Resumption Of Performance (elite) Sport

Version: 21 December 2020APPENDIX 1: RESUMPTION OF PERFORMANCE SPORT, STEP 1Return to Training (Individuals Or Groups Of Individuals)1.Taking into consideration Scottish Government and Health Protection Scotlandadvice, Step 1 has been divided in to two parts. Resumption of PerformanceSport plans should detail under which Step training is to take place (1A or 1B)and provide relevant risk assessments for each area:1.1Step 1A - Individual training outdoorsStep 1A refers to a return to a level of organised individual programmetraining in a defined outdoor performance facility whilst adhering to stricthealth, hygiene and physical distancing guidelines. This might beindividual training or groups of individual athletes training at the samefacility/space but adhering to physical distancing and other steps tominimise the spread of COVID-19.1.2Step 1B – Individual training in indoor facilitiesStep 1B refers to a return to a level of organised individual programmetraining in a defined indoor performance facility whilst adhering to thegovernment physical distancing advice. This will be for individual athletestraining in the same facility/space but adhering to physical distancing andother mitigating guidance (health & hygiene) to minimise the spread ofCOVID-19.2.To help with planning this guidance is further broken down into two areas:2.1Guidance for Performance sports, clubs and service provisionpartners (e.g. SGBs, Clubs, Institutes)2.2Guidance for Performance training centre venue hosts andoperators (If the venue hosting/operating is not the full responsibility ofthe sport)The guidance within both sections must be considered within plans to give thehighest confidence that the approach taken to returning to organised training isin line with the current minimum practice and could be considered appropriate.Guidance for Performance sports, clubs and support service providers3.Each performance sport’s/club’s Accountable Officer should appoint aresponsible person/s, referred to as the COVID officer, to act as the point ofcontact on all things related to COVID-19. An e-learning module for COVIDofficers is available to support those undertaking the role.4.The COVID officer must ensure that full risk assessments, processes andmitigating actions are in place before any performance (Elite) sport activity takesplace. Specific consideration should be given to the needs of those who are atgreater risk including those with disabilities.7

Version: 21 December 20205.Each sport should have a named COVID medical officer (physician), familiar withthe emerging evidence related to post-COVID-19 pathology, who is expected to:5.1Lead on ensuring any suspected or confirmed COVID-19 cases aremanaged in line with the sports COVID-19 case management protocolsand current government guidance.5.2Have medical oversight of the return to training of any athletes withsuspected or confirmed cases of COVID-19.5.3Support the COVID-19 Officer with any medical aspects of the riskassessment and mitigation process.5.4Sports who do not have a medical officer to cover these responsibilitiesshould secure medical cover to oversee these processes prior toresuming organised training. Regular screening for symptoms within thetraining environment may be implemented on the ground by anappropriately trained healthcare professional working with a set ofprotocols defined in the risk assessment mitigation plan and signed offby the medical officer.6.Organised training should only be resumed where government guidelines onphysical distancing can be adhered to (considering any terms of dispensationallowed for performance sport) and the sport/club is confident the minimum levelof guidance can be achieved within the local context.7.Sports should prepare a risk assessment and risk mitigation plan to be completedbefore resumption of Step 1 training at each venue that determines andcommunicates what can or cannot be achieved training wise in the local context.The risk assessment and mitigation plan should include but not be restricted to:7.1Ensuring that prior to the resumption of training, all athletes and staff whoare engaged in the training environment are formally appraised of therisks, mitigating steps being taken and all athletes and staff who chooseto engage actively ‘opt in’ by way of written consent.7.2Agreeing a clear position on how athletes and staff who are deemedvulnerable or are in a household with vulnerable individuals, interact withthe training environment, which must be in line with government adviceon clinically vulnerable individuals.7.3Identifying additional actions that need to be taken to enable athletes withdisabilities who need support with complex impairments, or theconsequences of these impairments, to interact safely with the trainingenvironment in line with government guidance. This should include adecision on where these actions can be achieved or where engagementof athletes with the environment is not feasible.8

