British Rowing Advice on Coronavirus (COVID-19)
All the latest updates and advice from British Rowing as we continue to follow the situation relating to coronavirus (COVID-19).
The situation relating to coronavirus (COVID-19) is fast-moving and so our primary advice to affiliated clubs, competitions and members is to follow the relevant guidance from the Government – available here:
We continue to monitor the advice from the Government and have published an update on how we are planning for a future safe return to rowing.
We have also developed a number of specific updates for our Affiliated Competitions & Events which are detailed below.
Advice for Affiliated Clubs
Current Advice Updated 13 May 2020
Following clarification of the measures announced by the Government on 11 May, British Rowing has updated our advice for clubs.
Advice on how clubs can handle each phase of a return to rowing is available here (Update 4 June).
FAQs
How will British Rowing support clubs during this period?
Our Club Support team is still available via the usual channels. Any clubs who require help or support during this difficult period should contact [email protected] in the first instance.
We are collating information about the support available to clubs here.
How can we help support our members during this time?
We are working to provide content (workouts etc.) and ideas to help individuals keep fit and active away from rowing clubs and at home and to help keep a connection between your members. To start with, our Go Row Indoor newsletter will become a weekly email from next week with workouts both on and off the machine – further details of other content and initiatives will be released shortly.
A number of ideas from different clubs will be shared across our channels and collated here and we have a number of ideas, challenges and workouts available at our British Rowing @ Home Hub.
What safeguarding considerations are there in providing alternative rowing content?
To help clubs wishing to provide alternative rowing content particularly to young people or children, we have published a reminder of some of the key points of our social media policy.
We’re concerned about the financial impact of closing our club for an unknown period?
We are very aware that closing for this extended period could cause financial concerns for some clubs. As the situation becomes clearer, we will be working to signpost any funding or advice which could help your club. In the meantime, if this applies to your club, please contact [email protected] to let us know.
We are collating information about the support (including financial support) available to clubs here and have published any update on how we will support the rowing community during this period.
What does ‘club-based activity’ mean?
It is important for the whole of society that we all strictly follow the Government guidance around coronavirus and specifically that around self-isolating and social distancing. For this reason, we are advising all Affiliated Clubs to cease all club-based activity (including on-water, off-water training, single sculling, social functions on-site and congregating as a group off-site).
What about single-scullers in private boats?
As of 13 May, Government restrictions have changed in relation to exercise and therefore it is now possible to use private rowing boats subject to adhering to local waterways authority restrictions, Government guidelines and carrying out an appropriate risk assessment. For full details please see our 12 May update.
How can we keep our club safe whilst it's closed?
With the help of our Regional Rowing Councils and a number of clubs, we’ve pulled together a checklist to help you make sure your club is safe whilst it’s closed:
- Is the club fully secure with windows closed, doors locked, entry codes changed, all alarms on and flood defences in place?
- Is the access gated locked?
- Have you considered regular checks from nearby club members when they are out for their permitted exercise?
- Have security lights and CCTV cameras been checked to ensure that they are working?
- Has the alarm key holder list been updated with your security provider and the local police?
- Have any fridges and/or water heaters been emptied and turned off?
- Have you turned off the gas?
- If you have a club bar, has the beer and gas been turned off and disconnected
- If you have a club bar, have spirits been removed from the club or locked away out of sight?
- Have all valuables and/or monies been removed?
- Have bar snacks been put in rodent-proof containers or removed from the club?
- Have you emptied all the internal rubbish bins?
- Do you need to put in place rat and mouse traps?
- If equipment is outside, is it secured to the racks properly to stop theft or damage from the weather?
- Is there equipment that is normally left outside, that could be put inside. eg launch engines?
- Are cox boxes, stroke coaches and batteries for lights unplugged, and in a secure place?
- Is the trailer locked up and a wheel clamp on?
- Are petrol tanks being stored in the proper place and vented correctly?
- Are any towing vehicles locked up and the keys in a secure place?
