With the positive news from the UK Government confirming England progressing to Step 3 from Monday 17th May, the ECB have updated their guidance to reflect what these changes mean for organised outdoor cricket. Whilst these changes come into effect from Monday 17th May, it is important to remember that clubs should be encouraged to move at their own pace and only move to the next steps if and when they feel ready to do so.

What has changed at Step 3?

On the Field (the organised activity itself)

The activities permissible through organised outdoor cricket activity remain the same and therefore existing guidance should be followed.

Off the Field

Changing Rooms: Changing rooms can open where it is safe to do so but social distancing and other mitigation measures must be observed. Note that no club is obliged to provide use of changing facilities for all participants and clubs and venues should only use changing rooms when they are ready to do so safely. It will require time to complete the necessary preparations and venues should only do this at their pace.

Hospitality: Clubhouses and facilities that serve food and drink can open. At Step 3, both indoor and outdoor hospitality will be permitted. The provision of food and beverage should be as per government guidance on hospitality settings.
You will be able to serve customers in groups of up to 6 or 2 households indoors, or in groups of up to 30 outdoors.
If your venue serves alcohol, table service will be required. Even if no alcohol is ordered, this means customers must order, be served and eat/drink while seated.
If your venue does not serve alcohol, customers can order and collect food and drink from a counter. But they must consume food and drink while seated at a table.

Teas: Teas can now be served at clubs where this can be done safely and in compliance with government guidance on hospitality settings. Note that no club should be obliged to serve teas at this step and clubs should only serve teas when they are ready to do so safely. It will require time to complete the necessary preparations and venues should only do this at their pace.

Spectators: Spectators are permitted at both public and private venues. Spectators must observe social distancing and legal gathering size limits (groups of up to 30 outdoors). Outdoors, multiple groups of 30 (with no interaction among different groups) are permitted, with Government limits allowing up to 1,000.

Travel: You can leave your home to exercise and take part in informal and organised cricket. Car sharing is permitted at Step 3 for sport in accordance with the government guidance for safer travel.

The complete guidance can be found at www.ecb.co.uk/covid-19 and includes the links to both government hospitality guidance and travel guidance.