Covid-19 Operational Policy

Background: The ZING Kickboxing Academy Operating Policy is intended to help the club through the process of opening and returning to sport as we come out of lockdown. Whatever coaches and clubs do, must adhere to the principles of safeguarding people’s health at all times. This means activities inside and outside, must take into account and adhere to the latest regulations set out by the government regarding social distancing and hygiene.


Zing Kickboxing Academy will continue to follow the guidance coming from the UK Government and from Sport England with a view to implementing a safer return to training and competition activities whilst encouraging everyone to follow COVID Secure guidelines and NHS 111 track and trace procedures.

Purpose: The purpose of this document is to establish working guidelines for the operation of our martial arts club that reduces the risks of COVID-19 transmission. It is important that our club is able to react safely to the releasing of restrictions and to maintain the ability to reimpose them should local lockdown be required.

Policy: The following recommendations are robust and dynamic. They have been compiled based on a comprehensive review of the UK Governments covid-19 guidelines, Sport Englands COVID19 Framework for the reopening of the fitness and leisure sector as well as applicable resources on the sportscotland and sportwales websites.

Risk Assessment: Before training starts back each club should take a consultative approach to developing it’s risk assessment. Once drafted, the risk assessment should be discussed and shared with everyone at the club (employees and members). All issues must be resolved and an operational plan to mitigate any risks or concerns must then be documented – BEFORE training starts back.

Symptoms: Students and Coaches MUST stay home if they are sick. If you have symptoms, you are advised to isolate and to use the NHS 111 online service. Members should do a self-check for symptoms before attending a training session, check your symptoms using the NHS app.

Contact Tracing: A Contact-Tracing Register MUST be in place and taken at every training session. The Contact Tracing Registers MUST be available to be accessed quickly for contact tracing purposed and for up to 4 weeks after the contact was recorded.

Personal Hygiene: Participants MUST sanitise their hands before using our gloves and pads (gloves, towels, water bottles etc) and wear fresh training uniform to the dojo. Take only what you need to the dojo – essential items only. Be prepared and dressed for training prior to arrival at the venue (to minimise the need to use and gather in the changing rooms/toilets bathrooms). The following principles are recommended:

• Take hand sanitiser with you.
• Take all of your own equipment (do not share equipment or sanitise hands if you do share).
• Bring a full water bottle, do not share food or drink with others.
• Ensure your equipment is kept clean, wipe down before and after use.
• At the end of training take all your belongings with you.
• Handwashing: Use SOAP and water handwash OR Hand Sanitiser Gel.

Before training: wash hands and forearms up to elbow for 20-30 seconds duration and dry.
During training: use alcohol hand gel before and after using towels or water bottle and before training with partners. Avoid touching your face, sneeze, and cough into your elbow.
After training: wash hands and forearms up to elbow for 20-30 seconds duration and dry.
Personal Protective Equipment: Although this is not mandated in the UK Active Framework for the reopening of gyms a face mask MAY be worn, but anyone who chooses to do so, should do it safely. Use a surgical face mask OR a neck tube, ½ balaclava, neck gaiter.

Cleaning surfaces and equipment: All surfaces and equipment must be regularly cleaned and disinfected where practicable BEFORE and AFTER training with particular attention paid to touch points areas including:

• Training mats
• Floors
• Walls
• Door handles
• Toilet handles
• Light switches 
• Personal possession storage areas
• Training bags 
• Pads
• Equipment 

Use an appropriate cleaning solution combined detergent disinfectant solution at a dilution of 1000 parts per million available chlorine.
Any other recommended cleaning agents.

If using reusable clothes, these should be disinfected and dried after use. Disposable clothes should be binned after use. Disposable gloves should be worn when cleaning and placed in the bin when finished.

Covid secure training: all clubs must have a designated Coronavirus officer who will be responsible for the oversight of COVID19 risk assessments and operational plans. This is not a medical role nor does is require specialist knowledge of the virus or health protection. The role of the officer is to ensure the club adheres to government and NGB guidance and for ensuring the mitigations identified by the risk assessment are in place. The responsible person’s duties shall include:

• Taking a register of attendees and other persons as described in this guidance.
• Ensuring all attendees understand the Covid-19 measure and rules that are in place.
• To ensure that Covid-19 self-declarations are provided where required.
• To monitor the session for compliance with the Covid-19 rules both general and specific to the activity.
• To ensure a timely and safe dispersal at the end of any session.
• The warning or ejection from the session of persons that do not follow the rules.

Guidance suggests that all participants and other attendees need to self-clarify their Covid-19 status. It is suggested that the potential participant is asked to either agree or disagree with a prepared statement that covers all the required aspects of the self-assessment in line with the advise. It should read like this or similar:

“I have NOT HAD in the last 2 weeks any of the following Covid-19 symptoms: A continuous high temperature; A loss of taste or smell; A new continuous cough. I also confirm that I HAVE NOT to the best of my knowledge had contact with anyone else who has had these symptoms or tested positive for Covid-19.”

“I also confirm that I nor any other person in my household or extended household have NOT been told to self-isolate and are not currently subject to Covid-19 quarantine after travel or illness.”

When booking in clients you should display this statement on any booking form and the participant must agree to the statement to be able to book. It is very important that upon arrival, all participants or guardians as appropriate are shown the statement and can still agree with it. If they cannot agree, they must leave immediately.

Current thinking is that initially training is both Non-contact/Contact. The suggested training options are:

• Kicking and striking (Freestyle linework).
• Shadow boxing.
• Bag work & Pad work
• Footwork drills with cones, hoops, ladders.
• Fitness exercises
• Partner work

Quarantine Zone: If space allows, clubs should set up a quarantine zone at the entrance to the facility. This will be the point at which arrivals MAY BE temperature checked, sanitised and logged in the track and trace register.