What The New Tier System Means For Personal Trainers And Fitness Instructors

With the new local restriction tier system coming into effect on 2 December, many personal trainers and fitness instructors will be wondering what this new system means for them.  

If you’re among them, we’ve got you covered. We’ve broken down what is and isn’t permitted in each tier and explained what you need to do next. 

If you’re not sure what tier your area falls under, a full list can be found here.  

Tier 1  

Training outdoors 

You can train in groups of up to six people from different households (including yourself) in a public outdoor space or garden. 

You can also partake in organised outdoor sport, physical activity, and exercise classes in groups of up to 30 people (including yourself) in a public outdoor space. 

As always, you must follow COVID guidelines. 

Training indoors 

According to Sport England:

• You are permitted to hold formally organised exercise classes and personal training sessions, provided the participants are in separate groups of up to six people that do not mix.

• If you engage in physical activity in a home gym or studio, a maximum of five people from outside of this household can visit to take part in sport or physical activity.

Face coverings should be worn (apart from during exercise) and social distancing must be adhered to. 

The above rules also apply to training within a private home. 

However, the above rules don’t apply for indoor disability sport, sport for educational purposes and supervised sport and physical activity for under-18s. 

Tier 2 

Training outdoors 

The same rules as Tier 1 apply. 

Training indoors 

According to Sport England, indoor exercise and fitness classes involving groups of more than six people can continue provided there’s no mixing between people from different households or support bubbles. This means maintaining at least 2 metres of distance between members of different households at all times.

This does not apply to indoor disability sport, sport for educational purposes, and supervised sport and physical activity for under-18s. 

Tier 3 

Training outdoors 

The same rules as Tiers 1 and 2 apply, except you can only train in a public outdoor space, not a private outdoor space or garden. 

The same rules as Tiers 1 and 2 also apply to organised outdoor sport, physical activity, and exercise classes. 

Higher-risk contact activity should not take place.

COVID-secure guidance should be followed. We also recommend participants wear face masks until they are in their allocated class space. 

Training indoors 

According to Sport England:

• Indoor group activity is not permitted.
• Indoor exercise classes should not take place unless all participants are from the same household or support bubble.
• Personal trainers in Tier 3 areas can train with someone from another household on a 1:1 basis.
• Group sessions can only be held if everyone within the group is from the same household. This should take place in a gym or sport facility, not in a private house.

As with Tiers 1 and 2, indoor disability sport, sport for educational purposes, and supervised sport and physical activity for under-18s are permitted.

Tier 4

Training outdoors

According to Sport England:

• You can train in public outdoor places such as parks, the countryside, public gardens, or outdoor sports facilities.
• You can exercise with your support bubble, or one other person.
• You can use an outdoor sport facility such as a sports court or outdoor gym, provided you’re using it as an individual household, support bubble, or with one another person from a different household.
• You can partake in organised outdoor sport for under-18s (including those who were under 18 on 31 August 2020) and disabled people.

Training indoors

• You can carry out indoor sport with under-18s for educational purposes, or to facilitate childcare that enables parents or carers to work, seek work or take part in education.
• You cannot partake in sporting activities with adults in an indoor setting under any circumstances.
• There are no exceptions for disabled people taking part in sport or physical activity indoors.

If someone you train with gets COVID 

Has one of your class members contracted coronavirus and you’ve had to self-isolate? If so, and you’re an Insure4Sport policyholder, you may be wondering if you’re protected under Loss of Earnings cover. 

To clarify,  Loss of Earnings only covers you for physical injuries which are sustained while carrying out the activity for which you’re insured. It doesn’t cover you for personal illness or consequent income loss from quarantine procedures. 

Other important information 

When you’re training, you should avoid all of the following: 

• Touching surfaces 
• Sharing equipment 
• Touching your mouth and face 

It may also be worth filling out a COVID-specific risk assessment – this is a good example.  

Next steps 

Insure4Sport policyholders 

1. Log in to your online account. This will allow you to access your insurance documentation and find out about the conditions of your policy, i.e. what you are and aren’t covered for. 
2. If you’re still unsure about the guidelines or want to find out how your business will be impacted, you can call us on 0333 400 9429 or email us at admin@insure4sport.co.uk (Monday – Friday, 9am – 5:30pm). 

Non-Insure4Sport policyholders 

1. If you want to get insured for your training sessions or exercise classes, you can build your own quote in a few minutes  here. As you build the quote, it will explain to you what you’re covered for. 
2. If you have any other questions that you’d rather discuss over the phone, you can call us on 0800 158 5530.