Dear President / Secretary / General Manager,
An Taoiseach, Micheál Martin, this evening announced the return of “full scale” Level 5 restrictions from midnight tonight until at least January 31st in a bid to contain the spread of the Covid-19 virus.
Unfortunately, this means that no indoor or outdoor tennis activities, including those involving children, should take place with an exception for designated High Performance Players*
Since the start of the pandemic in Ireland, Tennis Ireland have fully endorsed the public health advice of the Irish Government. We have engaged extensively and successfully with government to highlight the health and mental health benefits of tennis and the strong compliance with the safety protocols which has ensured that our sport has been a safe outlet for people of all ages during the pandemic.
We will endeavour to maintain this engagement in an effort to ensure our sport remains closed for as short a period as possible and to seek additional supports for our clubs during these difficult times.
Regards
Richard Fahey
Chief Executive
Tennis Ireland
Dear President / Secretary / General Manager,
Please note that following the receipt of additional guidance from Sport Ireland, the Level 5 Protocols which came into force on 24th December have been updated for the Republic of Ireland.
With immediate effect, participants in unsupervised / un-coached activity should be from a maximum of 2 households. This means that outdoor doubles play is not permitted unless a partner is from the same household.
As previously advised, no doubles play is allowed indoors.
Regards
Richard Fahey
Chief Executive
Tennis Ireland
Dear Club President / Secretary / Manager
You will probably have heard by now that the Government, earlier today, announced a move to Level 5 Restrictions from 24th December.
Thankfully, the Level 5 restrictions have been amended on this occasion in that they will allow Tennis and other sporting activities to remain open subject to certain restrictions.
From 27 December one must stay within their county unless there is a need to leave for essential purposes (as listed on https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/2dc71-level-5/?referrer=http://www.gov.ie/level5/#domestic-travel-restrictions )
We are finalising an updated guidelines document and hope to be in a position to issue it to clubs once we have received clarification on the indoor courts.
Thank you for your patience and support as always.
Regards
Richard Fahey
Chief Executive
Tennis Ireland
Dear Club President / Secretary / Club Manager,
Tennis Ireland and the wider sporting sector have received clarification from Government, this evening, in relation to the protocols that refer to Level 5 of the Framework for Restrictive Measures to deal with the COVID-19 emergency.
The Government’s guidance on Level 5 is now clear, with the risk to public health meaning that individuals are asked to stay at home with certain exceptions.
The protocols, as they relate to Tennis, can be summarised as follows;
No Tennis activities should take place during the Level 5 restriction with the following exceptions:
High Performance is defined as covering those who are:
Facilities / Clubs
As they are not recognised as essential services, the decision of Government is that all gyms, leisure centres, swimming pools and other sports facilities including Tennis Clubs and courts must close during the Level 5 restrictions. This includes both indoor and outdoor sports facilities.
It is permitted to open sports facilities (including Tennis Clubs) for training by High Performance Players.
It will also be permitted to open outdoor courts for structured training sessions by school aged children, i.e. those aged 18 years and younger, as per the recommended pod system. This must be conducted under the supervision of designated coaches and in compliance with approved COVID-19 protocols and all relevant public health guidance.
During these training sessions it will only be permitted for participants and relevant coaching and support personnel to be present.
In the case of children’s sport, parents will be permitted to attend for child safeguarding purposes, however, they will be required to comply with social distancing and other public health advice.
Tennis Ireland understands the disappointment and difficulties that the government instructions will pose for players, coaches, club volunteers and staff but the challenge caused by COVID-19 impacts across all sectors of society and sport and we need a nationwide effort to fight it.
We are asking that clubs implement the above measures in order to help safeguard staff and members. This will allow our juniors to continue to train safely and will protect our communities while the threat of COVID-19 exists.
Tennis Ireland will issue more detailed guidance to its member clubs directly tomorrow.
Dear Club President / Secretary / Club Manager,
Following a communication this morning from Sport Ireland, Tennis Ireland, notwithstanding to its communication yesterday evening, must unfortunately now ask all member Clubs to suspend all activities (including all junior coaching programmes) in the Republic of Ireland with immediate effect.
The Department of Sport Expert Group is meeting this morning to finalise Level 5 protocols for sporting organisations and once these protocols have been issued to Tennis Ireland, we will communicate further with member Clubs.
Tennis Ireland understands the difficulties and disappointment that this instruction will pose for players, coaches, club volunteers and staff but the challenge caused by COVID-19 impacts across all sectors of society and sport and we need a nationwide effort to fight it. Tennis Ireland will, as it always has done, work closely with Government and Sport Ireland to reopen our sport as soon as possible, even on a restricted basis, in as safe a manner as possible.
Tennis Ireland would like to thank Clubs, their members and coaches for the work that has been done over the last number of months in providing much needed exercise and safe, socially distant enjoyment to communities across Ireland.
Ends
Dear Club President / Secretary / Club Manager,
Having considered very carefully the Government’s Framework for Living with Covid-19 and the protocols within it, and in the absence of more specific guidance from Government, the Board of Tennis Ireland’s interpretation of it is as follows until further clarification is forthcoming.
Access
Coaching
The Board of Tennis Ireland have always put the health and safety of its members and the wider community as its top priority during the COVID-19 crisis. We will continue to do so and ask that all those involved in tennis do so also by following the protocols provided by Tennis Ireland and Government.
Tennis is a safe sport and the following safety measures must continue to be in place in our clubs
Monday 29th
Dear Members.
We hope that all our members all safe and well. From Monday 29th June, phase 3 of the Tennis Ireland Return to Play Guidelines will be implemented.
All information on the latest Covid-19 guidelines are available on the KCTC website at https://kilfeacletennis.ie/
Who Can Play on the 29th June
From Monday 29th June, the club will be operating under Phase 3 back to play guidelines. Under these guidelines, a player must:
Changes to Booking System
Members will note that there are a number of changes to the KCTC court booking system including:
If you cannot login to your KCTC ebookingonline court booking account or don’t know if you have account, please go to https://ebookingonline.net/box/box3.php?id=268 and click on the Forgotten ID or PIN link under the sign in button. This will allow you to reset your account password (if the account exists). If you cannot access your account and/or know you need an account created, please email info@kilfeacletennis.ie and we will respond as soon as we can.
Court Booking and Arrival
When On Court
At End of Play
Observing Covid 19 Protocols
Recommendations on Tennis Balls