Here is an overview of the easing of restrictions for physical activity in Scotland.
Outdoor – Personal Training and Group Ex
Level 0 – 3: Outdoor group coaching for organised sport and physical activity including fitness classes can take place with up to 30 people at any one time, including the coach, if physical distancing is always maintained or as agreed through approved SGB Guidance.
Level 4: Outdoor organised non-contact group exercise and fitness classes can take place in groups of up to 15 people including the instructor (including in a private outdoor space) in line with the organised sport protocols – risk assessments and physical distancing should be maintained.
- Guidelines on the return to outdoor sport and activity can be found here
- Instructors should aim to minimise the use of equipment or encourage participants to use their own. If necessary to use equipment – instructors must follow the sportscotland guidance on cleaning, sanitisation and risk assessment.
- Outdoor sports areas, courts and pitches can reopen in line with guidance for the protection level, if appropriate risk assessments and measures are undertaken to protect the interests of health and safety.
Indoor leisure facilities
Level 0: Gyms and leisure facilities can open. Contact and non-contact sport and physical activity is permitted indoors.
Level 1 – 2: Gyms and leisure facilities can open. Non-contact sport and physical activity is permitted indoors for adults
Level 3: Gyms and leisure facilities can open for individual exercise only – 1:1 personal training is permitted. Contact and non-contact sport and physical activity is permitted indoors for under-18s.
Level 4: Gyms and indoor leisure facilities must close. Indoor sport and physical activity is not permitted between different households.
From 26 April – Gyms and swimming pools can reopen for individual exercise. It is expected this will include 1:1 training – please refer to local guidelines.
From 17 May – Indoor group exercise can resume. It is expected that this will include personal training inside private homes (up to 4 people from 2 households) – please refer to local guidelines.
- Please see the Scottish Government Coronavirus (COVID-19): Guidance for the opening of indoor and outdoor sport and leisure facilities.
- Appropriate risk assessments and mitigating measures must be put in place to reduce risk and protect participants.
- Participants should not congregate before or after an activity.
- Face coverings must be worn by coaches and participants before and after activity and in other areas of the facility, except where an exemption applies (see the sportscotland guidance for more details).
- Level 4 facilities cannot be used for filming online classes or live streaming.
Personal training in private homes
Levels 0 – 3: 1:1 personal training is allowed.
Level 4: Not permitted.
Travel restrictions
- Instructors can travel into and out of Level 3 and Level 4 areas for work purposes or to provide voluntary services, but only where this cannot be done from home.
- Adults living in a Level 3 or Level 4 area should only travel locally (within their own local government area) to take part in organised sport or physical activity.
- Adults living in a Level 3 or Level 4 area should only travel out with their local government area (up to 5 miles) to take part in informal exercise such as walking, cycling, golf or running that starts and finishes at the same place.
Protect Scotland App – Use of the app is recommended but not compulsory. If you do not use the app you must keep a record of attendees for test and trace purposes. Further information is available at www.protect.scot
Useful links
- Getting Your Facilities Fit for Sport
- sportscotland detailed guidance for coaches
- Scottish Government guidance
Please be aware that Government guidance and laws continue to be updated – please refer to the scot.gov website for further updates.
Instructors are responsible for exercising with caution and protecting the health and safety of themselves and others. You must follow social distancing and hygiene guidelines and work in line with the government guidelines at all times.
These guidelines are only applicable to Scotland and are subject to ongoing COVID-19 guidelines from the government – the guidelines differ for other parts of the UK.
Please stay safe,
The FitPro Team
If you have any other queries please contact us by email on info@fitpro.com
