Following the four-week delay to Step 4 and the lifting of COVID restrictions for England, Snowsport England issues a reminder of the current (Step 3) snowsport activity guidelines and sets out actions for clubs, event organisers and members.

On 14^th June, the government announced a delay to the lifting of restrictions in England moving the Step 4 date from 21^st June to 19^th July. The full announcement is here. This announcement means that the current Step 3 restrictions in place in England will remain in place until 19^th July.

We are aware that clubs and event organisers have provisional plans in place from 21^st June which relied on the existing restrictions being lifted. As a result, there are a number of arising recommended actions to ensure that snowsport activity can continue to take place.

Clubs to re-visit their plans for delivery from 21^st June to 19^th July and check/update their risk assessments to ensure that they comply with current restrictions. These guidelines set out all the measures and adaptations that members, coaches and affiliated clubs are expected to follow to allow snowsport to take place until 19^th July.

Event Organisers currently scheduled to run events from 21^st June to 19^th July to re-visit their risk assessments to ensure that they comply with current restrictions. Specific areas of focus include ensuring that events operate within venue capacity caps and the ability for all those present to maintain 2m social distancing.

Members (and their parents/guardians) need to be prepared for existing restrictions to remain. We ask for your continued support and understanding towards club volunteers and event organisers as plans to deliver snowsport may have to be changed, postponed or cancelled in light of the continuation of social distancing requirements and venue capacity caps.

We recognise that many people across the sport are working hard to support the return to snowsport and Snowsport England is extremely grateful to those members of our community who are taking the lead in providing opportunities to train and compete. We know that in some cases difficult decisions will need to be taken in light of this decision by Government. If you have any questions or would like support/advice please contact us.

Delta Variant Areas – The Government also has further advice for areas in which the Delta variant is spreading rapidly, to see this advice and which areas should follow this then please check the Government website

In these areas you should also take particular caution when meeting anyone outside your household or support bubble. Wherever possible, you should try to:

• Meet outside rather than inside where possible
• Keep 2 metres apart from people that you do not live with (unless you have formed a support bubble with them), this includes friends and family you don’t live with
• Minimise travel in and out of affected areas

You should also:

• Get tested twice a week for free and isolate if you are positive
• Continue to work from home if you can
• Refer to local health advice for your area (linked above)

Next Steps – Step 4

As we move towards the 19th July, Snowsport England is expecting updates from Sport England and DCMS with regards to any ongoing restrictions affecting sport.