Omicron Variant & Planning For Winter

We know that for many clubs across the UK the media’s announcement of a new Coronavirus variant named Omicron will be of immense concern. We’re here to support you throughout the coming months, whatever this variant may mean for martial arts.

At this stage we don’t yet know if any changes are likely to filter down to grassroots sports. For those teaching throughout Spring and Summer of 2021, you’ll recall the dreaded RtP (Return to Play) process which we flag-shipped for independent clubs through Sport England. This is effectively the (second) worst case scenario we can envision, but at present there is reason to be cautiously optimistic.

As the old saying goes; “plan for the worst, hope for the best” and so we’re pre-planning three outcomes – A, B and C – to ensure our clubs are able to respond rapidly to changes in guidance from DCMS (Department For Digital, Culture, Media & Sport) and Government.

When?

We don’t know, but our best guess would be January or February. Many clubs are winding down for Christmas in the coming weeks and whilst there is a crucial review on-going at present to see what impact Omicron has on health care, vaccines and other key services, any fallout (if the feedback is negative) is likely to emerge after the Christmas Festivities similarly to last year.

PLAN A

Plan A assumes that we do not see any material changes to legislation around grassroots sports and, in particular, combat sports. This would mean very much everything continuing ‘as is’ for us in the martial arts world, despite some wider restrictions being re-imposed on the broader public.

As it stands at time of writing…

PLAN B

Plan B works on the ‘best worst case’ scenario and is the outcome we feel could be most likely re-instated if infections continue to rise and wider society is once again caught up in some form of ‘lockdown’ or ‘crackdown’. Under Plan B, we’re asking clubs to be ready to…

PLAN C

Plan C would be our worst case scenario in which all physical training is once again suspended. We were aggrieved by how long it took Government to reverse this during the first lockdown and subsequent lockdowns and whilst it does seem an unlikely outcome this time around (as it would mean the entire shutdown of society again) it’s well worth having some action plans to hand, should it be sprung upon us after Christmas as was the case last year.

Make sure you have online capabilities, including access to some sort of…

Devolved Nations

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland follow separate guidance on COVID restrictions however it is somewhat intertwined with similar restrictions and guidance. We are in a much stronger position to…

Communication With Students & Parents

For now the key message is that students and parents shouldn’t panic and there’s no need to deviate from current planned dates for gradings, competitions and training. It’s worth everyone bearing in mind the on-going and fast changing situation but it shouldn’t at this stage be cause for any alarm.

Clubs should re-assure…

Precautions & Documentation 

We released best practice guidance in July on how best to proceed without the Combat Sports Framework restrictions and for now that remains the best guidance for clubs to follow. It is crucial, now more than ever, that you ensure…

Your Input & Intelligence 

We hope this is all a storm in a proverbial tea-cup and nothing will come of the Omicron situation, but your intelligence and feedback is incredibly helpful to our national planning team. Whilst we are constantly monitoring multiple news outlets and have constant contact with the SRA, WSA, SSA etc, you may well…

Our Position & Prediction

We hope the timing of Omicron and the early media speculation that it is yet to lead to a hospitalisation is positive and, with any luck, in three weeks time (c. 21st December) the UK Government will hold the current slightly heightened restrictions (face coverings and tests for those arriving from overseas) or better still, will lift it entirely.

We’re slightly concerned by the timing of the review as it aligns quite closely to…

‘Early Doors’ Questions & Answers

Please note that these answers are subject to change, so should be double-checked where it concerns legislation if you’re reading this update some time after it’s release.

Q: Do we need to start wearing masks in class now that it’s required in shops and on public transport?

A: At present, no. The DCMS have not re-introduced any requirement for masks to be warn in sports settings, nor is there any blanket requirement for masks to be warn indoors at this time. In all cases, guidance…

Q: What changes actually take place from Tuesday 30th November?

A: At the moment…

Q: Are lateral flow tests mandatory? 

A: No, but we strongly recommend you make this a mandatory feature in your club to help avoid un-necessary…