Covid 19 Update
22nd October - Statement from the Board of Tennis Ireland - Level 5 Update II
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:- Non-contact training / coaching can continue for school aged children under the supervision of designated coaches. It must occur outdoors in pods of no more than 6 players per court. A maximum of 4 players can operate on the court at any one time while remaining in their own sections of the court, with up to 2 other players rotating in and out as required. All activities are subject to strict social distancing and those players not on court must always maintain a clear 2m distance from others.
- High Performance / Professional Players are permitted to continue to train both indoors and outdoors.
High Performance is defined as covering those who are:
- Professional sports people and those who participate within professional competition
- A member of a high-performance team funded by Tennis Ireland e.g. Davis and Fed Cup, Team Ireland programme recipients
- Those who compete at major international events including European and World Champions, Olympic and Paralympic Games, Grand Slam, ATP, WTA, ITF Men / Women’s World Tour
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.22nd October - Statement from the Board of Tennis Ireland - Level 5 Update
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.
Ends21st October 2020 Statement from the Board of Tennis Ireland - Level 5
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
- Outdoor Courts can remain open for restricted play.
- Singles Play is only allowed on a casual basis for exercise purposes only.
- Doubles play is allowed only with member from the same household.
- Players to live within a 5km radius of the club
- There should be no adult training, coaching or matches.
- Indoor courts should remain closed.
- The Clubhouse should close with an exception for the reception area if required for registration or emergency purposes
- A designated Club COVID-19 Officer must be on site during opening hours
- Players must have a pre-reserved playing time, and all details recorded for contact tracing purposes
- Staggered arrival times should be in operation to minimise groups gathering
Coaching
- Junior Outdoor Coaching must only take place in pods of 6 per court with a maximum of 4 on court at any one time and staying in their section of the court
- No coaching is allowed for non-school aged players
- Children allowed to travel beyond 5km to train
- Coaches allowed to travel beyond 5km to work on children’s training programmes.
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
- Minimise touch points – gates open, courtside furniture removed
- One parent/guardian must accompany any player under 18 years if playing casually
- Promotion of social distancing at all times
- Posters to be displayed and sanitising stations readily accessible
- All players, and not just the player making the booking, should be included in the booking
- Players encouraged to travel to the club alone, or only with a member of the same household.
- Ample car parking spaces should be available to ensure social distancing. 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.
29th June 2020 Covid Statement
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.
The key changes for this phase is that both 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. The club is still recommending that players continue to only use their own balls when playing with players outside the household. Visitors to the clubs (with green fees) are allowed again but contact tracing information for visitors must be provided when paying green fees.All information on the latest Covid-19 guidelines are available on the KCTC website at https://kilfeacletennis.ie/
and we ask that members returning to tennis become familiar with them. In summary, members should ensure: - All games are pre-booked and all players on court are accurately recorded on the court booking system for contact tracing.
- Both 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
- Use at least two sets of clearly marked tennis balls. These should be alternated for serving with each player/partners only touching their individual/partners tennis balls.
- Hand sanitizer is provided in the dispensers at the entrance so please use both before and after play.
- Waste bins are removed from the club and all bottles and other waste must be removed from the club after play.
- Court side water dispenser and extern taps are turned off so please bring your own water.
- Visitors to the clubs (with green fees) are allowed again but contact tracing information for visitors must be provided when paying green fees.
Enjoy the tennis and stay safe.
KCTC CommitteeWho 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.