As the lockdown restrictions continue to be lifted slowly for the safety of the whole population a reminder that at this time no physical contact training or competition should be taking place with anyone outside of your household.
It has been fantastic to see examples of our clubs and coaches operating within the guidelines and the pictures of Middleton & Wirksworth WC’s outdoor grid sessions are an innovative and appropriate way to continue to deliver activities offline.
In anticipation of the continued lifting of restrictions, we are today releasing our Return to the Mat plan which outlines 4 steps to return to full wrestling.
Further Cancellations
It is likely still a long way back to full competition and as such we are making two further announcements today:
- Competitions are cancelled until the end of October. This sees the cancellation of the following competitions Birmingham Slam, Derbyshire Open and Scottish Open.
- The GBR talent squad and England regional squad activities are cancelled until 2021. An open letter to Talent athletes and their parents is available below.
We will, of course, continue to monitor the situation and review these decisions considering updated government guidelines.
Return to the Mat
Our Return to the Mat plan, available to download below, outlines our expectations for the return to wrestling activity over the coming weeks and months. This phased return plan is based on expected changes to government guidelines and outlines a safe return to the mat, however, there are no expected timescales on the transition from one phase to the next. This takes into consideration current scientific evidence of transmission and the impact that a long layoff will have physically and technically on our wrestlers.
As the guidance changes, we will be providing additional resources and guidance for clubs and coaches across the country. We continue to work closely with the government, sports councils and other sports to produce resources and will, where appropriate, signpost to other organisations resources.
In the next week, we will be welcoming back tier 1 and 2 athletes on the Build for Birmingham GBR Senior Squad for training at the British Wrestling Academy. This is being done in compliance with the government guidelines on return to training for elite sport. Any learning we gain from this process will be incorporated into the guidance for clubs as and when appropriate.
Finally, as the Return to the Mat starts to come into operation British Wrestling will be unfreezing memberships. We will continue to update you on this process but we encourage you to take some time over the next couple of weeks to log on to your membership profile and ensure that your details are up to date.
