We've been overwhelmed by the support we've received from you all and we're delighted to see that so many of you have been remaining active whilst in lockdown - whether that be via our virtual classes on HSV@Home or doing your own thing. We've been working hard behind the scenes to ensure our Village is a safe environment for you. Covid-secure safety measures are in place as before but we have also been training and upskilling our staff further, so you really are in the safest hands when visiting us!
It's important that you re-watch this video and read the measures below before your first visit back to us.
We will be updating this page accordingly with further guidance as we have it. We ask you to keep checking this page for all the latest information. We want to assure you we are doing everything we can to keep you safe when you return to us once again.
General Measures
Travelling to Herts Sports Village
HSV Gym Measures
Oval Gym Measures
Group Exercise Class Measures
Swimming Pool Measures
Swimming Lessons Measures
Racquet Sport Measures
Climbing Wall Measures
Kids Parties and Conferencing Measures
Block Booking Measures
How to Book Online
General Measures
We ask that anyone feeling ill or showing signs of any COVID-19 symptoms does not attend the Village and follow NHS guidance. Also, please do not attend the Sports Village if you are self-isolating.
Face coverings are compulsary in and around Herts Sports Village for all members, customers and staff. Face coverings can be removed when exercising but they must be put back on when moving around the centre. If you are exempt from wearing a face covering, you must be wearing an exemption lanyard or be carrying an exemption card with you when visiting us. Staff will challenge anyone not abiding by this.
We have ensured our cleaning measures adhere to Public Health England guidance.
Hand sanitiser stations and cleaning materials are located at various Cleaning Stations around the facility.
We have implemented a one-way system where possible to help us maintain social distancing.
All member/customer communication is now done through email at sports.reception@herts.ac.uk
All bookings need to be made via our website to avoid unneccessary interaction.
All activities including gym and swim sessions must now be booked up to 3 days in advance, pre-workout, online via our website. This is to ensure we are able to manage capacity in the gym and pool at all times.
All our activities have maximum numbers allocated.
We are providing on-going training for all our staff on our new way of operating, ensuring both member/customer and staff safety is always a priority, whilst allowing us to stay up-to-date with current guidelines.
Since we opened 17 years ago, our building has been deep cleaned every evening after close which is why our Village has such a high standard of cleanliness. We have now gone beyond this and have increased our cleaning further to ensure we meet the 'COVID-19 Public Health England: Cleaning of non-healthcare settings guidance.' You will now see regular cleaning of shared surfaces above and beyond our usual levels of high cleanliness.
Members/customers and staff will be reminded regularly of Government advice through clear notices around the Village.
Travelling to Herts Sports Village
We ask all our members/customers to consider the safest way to travel to the Sports Village during the COVID-19 pandemic. Government advice is to avoid using public transport wherever possible but if this is how you need to travel to us, please make sure you wear a face covering. Where distances allow, we would recommend making your journey to the Village a part of your exercise regime by running, walking or cycling. We do have a large car park and as before, members/customers can park for free with our ANPR system. Please speak to our Reception Team for more information.
HSV Gym Measures
The General Measures detailed above will apply.
There is a one-way system in place throughout our gym and free weights area.
We have limited the number of people in the gym at any one time to allow for social distancing.
A bookings system for the gym has been introduced to manage occupancy levels and to avoid overcrowding. All members/customers must pre-book their gym session via our website. Bookable sessions are upto 55 minutes in length.
Members/customers can only book one gym session per day. This allows everyone the opportunity to utilise the facilities.
'Reduced capacity' sessions are available to book.
Members/customers can book their gym session up to 3 days in advance.
Every member/customer will be given a bottle of sanitiser and a cleaning cloth upon entry to the gym to keep with them for their entire session. We ask that you clean equipment you are using before and after use. This will be alongside our staff cleaning at regular intervals.
Our changing rooms including all showers (opposite our Sports Halls) are open, however we request that all members/customers arrive at the Village in gym kit ready to workout.
