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:

• A parent/guardian must accompany any player under 16 years. Only adult members can play after 7pm.
• Not have been out of the country in the last 14 days
• Not have been around someone with symptoms of Covid-19 in the last 14 days
• Not be in a period of self-isolation and/or cocooning under the current Health Policy Rules
• Not be displaying COVID-19 symptoms
• Have a pre-reserved playing time at the club
• Visitors to the clubs (with green fees) are allowed again but contact tracing information for visitors must be provided when paying green fees.
   

Changes to Booking System

Members will note that there are a number of changes to the KCTC court booking system including:

• Starting times of each court are now staggered to limit interaction between players on different courts when entering and leaving the club.
• Booking times for games are now increased to 75 minutes. Please finish up 10 minutes before the next group are scheduled so you can leave the club fully before other players arrive. Ideally you will have left the club before the next group arrive to play.
• All players entering the club (which must be 2020 club members) must be recorded in the online booking system. This information is required for contact tracing.
• Junior players that are playing will also need to be registered and recorded in the booking system.

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

• Singles play and doubles play will be permitted with people from outside of their household, as long as they remain 2 metres apart as much as possible
• Book a court time in advance using the KCTC ebooking system. This will assist should contact tracing be required subsequently.
• All players, and not just the player making the booking, should be included in the booking. If there is a last minute change to who is playing, it is advisable to make sure the booking is updated to reflect this.
• Players should travel to the club alone, or only with a member of the same household.
• Players should utilise the available space in the car park and avoid parking next to other cars if possible. If players must park next to another car, they should wait for the other person to exit or enter before doing so themselves.
• Players should arrive at the court entrance no more than 5 minutes prior to the reserved playing time. It is important that players maintain social distancing and wait in a pre- designated waiting area that allows for social distancing
• Players should observe social distancing at all times and resist the temptation to mingle
• Players should arrive in tennis attire and change footwear at the car or at home.
• Players should sanitise their hands using dispensers provided at the entrance to the club and courts.
• Players should head straight to their designated court on arrival.

When On Court

• Physical distancing should be observed throughout the period of play, particularly on change of ends and entering and exiting the court.
• Players should change ends at opposite sides of the net.
• Players must refrain from handshakes and high fives
• Equipment such as towels, food, and drink must not be exchanged between players. Players are encouraged to bring their own drinks and towels.
• Players should avoid touching their face after handling a ball, racquet, or other equipment.
• Players should ideally bring a small bottle of hand sanitizer with them and keep it in their pocket or bag for use.
• Players should use two sets of clearly marked tennis balls. These should be alternated for serving with each player only touching their individual tennis balls.
• Players should use their racquet / foot to pick up balls and hit them to their opponent and should avoid using their hands to pick up the balls.
• Players should remain apart from other players when taking a break.
• If a ball from another court comes across, players should send it back with a kick or with a racquet but avoid handling it with their hands.

At End of Play

• Once play has finished players should leave the premises promptly, sanitising their hands on the way out using a courtside dispenser.
• If a player becomes unwell after playing, they should first contact their GP/HSE and then inform the club by emailing info@kilfeacletennis.ie. The club will then contact the HSE and follow the advice provided to us on the next steps.

Observing Covid 19 Protocols

• Members should, where necessary, remind other members of the guidelines, in a gentle way, when they witness poor practices. Repeated poor practice should be reported to the club as soon as possible.

Recommendations on Tennis Balls

• Practice caution with the tennis balls. Although there is no specific evidence that tennis balls can spread COVID-19, we know that contamination from respiratory droplets from an infected person can potentially survive on hard surfaces for up to three days.
• Replace balls if someone suspected of having COVID 19 comes in contact with them.
• Consider spraying balls with a disinfectant spray at the conclusion of play.
• Using new balls on a very regular basis is highly encouraged.