 500 spectators is permitted regardless of venue capacity.
5. As COVID-19 is spread by respiratory droplets, group indoor sports/ exercise activities that have high levels of exertion (that is those which cause participants to get out of breath) are not permitted at this time.
6. Gyms, swimming and diving pools can open for individual training, training with a personal trainer/ coach, and classes off up to 15 that do not cause an individual to get out of breath. Contact details must be taken.
7. Indoor sport and exercise is limited to elite athletes, individual activity (including with a coach/ trainer, or carer), and non-contact activities of up to 15 people that do not cause an individual to get out of breath.
8. Physical education delivered by or for schools, pre-schools and other education providers is permitted to continue, however inter-school sporting events are not permitted.

Summary and recommendations

Paragraphs 5 & 7 are of interest to the ITC members.  

As such  the ITC recommends the following 

1. No warm ups / downs - informing students that they need to go easy as their muscles will not be warmed up for strenuous activity.
2. Teaching should be limited to activities that do not cause students to be out of breath. For example walking though patterns and line work slowly so as not to exert strain on  the lungs.
3. Zero contact policy, no sparring or any contact activity kick pads etc.
4. Bubbling - for this time period families should be in bubbles regardless of rank and stay in those bubbles.
5. Space - Making sure of the 2 meter spacing around students with a recommendation to make it further if possible.
6. Ventilation - Ventilation is key to reducing the potential particles of COVID that might be in the room.  Having a free passage off airflow can significantly reduce particle concentration. ITC documentation on Ventilation