Version: 21 December 20207.4Outlining how regular screening for COVID-19 symptoms will take placebefore each entry to the training environment. Updated information onthe most common symptoms can be found on the NHS inform website.Screening should include a questionnaire and temperature check as aminimum.7.5Outlining clear protocols to manage any person who becomessymptomatic at the venue as per government guidelines for employersand businesses as the most relevant information.7.6Outlining how staff who are returning to the training environment fromisolation due to suspected or confirmed cases of COVID-19 or otherCOVID-19 related reasons should be medically assessed prior to return.7.7Ensuring any practitioners who need to work in close contact with othermembers have access to the personal protective equipment (PPE)appropriate for the setting and are trained in their appropriate usage anddisposal. If suitable PPE cannot be procured without taking away supplyintended for key workers, then the practice or work requiring the PPEshould not take place.7.8Ensuring any support staff within the training environment are operatingto the minimum standards of practice that ensures any professional bodyendorsement and professional indemnity insurances they require are stillvalid.7.9Ensuring training choices are made to minimise the injury and illnessrisk/NHS burden as a priority consideration.7.10Ensuring an appropriate level of medical staffing is in place within thetraining environment to manage any injuries and illness in training whilealso meeting the demands of any COVID-19 symptom screening.7.11Ensuring local emergency medical cover/assistance can be accessed inthe event of a potential life or limb threatening injury requiring immediateextrication and urgent medical care or hospitalisation.7.12Ensuring minimum but necessary training staffing levels are calculatedto balance training need, physical distancing protocols and reducing riskof burden to the NHS.7.13Outlining how equipment being brought into the training venue will besuitably cleaned and disinfected to manage the possible transmission ofCOVID-19 (e.g. specialist technical equipment, wheelchairs).7.14Forming an agreement with hosts/venues on what steps need to be takento ensure physical distancing and appropriate hygiene measures aremaintained in the training environment.9

Version: 21 December 20207.15Outlining the steps to determine maximum capacity levels for the variousspaces in use with hosts/operators.7.16Outlining (via agreement with venue hosts as necessary) how all areaswill be cleaned between sessions for different groups of athletes.7.17Outlining how any equipment/items that must be shared within thetraining venue (e.g. gym equipment) will be cleaned/disinfected betweeneach user.8.All performance athletes and support staff should be engaged in a 1:1 check-inprior to resumption of organised Step 1 training to ensure they have understoodthe sport specific risks and mitigations, training site protocols in place, arephysically and mentally well enough to engage in a return to training and haveactively ‘opted in’ to engaging in Step 1 return to training via written consent. Allathletes and staff should also be clear on their route to ‘opt out’ of the organisedtraining environment under Step 1 conditions at any time without unreasonablesteps being taken against them consequently.9.All performance athletes and staff should adhere to government legislation onphysical distancing when travelling to and from the training venue and should notcome within the physical distancing range (currently 2m) of anyone outside theirhousehold during travelling to and from training. Training time and distanceshould be minimised where reasonable.10. Sports bodies should clearly and regularly communicate any updates to protocolsaround training, prioritisation of access to venues and any necessary riskmitigation steps to their athletes and any home support network (e.g. parents).11. Athletes who are returning to the training environment from isolation due tosuspected or confirmed cases of COVID-19 or other COVID-19 related reasonsmust do so under the direction of a physician / medical officer, familiar with theemerging evidence related to post-COVID-19 pathology.11.1This should include a check-up with the same medical officer before reengaging with the training environment.11.2As a minimum these return to training steps should follow the latestversion of the sportscotland Institute of Sport graduated return to trainingprotocols which are reviewed regularly, unless a sport has moreadvanced guidance in place. Should a sport wish to utilise theseprotocols they should contact their relevant sportscotland HighPerformance Manager to gain access to the most up to date version asthe scientific knowledge base is changing rapidly.12. Should a known or suspected COVID-19 case occur in the training environmentor an individual be identified as a contact of a known case, the individual/s inquestion should be placed in isolation and follow Scottish Government guidelines.The designated medical officer should be immediately informed, if not involved,with identifying and isolating the case at the training venue.10

Version: 21 December 202013. Athletes or staff deemed ‘clinically extremely vulnerable’ should continue to followany specific government advice.14. Sports and hosts (as applicable) will need to discuss and agree how anyabnormal costs that arise from mobilising a facility for use during restrictedperiods will be handled prior to training being resumed.Guidance for Performance training centre venue hosts and operators15. The resumption of organised performance sport training should not in any waylimit the hosts/operator’s ability to support ongoing usage of the facility forsupporting the NHS or key worker requirements.16. Each facility which is a performance training host / operator should have its ownnamed COVID-19 officer if the venue is not sport run. The officer should beresponsible for oversight of the venues COVID-19 risk assessment and mitigationplan, ensuring the necessary level of risk assessment and mitigation has takenplace and that sports and hosts can adhere to the guidance within their facility.17. All hosts/operators must ensure staff supporting performance sport resumptionare formally appraised of the risks, mitigating steps being taken and requested toactively ‘opt in’ if they are comfortable to return to working within the trainingenvironment by way of written consent.18. Where multiple sports/clubs are utilising the same training site/s all COVID-19officers should share their risk assessments and operational plans to ensurealignment and avoid any potential conflict between plans.19. Hosts/operators of venues being used for Step 1 resumption of performance sporttraining should ensure that all areas to be accessed by performance athletes,support staff and facilities staff are deep cleaned prior to return to a standardwhich follows Scottish Government guidance for post-COVID-19 case nonhospital facilities cleaning as a minimum.20. Hosts/operators of venues should agree with sports/clubs in advance about howany relevant areas will be cleaned between sessions for different groups ofathletes.21. Hosts/operators should ensure their cleaning staff have all the necessary levelsof PPE and cleaning material needed to complete deep cleaning and dailycleaning protocols.22. Hosts/operators should ensure their cleaning staff have any necessary levels oftraining needed to complete deep clean and daily cleaning protocols prior toorganised training resuming.23. Hosts/operators should ensure that government advised physical distancingguidelines can be maintained within their facility and work with sports/clubs todetermine maximum capacity levels for the various spaces in use.11

