Coronavirus Graduated Return to Play for Performance Athletes: Guidance for Healthcare Practitioners

BASES Sport and Performance Division would like to formally endorse the UK Home Country Sports Institutes’ (HCSI) Coronavirus Graduated Return to Play Guidance document for performance sport athletes.

This document, created by Senior Doctors from all four of the HCSIs, and published recently in the British Journal of Sports Medicine, provides excellent advice for healthcare practitioners and performance sport athletes in what is an ever-changing and challenging landscape. Many BASES members will be actively involved in performance sport return to action, following the recent lockdown and the guidance outlined in the document aims to help minimise their risk as they return to their sporting activity.

Lastly, please note that as more is learnt about the longer term effects of the infection, it is planned to update this document regularly, so please refer to the most up to date document before advising an athlete or sportsperson. In addition, government advice differs between the home countries and each performance sport setting also differs, so local advice should be always be considered.