Toilets on our ground floor will be open as usual.
Members/customers are required to bring their own water bottles for refilling at water machines. Water bottles will be available to purchase at Reception if needed.
We have maximised ventilation in all areas of our gym to ensure the circulation of fresh air.
Personal Trainers are operating as usual but are required to maintain social distancing at all times.
Oval Gym Measures
We ask that anyone feeling ill or showing signs of any symptoms of COVID-19 does not attend the Oval and follow NHS guidance.
We have ensured our cleaning measures adhere to Public Health England guidance.
We have limited the number of people in the gym at any one time to allow for social distancing.
We have implemented a one-way system where possible to help us maintain social distancing.
A booking system for the gym has been introduced to manage occupancy levels and to avoid overcrowding. All members must pre-book their gym session via our website. Bookable sessions are 90 minutes in length.
Members can only book one gym session per day. This allows everyone the opportunity to utilise the facilities.
Book your Oval Gym session in advance of visiting the Oval. This can only be done on the same day you want to visit, pre-workout, online via our website. This is to ensure we are able to manage capacity in the gym.
Hand sanitiser stations and cleaning materials are located at various Cleaning Stations around the Oval gym. We ask that you clean equipment you are using before and after use. This will be alongside our staff cleaning at regular intervals.
A deep clean of the Oval gym will take place at 8:00am, 3pm and 8pm everyday. During this time all members will need to leave the facility to enable our cleaning team can work as safely and efficiently as possible.
Members are required to wear a face covering when inside the Oval building and when entering/exiting the gym; this also includes when you are inside the pod. Only once you are physically in the gym are you able to remove your face covering.
Please do not share equipment or move any equipment within the Oval gym. Kit has been placed to ensure social distancing can take place.
Our changing rooms including all showers (opposite our gym entrance) will remain closed due to the confined space. We urge members to arrive in gym kit ready to workout and bring the bare minimum with them.
All our activities have maximum numbers allocated.
Members are required to bring their own water bottles for refilling at water machines.
We have maximised ventilation in all areas of our gym to ensure the circulation of fresh air.
Group Exercise Class Measures
The General Measures detailed above will apply.
Please maintain social distancing at all times.
Members/customers will need to book upto 3 days in advance via our website. We have allowed time for cleaning of the studio and changeover of participants in between classes.
Class capacity has been reduced to ensure social distancing in the Sports Village but we have now introduced live streaming of certain classes from Studio 1 so you have a greater virtual offering and can join classes from wherever you are. Our Group Exercise Timetable can be found HERE.
Where classes involve shared equipment, (e.g. circuit training) we have adapted the class to remove the need for equipment.
All members/customers must bring their own yoga and pilates mats. We are unable to provide mats.
Some virtual and outdoor classes have remained but we are also running classes in our Studio 1/Sports hall 3 spaces to allow for social distancing.
Our changing rooms including all showers (opposite our Sports Halls) are open, however we request that all members/customers arrive at the Village in gym kit ready to workout.
Toilets on our ground floor will be open as usual.
Members/customers are required to bring their own water bottles for refilling at water machines. Water bottles will be available to purchase at Reception if needed.
Swimming Pool Measures
The General Measures detailed above will apply.
Please maintain social distancing at all times.
Lane swimming now operates in double-width 25 metre lanes. Capacity is based on Swim England guidance and will be continually reviewed.
All swim sessions must be booked online upto 3 days in advance for members (upto 1 day in advance for non-members), through our website so we can manage capacity in the pool at all times.
Our poolside changing areas are open but we encourage people to arrive 'beach ready' in swimming costumes and ready for their swim to avoid gathering in changing rooms.
Sessions are a maximum of 45 minutes long to allow for the cleaning of our changing rooms and showers.
Pool rule notices are visible in our changing rooms and we actively ask all members/customers to follow these at all times.
