Latest information as of Monday 24th March 2021 (Revised Ventilation Information 26th March 2021)

Revised by a Sport England email received evening of 24th of March 2021

The BAB joined a video meeting with Sport England & the DCMS today.

Information Received.

1. Our Return to the Dojo submission hopefully will be back with us mid next week.

2. Road Map Step 1 ( Phase 2 ) Begins 29th March 2021
Outdoor Adult & Children Socially Distanced Aikido can start in groups no larger than 15.
https://www.sportengland.org/how-we-can-help/coronavirus/return-play/frequently-asked-questions-national-coronavirus?section=from_29_march#outdooractivities-12870

• Children can return to indoor organised Aikido at phase 2 (contact).
  This is only where the activity is for the purpose of education or as part of their wraparound care,
  following wider DFE and out of school guidance. More information can also be see in the Sport England FAQs on their website.
• U18s can return to outdoor organised Aikido at phase 2  (contact) as per the combat sport framework.
• Adults can return to outdoor organised Aikido at phase 1 (pad work / which is weapon to weapon for aikido) of the combat sport framework
  Where the activity is organised there is no limit on numbers of participants (But BAB Guidance is a maximum of 15), but must be in line with DFE/out of school setting guidance for children.
  Definition of organsied: Organised sport and physical activity must be formally organised by a qualified instructor of a national governing body and follow sport-specific guidance where appropriate.
  If it does not follow this definition, the session would constitute as informal and must follow general government guidance on social gathering and social contact limits.

3. Road Map Step 2 (No earlier than 12 April 2021)
Indoor Children Only (up to and including school year 13)
Supervised Junior Aikido Class Maximum class size 15 with 100sq feet of Ventilation per person* (See below).

• Same rules as step 1 for outdoor activity for both adults and U18s
• U18s can return to organised indoor Aikido at phase 2 (ie contact) children’s indoor participation no longer limited by education and wrap around care rule,
  but it is recommended that they work in groups of 15 in line with the DFE guidance.
• Adults can return to organised indoor Aikido at phase 1 (but only 1:1 in line with the broader guidance that indoor facilities can open for individual use only)
  This does NOT mean you can run a class and keep the same partner, it means a single coach can have a single pupil. 

4. Road Map Step 3 (No earlier than 17 May 2021)

No news on any form of Aikido indoors for Adults apart from it will be possible in Road Map Step 3
but we are hoping it will be confirm that socially distance Aikido (Weapon Work) can be approved for Step 2 Phase 2 ( Date to be advised )

• Details TBC, however the following is being discussed:
  • Children may be able to return to indoor competition.
  • Working towards restrictions for adults being eased in line with other contact sports (potentially including contact)

Steve Billett

BAB Covid-19 Officer

 Note regarding ventilation

The UK government has confirmed that a minimum of 100 square feet (9.29 square metres, or 3.05 metres in each direction) per person must be used when working out a venue’s maximum occupancy.

The wording from the UK government is as follows:

• The maximum occupancy of each dojo/gym/hall should be limited by providing a minimum of 100sqft per person. For this figure, the area is the net useable space available to members to use, including changing rooms, toilet and wash facilities. Reducing capacity in this way whilst sustaining ventilation flows, will increase the typical current 10l/s/p flow rate of ventilation to at least 20l/s/p, as fewer people are being served by the ventilation system.
• In addition, a distance of at least two metres in all directions must be observed at all times by everyone who uses an indoor sporting facility, with particular care taken at pinch points.