** This page was last updated at 12.25pm on Tuesday, January 5, 2021.
Table tennis activity contributes to many health, social and economic benefits across the country and many of us will be missing the game, however it is vitally important that when activity is resumed, it does not compromise the health and safety of individuals or communities.
We will aim to respond to any changes promptly but we may have to wait for the Government to provide the precise details of their guidance and advice. We are, however, looking at various scenarios that we might find ourselves in and considering how table tennis can return safely.
Resumption of sport and recreation activities will be based on objective health information to ensure they are conducted safely and do not risk increasing the spread of Covid 19, taking into account the following factors.
- All decisions about resumption of sport and recreation activities must take place with careful reference to Government, Sport England and Table Tennis England advice.
- International evidence to date is suggestive that outdoor activities are a lower risk setting for COVID-19 transmission. There is a lack of data on risks of indoor sporting activity but, at this time, the risk is assumed to be greater than for outdoor sporting activity, even with similar mitigation steps taken.
- All activity must, at a minimum level, follow the guidance and advice outlined by Table Tennis England, Sport England and the Government. Clubs, leagues and community venues will need to factor in their own playing environments and make decisions that are right for their own club, league or community of players.
Five stage process
Following the Government announcement regarding lockdown 3.0, all clubs, league, competition or coaching activity stops with immediate effect. We therefore move back to Stage 1 of our Ready to Return pathway. We will confirm as soon as we can what stage of the ready to return roadmap we will be able to return to once lockdown 3.0 ends.
This includes all previous exemptions with regards to indoor and outdoor play. The only table tennis that is able to continue is within your own home if with members of your own household or support bubble.
A small number of elite athletes over the age of 16 are also permitted to train under elite sport exemptions, when signed off by the National Governing Body (Table Tennis England).
Please see the current guidelines and timescales connected to the return of local and national competitions by clicking here.
We will continue to provide more information, guidance and advice on each of the stages below as and when appropriate.
Stage 1 – Play and exercise at home and limited outdoor play (where we are now)
- Practice and table tennis activity can take place at home with members of your household
- Cardio and exercise that can be done whilst meeting social distancing guidelines is encouraged
- No outdoor table tennis activity on public tables
- Online learning via video calls
- No table tennis activity in clubs/leagues and no one to one/private coaching sessions to run indoors
Click here to view the Stage 1 guidance on Member Engagement and Planning for the Future
Stage 2 – Limited club activity
- Some local club activity may be able to resume with restrictions in place, connected to hygiene, social distancing and space available. Facility templates are currently being developed to help guide clubs and leagues on their own spaces
- One to one coaching indoors would likely be possible again
- Competitive play is likely to be restricted to ensure a healthy and injury free return for participants and to ensure minimum restrictions are met
- Play on outdoor tables continues with restrictions in place
Stage 3 – Preparing for localised competition
- Local competitive opportunities may look to resume with certain restrictions in place. In preparation for a time when competitive play may resume, we will be providing some ideas for clubs and leagues to consider
Click here to view Stage 3 guidance on preparing for a return to league table tennis. This is also downloadable at the foot of this page.
Stage 4 – Local competition resumption
- Leagues and competitions may resume with limited restrictions in place
- It is expected at this stage that some restrictions in stage 2 may start to be lifted
Stage 5 – Restricted national competitions
- Club, league, community and competitive play resumes with some restrictions in place
- Welfare, health and safety of participants
- Workforce – advice for volunteers, coaches, officials
- Re-engaging your existing members – including factoring in how different groups may respond to returning to play differently
- Attracting new members
- Advice/best practice from other clubs and leagues
Click here to visit our coronavirus advice page
Table Tennis England recently announced more funding support for table tennis activity to clubs, leagues and volunteers impacted by the pandemic – click here for more information.
National Competitions
Table Tennis England has announced a framework for confirming national events and leagues, plus a refund policy, as we continue to plan for the 2020/21 season. Click here to find out more.