Coronavirus situation: small steps towards resumption

PLEASE NOTE: the information in this item of 30 April has been overtaken by more recent developments. For the latest news, look here.

The Dutch government has extended the ban on gatherings of 3 or more people until 20 May. Gyms and fitness clubs will also remain closed until 20 May. Events requiring a permit remain prohibited until at least 1 September. The good news is that we can take the first small steps towards resuming sport, starting with young people and elite athletes. Unfortunately there is still uncertainty about one-to-one training: the Dutch public health institute RIVM and the national government contradict each other.

In the press conference of Tuesday 21 April, Prime Minister Rutte announced that we are ‘at the very beginning of the way back’. From 29 April, children up to and including 12 years of age may exercise outdoors in an organised setting. They do not have to keep to the one-and-a-half-metre restrictions. Young people aged 13 up to and including 18 also get more room to exercise from 29 April, but the one-and-a-half-metre limit still applies to them. The door is also opened for individual elite athletes to resume training at designated training locations, though not immediately.

Please note: this does not mean that group training can now be resumed on your own initiative! A protocol is being drawn up for the resumption of training. It will be submitted to NOC*NSF, which will assess it against the RIVM guidelines. There must also be coordination with the municipality.

The VA has been asked by NOC*NSF to work out the conditions for resumption in a protocol, together with representatives from other sports. UPDATE 24 APRIL: this protocol has now been drawn up in consultation with respected gym owners. It has been published on our website and is being brought to attention partly through our covenant partners. Make sure you apply this protocol!

One-to-one training
On personal one-to-one training, the RIVM and the national government contradict each other. The RIVM has informed the VA that personal one-to-one training is permitted on condition that it really is one-to-one training, so no other people are present (not even at a distance), and that this training takes place outdoors. A distance of 1.5 metres between athlete and trainer must also be maintained at all times during the session. The government website, however, states that personal training for adults is NOT permitted up to and including 19 May. Unfortunately, the VA cannot currently provide any further clarity on this. We advise personal trainers to check with their own municipality what is and is not possible.

We have taken the points below from the government update of 21 April directly from the government website:

– From 29 April, children and young people get more room for organised outdoor sport and play (no official competitions).

– Children up to and including 12 years of age can exercise together outdoors under supervision. Young people aged 13 up to and including 18 may exercise outdoors together under supervision, but at 1.5 metres apart. Municipalities make agreements about this with sports clubs and neighbourhood sports coaches; differences between municipalities may therefore arise.

– Elite athletes can resume training individually at designated training locations if they observe a distance of 1.5 metres.

The measures taken earlier are extended until 20 May, and the ban on events requiring notification or a permit remains in force until 1 September. A decision on any extension of these periods will be taken in the week before 20 May. That also means meetings about the new situation will still have to take place online.

The VA continues to urge everyone to respect the coronavirus measures. Parties that move too fast, or circumvent measures against the spirit of the crisis response, risk being excluded from the sport by the VA. This can be done by excluding gyms from competitions, withdrawing the promoter licence, terminating the covenant, or withdrawing the Keurmerk Vechtsportautoriteit.

Emergency support
Sports clubs and gyms can receive a one-off allowance of €4,000 through the emergency scheme of the Ministry of Economic Affairs. Conditions are attached to this. A separate scheme is being developed for self-employed people. You can read more about how this works on the government website.

The VA wishes everyone who is directly or indirectly affected all the best in these exceptional circumstances.

Anyone with questions we refer to two websites with information on the latest state of affairs and the authorities' recommendations. The National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) offers general information, current information and a handy overview of frequently asked questions and answers. The central page of the municipal health services (GGD) refers to the municipal and regional health services that provide information about specific regions. We strongly urge everyone to follow the authorities' recommendations.

As soon as new relevant information reaches us, we will share it here as well.

SEE ALSO: Sport and exercise advice in times of the coronavirus