Version: 21 December 202024. A single host/operator liaison should be appointed daily and made known to thesports/clubs to be the single interaction point as necessary. Interaction should bekept to that which is essential.25. Hosts/operators of venues being used for Step 1 return to training should onlyagree to operate where they are able to comply with law, current ScottishGovernment and Public Health Scotland advice and all the normal essentialinsurance cover that is required to run the facilities are in place and remain valid.26. The venue should take reasonable steps, in partnership with the sport/club toensure only approved performance athletes and those staff required to supporttheir training enter the site. This should be in keeping with relevant Health &Safety and Fire Regulations.27. Sports and hosts (as applicable) should discuss and agree how any abnormalcosts that arise from mobilising a facility for use during restricted periods will behandled prior to training being resumed.12

Version: 21 December 2020APPENDIX 2: RESUMPTION OF PERFORMANCE SPORT, STEP 2Return to Training (close contact training)1.Taking into consideration Scottish Government and Health Protection Scotlandadvice, Step 2 has been divided into two parts. Resumption of PerformanceSport plans should detail under which Step training is to take place (2A or 2B)and provide relevant risk assessments for each area:2.Step 2 – allowance of a level of ‘physical clustering’ and contact within a trainingenvironment.2.1Step 2A - Group training outdoorsStep 2A refers to a return to group activity with a resumption of closecontact (interaction within 2m physical distancing) training where pairs,small groups and/or teams will be able to interact in much closer contacte.g. close quarters coaching, teams sports tackling, technical equipmentsharing, etc).2.2Step 2B – Group training in indoor facilitiesStep 2B refers to a return to group acitvity with athletes and staff beingable to interact in much closer contact ‘indoors’ e.g. close quarterscoaching, combat sports sparring, teams sports tackling, but withappropriate safety protocols in place.3.Engagement in this type of training should start with smaller ‘clusters’ of 2-3athletes before progressing to larger groups i.e. 4-12 athletes, and ultimatelyfull team training. Under Step 2 conditions, as per Step 1, physical distancingwill continue to be the expectation at all other times aside from technical training.4.The purpose of this Step 2 guidance is to build upon the Step 1 guidance anddefine an additional set of minimum ‘resumption of performance sport training’considerations that will help SGBs and teams to deliver a return to close contacttraining. This document outlines guidance that applies to all athletes, playersand the staff who support them. No resumption of Step 2 training, where risk oftransmission is increased, should go ahead without a documented riskassessment and risk mitigation strategy that addresses the points raised in thisguidance.5.To help with planning this guidance is further broken down into two areas:5.1Guidance for Performance sports, clubs and service provisionpartners (e.g. SGBs, Clubs, Institutes)5.2Guidance for Performance training centre venue hosts andoperators (If the venue hosting/operating is not the full responsibility ofthe sport)13

Version: 21 December 2020Guidance for Performance sports, clubs and service provision partners6.Step 2 is a progression from Step 1. No sports or service providers should beginat Step 2 and must have completed Step 1 with a formal assessment of safeoperability before proceeding to Step 2.7.The COVID-19 officer(s) for each Club/Team/Training Group should conduct arisk assessment and form a risk mitigation strategy prior to the resumption ofStep 2 training, which should build upon the Step 1 risk assessment andmitigation plan. The Step 2 element should encompass the following subheadings of specific risk considerations:7.1Training facilities and environment7.2Athletes, coaches and wider staff interactions (e.g. medical supportpractitioners, Paralympic guides/carers)7.3Sport specific activity with reference to the number, duration and natureof close and face to face contacts for athletes and support staff during alltraining activities to inform a sport specific close contact exposure riskassessment8. The risk assessment and mitigation plan should include but not be restricted to:8.1Defining how Step 2 training exercises will be appropriately modified sothat the time spent b

PERFORMANCE ATHLETE DEFINITION For the purposes of this guidance the definition of a ‘performance athlete’ is defined as: 1) Athletes who derive a living from competing in a sport as: a. Professional athletes, and / or b. Athletes in professional teams, or c. Athletes on