- Are boat hatches open to avoid any build-up of pressure and/or condensation?
Advice for Affiliated Competitions
Current Advice Updated 12 May 2020
On the basis of the guidance from the Government, it is our interpretation of the advice that British Rowing Affiliated Competitions would fall into the category of ‘public gatherings’. Therefore, we strongly advise that Competitions should not run for the period until 31 July. This reflects our decision to cancel or postpone all events run and managed directly by British Rowing for the same period. We will review this on an ongoing basis and continue to provide updates but anticipate that this suspension will eventually extend until at least the end of August 2020.
FAQs
Should I cancel my event if it is taking place after 31 July?
At this stage, the situation over the next few months is unclear and so it is advisable to make sure you understand the implications of any future cancellation so you can plan ahead, monitoring the likely scenarios and ensure you minimise the impact on your volunteers, competitors and your event itself. You shouldn’t feel the need to wait for British Rowing to make a nationwide decision if you feel the right decision for your event is to cancel/postpone.
Can I reschedule my cancelled event for later in the year?
The National Competition Committee will not consider any calendar changes for postponed Affiliated Competitions until the situation becomes clearer. Thank you for your understanding with this difficult situation.
How will this affect the Ranking Points Index?
We also recognise that the disruption to competitions will have an impact on the Ranking Points Index and, at an appropriate time, will be reviewing any actions that may be required to mitigate this.
How is British Rowing responding to the coronavirus situation?
Events
To date, we have cancelled, postponed or are making arrangements for a virtual meeting for all British Rowing directly managed events until 30 June. We will continue to review this on an ongoing basis. See below for a full list of cancelled events.
Full list of affected events
| Date(s) | Event | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 21/3 | British Rowing Awards | Postponed – date TBC |
| 21/3 | Classification opportunity (Worcester) | Cancelled |
| 21/3-24/3 | Junior Spring Assessments | Cancelled |
| 25/3 | Board Meeting | Moved to virtual meeting |
| 4/4-5/4 | J16 Development Camp | Cancelled |
| 11/4 | Para Talent ID Day | Postponed – date/format under review |
| 10/4-12/4 | U23 & Development Squad Trials | Cancelled |
| 19/4 | Shape Rowing’s Future – British Rowing Discussion Day | Cancelled |
| 24/4-25/4 | GBRT April Junior trials | Cancelled |
| 24/4-26/4 | World Class Start Testing Camp | Cancelled |
| 25/4 | Junior Inter-Regional Regatta | Cancelled |
| 13/6-14/6 | British Rowing Masters Championships | Cancelled |
| 22/6 | Student Talent ID Test Day | Cancelled |
| 27/6 | Classification Opportunity (Yorkshire) | Cancelled |
| 28/6 | GB vs. France J16 Trials | Cancelled |
| 10/7-12/7 | British Rowing Offshore Championships & Beach Sprints | Cancelled |
| 17/7-19/7 | British Rowing Junior Championships | Cancelled |
| Various | Women’s Training Days | Postponed |
| Various | Coaching Courses | Postponed |
- Date(s):
- 21/3
- Event:
- British Rowing Awards
- Status:
- Postponed – date TBC
- Date(s):
- 21/3
- Event:
- Classification opportunity (Worcester)
- Status:
- Cancelled
- Date(s):
- 21/3-24/3
- Event:
- Junior Spring Assessments
- Status:
- Cancelled
- Date(s):
- 25/3
- Event:
- Board Meeting
- Status:
- Moved to virtual meeting
- Date(s):
- 4/4-5/4
- Event:
- J16 Development Camp
- Status:
- Cancelled
- Date(s):
- 11/4
- Event:
- Para Talent ID Day
- Status:
- Postponed – date/format under review
- Date(s):
- 10/4-12/4
- Event:
- U23 & Development Squad Trials
- Status:
- Cancelled
- Date(s):
- 19/4
- Event:
- Shape Rowing’s Future – British Rowing Discussion Day
- Status:
- Cancelled
- Date(s):
- 24/4-25/4
- Event:
- GBRT April Junior trials
- Status:
- Cancelled
- Date(s):
