Participants who want to engage in all sports and physical exercises this Friday, June 19 will have to limit group activities to no more than five participants.

The effects of such unprecedented physical limitations imposed will be interesting to see as Singapore enters Phase Two of the circuit breaker exit from Friday.

The scarcity of spaces for activities will be further compounded as groups have been instructed not to interact with each other and must maintain a distance of 3m apart from one another at all times when there is more than one group sharing a space.

However, sports such as football, handball, netball, basketball, futsal, ultimate flying disc, touch rugby and paintball may proceed without modification as long as the group size limit is observed, Sport Singapore (SportSG) added.

SportSG also said in a news release on June 17 that physical contact will be allowed for sports if it is the “normal nature” of that sporting activity.

Contact sports that involve extensive body contact should be modified though, said SportsSG.

Measures will be published on national sports associations' respective websites, as well on the SportSG website from Friday.

SportSG said it has put together a list of general guidelines for those who wish to engage in sports and for facility operators.

These include:

- Not more than five athletes in total, but an additional coach or instructor is permitted.

- Physical distancing of 2m (two arms-length) should be maintained in general while exercising and playing sports to accommodate for the higher risk of spread of respiratory droplets.

- Physical distancing is increased to 3m (three arms-length) for indoor venues with high intensity or high movement exercise classes

- Mixing between groups is prohibited, and different groups should stay 3m apart at all times.

- Masks should be worn by all, including support staff and coaches, and it is considered “good practice” to wear one even while performing strenuous activities.

Limits to patron numbers

SportSG also said that sport and recreational facilities will have to limit the number of patrons according to the size of the place, with one person allowed per 10 sqm of gross floor area in these facilities.

However, no more than 50 people should be admitted, regardless of the size of the facility.

Sharing of common equipment should be avoided as well.

But if this cannot be done, then the equipment should be wiped down or sanitised frequently.

This includes gym equipment such as weights, and sports equipment such as basketballs, it said.

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