Guidance and licensing arrangements for indoor track and field competition now available
We are pleased to announce the guidance and licensing arrangements for indoor competition in track and field athletics is now available.
Under the current Covid-19 regional tier system operating in England, there are restrictions to travel and participation for different groups. We will continue to monitor the situation and update this guidance as and when information is changed or updated by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and Sport England.
Individuals should continue to assess their health and the risk associated with any activity and follow the overarching principles to continue to reduce the levels of coronavirus transmission by:
- adhering to all guidance
- minimising travel where at all possible
- following hygiene and cleaning protocols
Indoor headlines
- 10 December 2020: Guidance for a limited return to indoor track and field competition.
- 19 December 2020: Pilot competitions in conjunction with England Athletics begin.
- 4 January 2021: Track and field licensing opened for competitions.
- 16/17 January 2021: Open licensed competition begins.
Indoor competition
Currently indoor competition can only take place for under-18s, disabled and elite athletes. We are working with British Athletics on the elite athlete list to enable athletes to prepare for the British Indoor Championships 20/21 February 2021. We will communicate with those athletes as quickly as we can confirming the appointment of a doctor and the processes around elite athlete management.
We recognise that the capacity of indoor venues will be severely limited and that the UK Government has asked all sports to minimise travel where possible. Regrettably, we have, therefore, taken the decision to not hold the winter 2021 England Indoor Championships (combined events and younger age groups).
Instead, we are aiming to host England indoor meets, currently for under-18s/disabled athletes and/or elite, on the dates that we normally hold championships for athletes local to those venues. England Athletics will be offering grants to help facilitate local, indoor track and field competition. The grant application process will be communicated week commencing the 14 December 2021.
Virtual indoor/outdoor challenge
Over 18’s cannot compete indoors, so we are creating an indoor/outdoor challenge in a number of track and field events. We aim to get this live on opentrack towards the end of January 2021. More details will follow.
Outdoor training and competition guidance
2021 outdoor season
With British Athletics and the other Home Country Athletics Federations we are looking forward to a more normal 2021 competition season.
We will all continue to monitor the Covid-19 situation as we progress into 2021 and will release any updates as information comes through from the UK Government.