ECB Covid-19 Guidance for Cricket Indoors

Updated Guidance for Cricket Indoors October 2021

We are aware that many clubs will be in the process of planning their winter coaching programmes for both juniors and seniors; something that we are all hopeful can go ahead unaffected given the cancellations of the majority of last winter’s programmes.

Many clubs will recall that last winter, the ECB released significant Government approved guidance for cricket indoors. This reflected the extremely challenging circumstances that we were preparing for this time last year.

As we look ahead to the 2021-2022 winter, there is still a lot of importance emphasis around providing cricket indoors as safely as possible. With that in mind, the ECB has released some updated guidance for Cricket Indoors, effective from October 2021. The guidance is considerably shorter than last years to reflect where we are within the pandemic. However, we at Wiltshire Cricket would still urge all clubs and coaching providers to read through the guidance (link below) in detail so as to ensure you take on board the recommendations that will help to make Cricket as safe as possible within current conditions.

COVID-19 Guidance for Cricket Indoors in England – October 2021

Further Updated ECB Guidance for Cricket Indoors December 2020

Updated ECB Guidance for Cricket Indoors:

We are writing to let you know that there has been an update to the Government advice for sporting activities indoors, and like all sports organisations we are having to respond quickly. The below update only relates to guidance for cricket in England, Welsh guidance remains the same and as previously outlined last week. 

Our latest update is aligned to the government advice as it stands on 7 December 2020 and includes the following principal differences from Update 2 issued last week:

  1. The definition of U18 now includes those who were U18 on 31 August 2020, meaning that this now aligns with normal understanding of age groups in sport.
  1. Coaches and match officials are not included in the count for group size restrictions.
  1. Travel into and out of Tier 3 areas is now permitted for U18, disability sport and elite sport but journeys should be minimised in terms of distance and frequency.
  1. There are no group size restrictions on U18s (up to a safe limit for a venue to be determined by local risk assessment including social distancing and ventilation).
  1. Sport for the purpose of education is exempt from gathering limits, so can take place in any number. This means that school sport such as PE, and curriculum-related sport for students in further and higher education (e.g. a student studying a sport course being able to practice), are exempt from legal gathering limits. However, this doesn’t cover extra-curricular sport (such as playing for a college team). Sport for U18s (including those were under 18 on 31 August 2020) is exempt, so extra-curricular clubs for U18s can continue in any number. However, this doesn’t apply to pupils over the age of 18, so extra-curricular clubs for over-18s (including college and university teams) can only play in line with the wider sport guidance.

Updated Supporting Documents:

Following these most recent updates, here are the latest ECB documents:

ECB Guidance for Cricket Indoors December 2020

ECB Venue Provider Checklist in England December 2020

ECB Coaching Provider or Club Checklist in England December 2020

ECB Risk Assessment Template for Indoor Cricket December 2020

Updated Guidance for Cricket Indoors December 2020

Following the most recent Lockdown, and the introduction of new tiers across the country, the ECB has released a further update to its guidance for Cricket Indoors. All venues, coaching providers and clubs should read carefully before delivering activity indoors this winter.

The purpose of these guidelines is to offer practical guidance to venues, coaching providers and clubs on the steps they should take while undertaking cricket indoors. They should be read in conjunction with latest UK Government regulations but please note these guidelines could change in response to the current COVID-19 Alert Level or other Government advice in both areas. It is essential that venues, coaching providers and clubs follow the guidance.

In order to keep cricket going as it moves indoors, there will need to be adaptations in place for all, including venues, coaching providers, players, parents/carers, spectators and officials. Those adaptations relate to activity prior to, during and after cricket activity.

Please view the full guidance here:

ECB Guidance for Cricket Indoors in England - December 2020 Update

Changes to previous Guidance

This latest guidance is the third version of ECB's Indoor Guidance, and so we would make reference to the following main changes:

Supporting Documents

Please find below links to latest supporting documents:

Updated Guidance for Cricket Indoors October 2020

Following the initial release of guidance, the ECB released updated guidance for Cricket Indoors in October 2020:

Friday, 18th September, the ECB issued their guidance for Cricket indoors. These were issued following sign off from DCMS.

Attached below you will find:

The purpose of these guidelines is to offer practical guidance to venues, coaching providers and clubs on the steps they should take while undertaking cricket indoors. They should be read in conjunction with latest UK and Welsh Government regulations. These guidelines could change in response to the current COVID-19 Alert Level or other Government advice.

In order to keep cricket going as it moves indoors, there will need to be adaptations in place for all, including venues, coaching providers, players, parents/carers, spectators and officials. Those adaptations relate to activity prior to, during and after cricket activity. There are also adaptations from the Step 4 outdoor guidance.