Lane swimming sessions: we can only allow competent swimmers at this time. You must be able to swim a minimum of 25 metres continuously. If you are unable to swim 25 metres, please speak to a member of our team and we'll do our best to facilitate your swimming experience.
Casual swimming sessions: you do not need to be a competent swimmer to use our casual swimming sessions. These are for swimmers of all abilities and people of all ages including children.
The viewing balcony is open for swim lesson parents in-line with social distancing.
We are no longer able to loan out pool floats or swimming aids. We ask that you come prepared with your own. Swimming fins will also not be permitted.
Family sessions: all sessions are 45 minutes long and there are 9 bookable slots in the pool meaning you and your family and friends can have your own pool bubble area. Each area has a capacity for upto 5 people - a mixture of adults and children. Floats and music will be available to use in the pool.
Plastic overshoes are no longer available and we ask all members/customers to remove footwear before entering changing areas.
Please don't forget your current £1 coins/locker coins to use in changing room lockers.
View our Pool Timetable HERE
Swimming Lessons Measures
The General Measures detailed above will apply.
Swimming lessons are recommencing from Monday 12 April 2021 - please watch this video before your first lesson back to us: Returning to Swimming Lessons Video >>
All lessons will continue to be on the same day and time and at the same stage they took place prior to closure.
As before closure, no other activities will take place in the pool when lessons are on. This will create the additional space that will be required to accommodate lessons and maintain social distancing requirements.
Arrive 'swim ready' to all lessons and on time. Onesies over the top of swimsuits and trunks are the easiest way to get ready for the lesson quickly as changing rooms will not be available before lessons start.
Ensure swim hats and goggles are worn ahead of entering the queue at lesson start times. This will help reduce gathering points and keep social distancing measures in place.
On arrival, you and your child will now be asked to enter via one of three entry points. Our three new entry points are located at our different fire exits around poolside. Stages will enter the pool via the fire exit closest to where the swimming lessons for that stage is taking place. This will provide children the shortest route possible from entry to their lesson and assist in maintaining a social distance. Please follow the signage and staff who will direct you and your child to your new entry point when you arrive for your lesson.
View our new pool layout and your entry point HERE
Lessons outside of the usual 16:00-18:00 entry time during weekdays and Saturday mornings will be required to enter lessons in the usual way, pre-COVID.
All children and parents will be required to remove their shoes before entering poolside. Plastic overshoes are no longer available so please come prepared and wear shoes that are easy to remove (this may mean you want to re-think wearing tights on swim lesson days!)
One adult should arrive with children on lessons to avoid large groups gathering together.
Our pool viewing gallery will be open for swimming lessons and will be available to use BUT this must be used in a socially distanced manner otherwise we will be required to close this area. Once parents have dropped children off at their Stage Meeting Points, they can then go through the changing rooms (keeping shoes off until outside the changing area) and exit following the one-way signage to watch in the pool viewing gallery.
Parents must arrive to collect their children promptly at the time the lesson finishes. Under 8's must be collected from poolside. Collection for children under 8 on stages 1, 2 and 4 will take place along the wall at the back of the pool where the pool timer is located. Collection for children under 8 on stages 3, 5, 6, 7 and Club Foundation will take place along the changing room wall.
Parents and children must exit through the changing rooms in the usual way and follow one-way markers on exiting the Sports Village.
Changing rooms will be open to use after lessons for drying off and get changed but we encourage all children to shower at home. Please do not use the changing rooms prior to your lesson.
Hand sanitising stations will be located at entry and exit points to swim lessons.
Swim teachers will now be instructing all lessons from poolside and will be socially distancing from children/adults. This means that bouyancy aids and arm discs will be provided if and where they are needed.
The pool floor will be lifted up in lesson times to allow all stages the ability to stand when needed. This will prevent children from reaching out for handrails, etc when they need to stop and aid everyone in social distancing.
Swim Teachers will dip all floats and bouyancy aids in the water between lessons to sanitise.
