Are fans allowed? Can I travel? Guidelines for the return to outdoor grassroots sports revealed

Outdoor grassroots sport will be able to return from Monday (March 29) - with the Government updating the public on what can and can't go ahead. The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport have this evening issued guidelines for participants, parents and fans. From March 29 groups of up to six people or two households can meet outside. But the rules are different for outdoor sports. "Outdoor sport for adults and children is permitted in larger numbers, provided it is formally organised (for example, by a national governing body or a qualified instructor," the guidance stated. "Organised sport and supervised children’s sport and physical activity can take place outdoors in any number, but people should maintain the rules on social contact before and after sporting activity. This applies to organised outdoor (individual and team) sports, outdoor exercise classes, organised sports participation events and outdoor licensed physical activity. "Sports which require participants to be in frequent close proximity to each other (such as rugby league, rugby union, netball, contact combat sports) should adapt both training and game-play to reduce the level of contact so far as reasonably possible and take steps to minimise risk." Unfortunately, spectators will not be allowed to watch unless they are carers for people with disabilities, or adults needed to supervise under 18s in a safeguarding role. Among the outdoor sport facilities able to re-open are: outdoor gyms, swimming pools, courts, pitches, golf courses (including mini-golf), water sports venues, climbing walls, driving and shooting ranges, riding arenas at riding centres and archery venues. However, outdoor skating rinks and trampolining parks must remain closed. Further guidance states that changing rooms should not be used, except by people with disabilities, although toilet facilities can be accessed. People with disabilities can participate in organised outdoor and indoor sport without being subject to social contact limits. Non-disabled people are not permitted to participate, except where necessary to enable the activity to take place (such as a carer or coach helping the disabled person to exercise). Guidance for travelling states: "You should minimise travel wherever possible, but you can travel to exercise and take part in informal and organised sport, where necessary. "You should not stay away from home overnight for sport and physical activity." You can read the guidelines in full here.