This page has been compiled by Sally Wearing, the Morris Federation’s Health & Safety Advisor. Please bear in mind that it can take a few days between new guidance emerging and Sally reading it all and writing a summary.
These pages try to help with two main questions from teams: 1) how can we make it safe for everyone at a practice or a performance and still keep within the government’s guidance, and 2) are we covered by our Public Liability Insurance and Personal Accident Insurance? Please note: Not following the guidance in place at the time could invalidate your insurance and/or bring the morris into disrepute.
When the time feels right, it is wise to seek the views of the team before re-starting in-person practices or performances. Some may have vulnerable relatives at home, or underlying health conditions of their own, and may be unwilling to participate. Ultimately the decision on when to restart is one for your own team to make. In the meantime, many teams are using Zoom, or other video confernencing software, to keep in touch, run practices and even having dance-outs at home with other teams.
See all our Covid-19 pages:
- Main Covid-19 page (this page)
- Online Practices
- Practices
- Performances
- Insurance
Update on 5th November
This only applies in England. If you would like advice for other parts of the UK, please contact Sally Wearing at sallywearing@outlook.com.
We are sorry to state the obvious, but no practices or performances are possible during lockdown. The new restrictions in England are in place and are expected to continue until at least 2nd December. Under the new rules, we cannot meet anyone from outside our household indoors. Outdoors, individuals can only meet one person from another household.
There are exceptions to these rules, but none of them are relevant to morris or related activities, however morris is classified. Grassroots sport is not possible; only elite sports people are allowed to train. The performing arts guidance has been updated to say that non-professional activities cannot take place.
The only ray of sunshine appears to be for fans of Strictly Come Dancing – the new rules do allow that to continue!
We are leaving the old guidance regarding the 3 Tier alet levels (prior to 5th November) on this page, in case this can be reverted to at some point in the future.
Update on 14th October
Government guidance
This only applies to England. All the guidance applies where the local COVID alert level is Medium. In areas where the level is High or Very High, please see the pages on practices and performances for information about how they apply. The first link in the list below gives more information on what you can and cannot do at each alert level (also called tiers).
This guidance changes frequently; please check it regularly for updates.
- Local COVID alert levels (tiers)
- Performing arts
- Grassroots sport and gym/leisure facilities
- Community facilities
- Face coverings
- Under 18s – out of school settings
If anyone needs advice for other areas, please contact Sally Wearing at sallywearing@outlook.com
Classification
There has been some discussion on whether morris dancing should or could be classified as an organised team sport, in order to get government approved guidance published. However, the current legal requirements and guidance for both organised exercise classes and the performing arts are less restrictive and more suitable for morris than those for indoor team sports, which are not exempt from the rule of six.