‘Rule of six’ casts doubt on indoor leagues

JAMES COYNE: Recreational adult indoor cricket leagues likely to struggle to meet new restrictions, but netting appears possible so long as separate nets of six “do not mix”

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Recreational indoor cricket leagues across the country look set for a raft of cancellations this winter after the government announced the ‘rule of six’ will be extended to indoor sports played by adults from this Monday.

Some form of cricket indoors in England and Wales has been officially cleared for action this winter by government and the ECB, but the mainly six or eight-a-side formats used in recreational indoor leagues would seem to place most outside of the new restrictions.

The ECB, after significant consultation with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, had drawn up detailed guidance for cricket indoors, which they announced on September 18. The guidance alters slightly from England to Wales.

Indoor team sports were initially exempt from the rule of six at all ages, so long as the relevant parties all took “reasonable steps to mitigate the risk of transmission” of Covid-19.

But that guidance was superseded on September 22 by prime minister Boris Johnson’s announcement in the House of Commons that the rule of six was being extended to include indoor sports.

There will be relief, however, at the continuing exemption from the rule of six for indoor team sports for under-18s, in “educational settings where cricket is delivered as part of curriculum or in-school activity”, disabled people, “elite training and competition” and “coach development courses”. Clubs who hire school facilities out of school hours, though, are not exempt.

Seemingly this would appear to give the green light to junior indoor leagues.

And the counties appear set to be able to go about winter training in groups larger than six.

The government website also, tantalisingly, included a clause that reads: “Organised indoor sport or exercise classes [for everyone] can take place in larger numbers, provided groups of more than 6 do not mix.” That wriggle room would seem to allow net sessions of more than six people to take place, so long as individual groups of six keep to themselves.

Competitive indoor leagues, however, tend to involve teams of six or eight fielders, two batsmen and two umpires all sharing the same space. And so the ECB announced in a circular to all registered players: “It means that match play for over 18s in groups larger than 6 is not possible at this time.”

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Outdoor cricket resumed in July amid several restrictions

Net sessions still appear feasible at all ages and levels, but with restrictions. Groups of no more than six adults will be permitted to play or practice in a single net, so long as participants adhere to ECB guidelines.

No more than five bowlers will be permitted in a net at any time, and they must stay facing the direction of the batsman rather than talk too much among themselves.

The precise workings of the use of adjacent nets was not entirely clear following the government announcement, but ECB guidance read: “Provided groups of 6 do not mix, multiple net sessions of up to six people per net can take place at the same time in the same COVID secure indoor venue.”

Before the government announcement, the ECB had prepared detailed diagrams of multiple net lanes in operation with six participants in each.

Individuals will be asked to stay two metres (six feet) away from each other at all times. During the truncated outdoor cricket season, the requirement was “one metre-plus”. Players are also asked to avoid shouting or calling loudly to help reduce potential transmission of Covid-19.

As with outdoors cricket this summer, which resumed on July 11, no sweat or saliva is to be applied to the ball. But if cricketers are netting, they would generally do so with a used cricket ball that does not really require buffing up.

Participants will be asked to “undergo a personal symptom check prior to any activity” and stand down beforehand if they are displaying any symptoms of Covid-19.

Government guidance now stipulates that “face coverings must be worn indoors”, though may be removed “if you are undertaking exercise or an activity and it would negatively impact your ability to do so”.

Both the venue provider and clubs or leagues will be asked to carry out a series of checks and risk assessments prior to any indoor cricket activity. Wales requires both venues and clubs to appoint a ‘coronavirus officer’.

Whatever the precise rules for this winter, long-term questions remain for many indoor leagues or individual clubs over access to leisure facilities.

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Indoor nets of up to six people are currently permitted in centres with adequate ventilation and cleaning standards

Most recreational indoor leagues or net sessions habitually take place in sports halls hired from a school, local authority or private body. Leisure centres across England and Wales were given the green light to re-open from July 25, but in many instances have not yet done so.

The ventilation and cleaning standards in centres will have to pass muster with ECB guidelines. ECB guidance recognises the “different risks” from outdoor cricket, “especially in poorly ventilated buildings”.

The ECB urged venues to “maximise ‘fresh air’ using mechanical ventilation systems and/or open doors and windows”. Venues are asked to consider fully opening dampers and running fans on full speed, frequently changing filters, and operating the ventilation system 24 hours a day.

As an example, the Bedfordshire Indoor Cricket League would ordinarily feature 41 teams from 28 clubs, with the top two divisions staged at the John Bunyan Sports and Fitness Centre in Bedford.

The centre’s spacious sports hall, owned by Bedford Borough Council but operated by private management – Fusion, a registered charity – has not yet re-opened to the public since the coronavirus lockdown. The BICL committee decided to postpone matches until the end of the year, hoping matters might relent by the New Year to allow a shortened competition.

Local authorities who still operate their own leisure facilities are able to apply for central government grants, but those who have a third-party contract with private operators cannot.

UK Active and Community Leisure UK, the industry’s trade body, estimate 1,300 local authority leisure centres could go under by Christmas if the government does not step in.

The ECB’s latest statement on indoor cricket activity can be read here

Full ECB guidance for cricket indoors released on September 18 (before the government announcement on indoor sports) is here

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