- 24/4-26/4
- Event:
- World Class Start Testing Camp
- Status:
- Cancelled
- Date(s):
- 25/4
- Event:
- Junior Inter-Regional Regatta
- Status:
- Cancelled
- Date(s):
- 13/6-14/6
- Event:
- British Rowing Masters Championships
- Status:
- Cancelled
- Date(s):
- 22/6
- Event:
- Student Talent ID Test Day
- Status:
- Cancelled
- Date(s):
- 27/6
- Event:
- Classification Opportunity (Yorkshire)
- Status:
- Cancelled
- Date(s):
- 28/6
- Event:
- GB vs. France J16 Trials
- Status:
- Cancelled
- Date(s):
- 10/7-12/7
- Event:
- British Rowing Offshore Championships & Beach Sprints
- Status:
- Cancelled
- Date(s):
- 17/7-19/7
- Event:
- British Rowing Junior Championships
- Status:
- Cancelled
- Date(s):
- Various
- Event:
- Women’s Training Days
- Status:
- Postponed
- Date(s):
- Various
- Event:
- Coaching Courses
- Status:
- Postponed
Office Closure
We have closed the main office in Hammersmith and asked all our staff to work from home from 6pm, 17 March.
This will remain in force until further notice and will be reviewed regularly throughout this time and we will provide updates as required.
Most of our staff are accustomed to working from home and all our systems are set up to allow us to do this with the minimum disruption. There will inevitably be a few teething problems and so we appreciate your patience in these unprecedented times.
One change we will be making is that we will be closing our usual phone lines until the office reopens. Please direct general enquiries to [email protected] and, if you specifically need to speak to someone, we have set up a form on the website to request a callback.
National Training Centre Closure
Following government advice, on Friday 20 March the decision was taken to close the National Training Centre at Caversham and move athletes to a home-based program. Athletes have been provided with home training equipment such as ergos and bikes, while staff members will work with them remotely. Athletes and coaches have been issued with advice from our Chief Medical Officer (linked here for information only).
Position on Tokyo 2020
We very much welcome the decision to postpone from the IOC and are grateful to have certainty around the status of the Games. We are now able to start planning how we best support our athletes, coaches and all our programme staff throughout this time, both within British Rowing and as a wider group of Olympic and Paralympic sports in the UK. In these uncertain times, Tokyo 2020* will be a fantastic event for our rowers and for sports fans around the world to look forward to.
* The Games will remain known as “Tokyo 2020” even though they are taking place in 2021.
How is World Rowing responding to the coronavirus situation?
World Rowing (FISA) has issued a number of updates in relation to coronavirus:
- 9 Apr 2020 – FISA cancels a number of events including the 2020 World Rowing Senior, Under 23 and Junior Championships, 2020 World Rowing Masters Regatta, 2020 World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals and Coastal Championships and 2020 World Rowing Tour.
- 31 Mar 2020 – The European Rowing Championships have been postponed and alternative dates in September/October will be explored.
- 20 Mar 2020 – FISA postpones the 2020 European Rowing Junior Championships
- 14 Mar 2020 – FISA announces the decision to cancel Olympic Qualifying Regatta & World Cup III (Lucerne)
- 10 Mar 2020 – FISA announces the decision to cancel a number of international events including World Cup I and II
- 25 Feb 2020– For information, FISA issued an update in relation to international rowing following advice from the World Health Organisation and the IOC/IPC
How are other major rowing events responding?
A number of major rowing events have been called off in addition to those listed above (please note this list is not exhaustive):
- Henley Royal Regatta has been cancelled for 2020
- The Coupe de la Jeunesse 2020 has been cancelled for 2020
- The GB vs. France match 2020 has been cancelled for 2020
- The Munich Junior Regatta has been cancelled for 2020
