CHILDREN were back together on pitches yesterday and adults able to exercise alongside one another as restrictions were relaxed on outdoor sport.
Groups of up to 15 people, including coaches, are now permitted to take part in structured outdoor sports training.
Athletics NI said its members were "excited to get back to training", while Ulster Rugby head coach Dan McFarland said it was "brilliant" that young people were back on pitches.
"I think it’s really important that when the kids are coming back in and starting to enjoy their rugby again that we appreciate that they’re re-connecting," he said.
"We all know everybody who's got families understands that this time has been really difficult. Coming back in and being in that social environment is really important.
"The second thing is, they’ve got to have fun, we all know that.
"We’ve got to focus on making sure the fun is in the training, and focus on the basic things like skills.
"All of that sits alongside the guidance you’ve got to follow, but the excitement and the enjoyment of getting back in together is really going to drive you."
Brian Tierney, mayor of Derry and Strabane district council, also welcomed the restart of outdoor sport, describing it as "a positive step forward towards getting teams and clubs back training and involved in sporting activity".
"We are not out of the woods yet and it's important that as we gradually and sequentially reopen some of our facilities through sub steps, we continue to keep social distancing, mask wearing and washing our hands, to the foremost of our minds," he said.
"It is really good news that we can return to outdoor sport but it's important that we take all the necessary precautions to protect people and ensure we can move on to the next stages of reopening."
