Students getting ready to play Netball on campus

After a temporary suspension of student team sports at the University last week whilst existing sporting activity Covid-19 health and safety measures were assessed, Sussexsport and the Students' Union Activities Office are pleased to announce that as of Wednesday 21 October, team sports and clubs have been able to resume.

Since the 1 September Sussexsport have worked hard to ensure that all of their facilities and services offered to students and staff are Covid-secure*. In addition to these measures, a huge amount of work has been undertaken by the Students' Union club captains, designated Covid Officers, Sussexsport coaches and their teammates to implement a range of additional safety measures to ensure that students can enjoy playing sports at Sussex.

The University is very grateful for the hard work all involved in club sports have done to ensure that Covid-19 sports guidance has been put into place – and thanks to a successful review of these measures team sports training has started again today.

Simon Tunley, Head of Sport said:

“We know that many students were disappointed by the decision to temporarily halt team sports last week, especially after the significant efforts made by all involved in running club and team sports at the University to follow the official Covid safety measures outlined by the national governing bodies for the various sports.

“But the University had to do this because it always has the students’ health and safety as a key priority to ensure that they can all enjoy sporting activities at Sussex safely. We are very grateful to the hard work and dedication of the Captains and Covid Officers who’ve worked so hard to implement a range of measures to make their activities Covid secure.

“It’s thanks to these efforts that after a temporary suspension students are able to play team sports again, and I want to thank students for their understanding about this – and it’s great to see students able to enjoy the many benefits of sporting and physical activity at Sussex.”

For more information about how to take part in Sussex team sports and the facilities available to all students and staff offered by Sussexsport please visit their webpage here.

*Key additional health and safety measures Sussexsport have implemented since 1 September to ensure sporting facilities and activities are Covid secure:

• All guidelines and protocols are in line with Sport England; Ukactive and sports national governing bodies (approved by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport)
• One-way directional route markings for customers in both Sussexsports facilities
• Inspections from the University’s Health and Safety experts resulting in them approving risk assessments for both sites
• Directional and information signage across both facilities encouraging both good practice and clear reminders of the Covid-19 protocols in place
• Regular communications to all Sussexsport members confirming the planned reopening and the systems put in place
• A Covid-19 specific website and FAQ’s www.sussex.ac.uk/sport/facilities/covid19 outlining what Sussexsports is doing to make sure customers feel safe
• A large number of hand sanitiser stations located throughout both facilities including at our external artificial pitches
• All changing room and locker facilities remain closed until further notice as an additional precaution
• All use of facilities must be booked at reception or online to support track and trace – and this includes all Active Us sessions too
• Occupancy rates for all activities meet government guidelines based on social distancing. For example our main gym normally holds 80 users, however presently we are only allowing 28 users to book for an hour-long session, with half an hour cleaning between each session.
• All Sussexsport staff have received certified training that was both generic and bespoke to our services on the Covid-19 protocols to keep facilities Covid-secure. Additionally, all Sussexsports classes and Active Us sessions are supervised/managed by trained staff to keep our facilities Covid secure.
• NHS track and trace App information is displayed in both our facilities.