Suspension of Touch - 04 January 2021

We hope all members had an enjoyable festive period and Happy New Year for 2021.

Scottish Touch has continued to monitor Scottish Government and SportScotland guidance over recent days.  It is necessary for us to suspend all organised touch activity for all participants aged 12+ until 31 January at the earliest - this is a return to the position of March 2020.  During this period, the use of the Scottish Touch Strategic Framework is suspended.

While group activity is suspended, Scottish Government, SportScotland and Scottish Touch is keen to encourage members to stay active in small household groups.  The guidance published by Scottish Government for the period to 31 January 2020 is as follows;

“A maximum of 2 people from 2 separate households can meet outdoors for sport or exercise. Children under the age of 12 from these households do not count towards this number.

The members of an individual household or extended household can meet outdoors for sport or exercise.

You can travel for local outdoor sport or exercise such as meeting another person, walking, cycling, golf or running that starts and finishes at the same place (which can be up to 5 miles from the boundary of your local authority area), as long as you abide by the rules on meeting other households.

Organised sport and exercise for under-12s can continue in line with workplace and socialising guidance, and sport-specific guidance agreed between the Scottish Governing Body of Sport and sportscotland. Sports providers must ensure they operate in line with the relevant guidance”

However, Scottish Touch STRONGLY RECOMMENDS that all touch activity for under 12s is also suspended until 31 January 2020 at the earliest.

The Board of Scottish Touch appreciate this latest development will impact on the activity of our clubs.  However, we understand the Scottish Government’s reasonings for introducing the latest measures and recognise the importance of supporting our local communities to recover from the impact of COVID-19.

We hope all members stay well during this period, we will continue to review updated guidance as it becomes available.