Car sharing is set to be allowed, clubhouses can open and there is a welcome back for spectators from Monday as England Hockey moves to step 5 of its return to play roadmap.
It means that full competitive match play, leagues and competitions can resume while England Hockey’s league play-offs, where undecided, can be concluded, the national governing body has outlined.
The edict comes as England Hockey said on Friday that this is “largely because travel restrictions are expected to ease further to allow car sharing between people from different household groups.”
However, government guidelines have yet to be updated and car sharing is still not advised.
Indoor hockey can also return for adult participants. Indoor sport is exempt from social distancing and gathering limits but, like the outdoor version, only during play.
Changing rooms are allowed to open but should be avoided according to government guidance. Players are still advised to arrive changed and shower at home.
Meanwhile, spectators are now allowed in all outdoor and indoor settings regardless of whether the facility is on public or private land. Social distancing rules and limits must be adhered to, meaning discrete groups of 30 outdoors and groups of six or two households indoors.
In a welcome boost for clubs, hospitality is now allowed to be served indoors as well as outdoors.
There is also good news for Flyerz activity with confirmation that players of all abilities can once again mix and participate in sporting activity together.
EH said that it did not anticipate any further changes to guidance until Step 4 of the government’s roadmap, no earlier than 21 June.
On Friday, Boris Johnson warned the Indian Covid variant could stilt plans to lift all lockdown restrictions in England on June 21.
“I have to level with you that this new variant could pose a serious disruption to our progress and could make it more difficult to move to step four in June,” he said.
“I must stress that we will do whatever it takes to keep the public safe.”
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