Coronavirus Update 23rd September – Action Required

Its another round of changes to the response to the coronavirus pandemic and this update provides you with all the latest on British Wrestling’s guidance and response. This update includes an action for all clubs so please make sure to read up on what is needed. 

First and foremost please keep safe and continue to abide by the current restrictions in order for us to get back to wrestling as soon as we can. We continue to work with other combat sports to gain dispensation for contact sport from government. We understand your frustration and that you are missing the contact that is so integral to our sport. 

No Change to Activity Delivery

Following the announcements yesterday there is no change to Return to the Mat Guidance for clubs in England this means:

• Solo practice or with members of the same household
• Mat numbers restricted by mat size and government guidelines
• No competition
• Adherence to social distancing rules

As an individual sport, the announcement yesterday of the rule of 6 applying to team sports does not apply, clubs can continue to deliver sessions to larger groups in compliance with:

• Mat Size: to ensure that those on the mat can adequately socially distance
• Facility Size: minimum 100sqft per person including all useable space
• Coach Ratio: 1 coach per 10 participants

Full details of the Return to the Mat guidance can be found here. For guidance on activity in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland please contact Scottish Wrestling, Welsh Wrestling or Wrestling NI, respectively. 

Test and Trace Action Required

We would like to draw your attention to the Government’s recently updated guidance on test and trace, and specifically a new section on the use of QR codes. This has important implications for all British Wrestling clubs and requires action.

By maintaining records of staff, customers and visitors, and displaying an official NHS QR poster, you will help NHS Test and Trace to identify and notify people who may have been exposed to the virus.

You must register for an official NHS QR code and display the official NHS QR poster from 24 September 2020.

The NHS COVID-19 app has a feature that allows users to quickly and easily ‘check in’ to your venue by scanning the code. The information stays on the user’s phone. In England, you do not have to ask people who choose to ‘check in’ using the official NHS QR code to provide their contact details. If there is an outbreak associated with a venue, a message will be sent to the relevant app users with the necessary public health advice.

This will help to avoid the reintroduction of lockdown measures and support the country to return to, and maintain, a more normal way of life.

In addition to maintaining and sharing records where requested and displaying an official NHS QR poster, you must also continue to follow other government guidance to minimise the transmission of COVID-19.

This includes maintaining a safe working environment and following social distancing guidelines.

The relevant settings this applies to are:

• clubs providing team sporting activities
• facilities for use by elite and professional sportspeople (including sports stadia)
• indoor sport and leisure centres
• cafes, including workplace canteens
• bars, including bars in hotels or members’ clubs

Please note this updated guidance comes into effect from the 24th September and failure to comply will result in Government issued fines.

Full information on test and trace can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/maintaining-records-of-staff-customers-and-visitors-to-support-nhs-test-and-trace

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR AN OFFICIAL NHS QR CODE

Competitions Cancelled

A meeting of the Sport Technical Committee was held on Thursday 17^th September. At the meeting the decision was taken to cancel all competition until the end of the year. This means the cancellation of:

• British Senior Championships (FS) on 31^st October 2020
• British Senior Championships (GR & Vets) on 1^st November 2020
• British Junior Championships on 7^th November 2020
• 5th Aspull Warriors on 15^th November 2020

The committee discussed the return of competition in 2021 but at this stage there is not enough information available to plan for specific competitions. British Wrestling will continue to monitor the situation and update the membership as soon as possible.