Lifeguards and cleaners will be regularly cleaning and sanitising touch points in and around poolside including pool handrails and steps.
Racquet Sport Measures
Sadly we cannot facilitate casual racquet sport bookings until further notice.
We are still able to accomodate block bookings and performance athlete usuage in-line with national governing bodies covid guidelines.
The General Measures detailed above will apply.
Please maintain social distancing at all times.
All court bookings must be pre-booked upto 3 days in advance via our website.
Sessions are a maximum of 55 minutes long to allow for changeover between booked sessions.
Members/customers are required to bring their own equipment (racquets, balls, shuttlecocks).
All members/customers must use the hand sanitiser provided as they enter the Village.
We ask that you don't remove or change around equipment that is set out in the halls.
Members/customers are required to bring their own water bottles for refilling at water machines. Water bottles will be available to purchase at Reception if needed.
Squash Court Measures
There must be no more than two players on court at one time.
Please don't touch the walls. Wipe your hands on your towel or sweatband.
Wash your hands frequently - including before and after you play.
Bring your own racquet and balls and disinfect them frequently.
Follow the England Squash advice for socially distanced games and practices HERE.
Climbing Wall Measures
Sadly we cannot facilitate casual climbing bookings until further notice.
We are still able to accomodate kids NICAS climbing courses and bouldering for all.
The General Measures detailed above will apply.
Please maintain social distancing at all times.
Sessions must be pre-booked upto 3 days in advance via our website. Sessions will be limited to 85 minutes to allow for cleaning of the area after each session. Due to the elements of safety around climbing, we have made these sessions longer than our other facility areas.
Members/customers who have completed our Sports Village climbing competency assessment can book an open climbing session currently. If you are unsure, you can check whether you are competent with our Reception Team.
Under 18's or a new climber can climb provided they are accompanied by a competent adult from the same household.
Competent climbers can only supervise one climber at a time.
We are not hiring out equipment so please make sure you bring your own.
We request that only one session is booked per member/customer, per day to give all members/customers access to the Climbing Wall.
Climbers will be asked to use liquid chalk only - this can be purchased at Reception.
Hand sanitising stations are located at Reception and around the Climbing Wall for both members/customers and staff to utilise. We recommend hand washing before entering and when leaving the Climbing Wall. We also recommend sanitising your hands regularly between each climb.
Members/customers are required to bring their own water bottles for refilling at water machines. Water bottles are available to purchase at Reception if needed.
Kids Parties and Conferencing Measures
Sadly we cannot facilitate kids parties and conferencing bookings until further notice.
All bookings for sessions must now be made via our website. This includes gym and swim sessions. Payment, if applicable will be required at time of booking for both members and non-members.
Block Bookings Measures
Outdoor Bookings – The government guidelines state ‘organised outdoor sport, and physical activity and exercise classes can continue’.
Indoor Bookings – The government guidelines state ‘organised indoor sport, physical activity and exercise classes will only be permitted if it is possible for people to avoid mixing with people they do not live with (or share a support bubble with). There are exceptions for indoor disability sport, sport for educational purposes and supervised sport and physical activity for under-18s, which can take place with larger groups mixing’.
Bookings for groups of under 18 year olds can now take place indoors following NGB guidelines.
Further information can be found on the government website - https://www.gov.uk/guidance/local-restriction-tiers-what-you-need-to-know#high-alert .
Please also follow the guidelines in place from your sport’s National Governing Body (NGB).
How to Book Online
We ask everyone (whether you are a member with us or not) to book all sessions with us online before visiting. We have provided you with some step-to-step guides on how to do this HERE.
After reading our guides and setting up your account, you can book your sessions via our website HERE.
Our HSV Book app is currently offline whilst we resolve booking issues. We will let you know when this is back up and running.
If you are a member and are experiencing booking difficulties when booking via our website, it may mean there is an issue with your membership. Please contact our Memberships Team at hsv.memberships@herts.ac.uk for further help.