Tennis to Reopen from April 1st 2021 under Level 2 Restrictions

Enniskillen Tennis Club are delighted to confirm that we have now received official confirmation of the Reopening of Tennis in Northern Ireland from April 1st

The ELTC Committee are delighted to confirm that the Northern Ireland Executive have announced that the sport of Tennis can reopen from April 1st, but on a restricted basis. Tennis will be one of the first sports to resume under Step 2 of the Northern Ireland Executive's reopening pathway.

Tennis Ireland and the Ulster Branch have welcomed this statement and have finalised Return to Tennis Guidelines that are specific to Northern Ireland’s clubs, players and coaches.

As a result, our courts will be open from Thursday 1st April 2021 but under conditions so that we can meet those guidelines from the start.

Accordingly, the Committee are asking that ALL of our members adhere strictly to ALL of these guidelines.

Crucial to these guidelines are the traceability elements included within our online booking facility (https://eltc.mycourts.co.uk/bookings.asp ) and it is therefore only paid up members who book courts online through our court booking system that can play tennis. Therefore, at this stage NO VISITORS can play, even with a member.

WHAT FORMS OF TENNIS ARE ALLOWED FROM 1st APRIL 2021

In short the activities of the club fall in to the following two categories.

ALLOWED FROM 1st APRIL - subject to Level 2 Guidelines attached

Coaching : allowed for a maximum of four players per court and from no more than two households
Singles play
Doubles play – provided partners are from the same household
Singles Box League

(Note : Players under the age of 16 need to be accompanied by a parent/guardian for all play)

NOT YET ALLOWED

Junior Club Nights
Adult Club Nights
Doubles Box League (New once restrictions allow)
Spring League
Competitions

Note : The club will issue further updates as guidelines are updated by Sport NI and Ulster Tennis and we will commence these events as soon as guidelines permit.

Latest information is that guidelines may be updated by Sport NI in mid-April.

Note : A separate email will be sent in the coming days ifor members to register for the Singles Box League

MEMBERSHIP FEES : Membership for 2021/22 are due for renewal from 1st April with payment required by 30th April 2021

While members have, over the course of 2020, experienced a number of periods where no tennis was allowed under Covid restrictions, we are pleased that including the new Singles Box League, the courts were heavily used during those periods when the club was open. Equally, we are appreciative of the support that members have shown the club throughout all of the Covid restrictions, enabling the Club to maintain the courts and the clubhouse and retain all of its services as we move forward into what we all hope is a one-way pathway out of Covid.

Note : A separate membership email will be sent in the coming days including details on how to pay with membership forms and direct debit mandates attached.

The initial direct debit deduction is planned for Friday 30th April.

As in previous years and in line with Level 2 Covid requirements all memberships will remain live until 30th April to facilitate payments.

Members Impacted by COVID-19

As for 2020/21, the committee hope that most members are in a position to pay fees as normal. However, we do recognise that there will be members whose income is directly affected by Covid 19 and as for last year we would ask that any member whose income is significantly affected by Covid-19 advise a member of the committee either verbally or in writing as early as possible Please be assured that any communications will be kept in strictest confidence and that on contact, the committee will make direct and specific steps to address the position.

Plan for Playing Tennis during Level 2 of The NI Executive’s Pathway Out of Restrictions

The full guidelines and restrictions are attached to this email and the club would ask all members to read the document prior to play commencing on 1st April.

While not a substitute for the full guidelines we have laid out a bullet point summary of the key provisions and how they apply to our members under each of the 9 headings included in the Level 2 restrictions agreed with Sport NI.

1. Club Covid Committee

Covid-19 Officer : Maxine Leary
Covid Emergency Committee : Maxine Leary, John Griffin, Evelyn Cousins, Ruth Elliott, Matthew McGann and Mark Cousins
The Committee must ensure that tournaments and events are postponed during Level 2 but allow internal singles Ladder matches to take place.

2. Court Access – to access the courts a player must

Be a current member
Have a pre-reserved playing time.
Doubles play is only allowed when partners are from the same household.
A parent/guardian should accompany any player under 16 years and if not playing the adult must stay in car or car park for the duration of the junior’s session.
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

3. Booking and Arrival

Book your court in advance via our court booking system – essential part of contact tracing requirements
All players, and not just the player making the booking, should be included in the booking .
Factor into your booking times the requirement to vacate the court 10 minutes before the end of your session.
Bring your own water and sanitizer.
If your session is cancelled it is imperative that you cancel your online booking.
Don’t forget to bring your phone to check in when you get to court.
Players should travel to the club alone, or only with a member of the same household
Players should ensure that they utilise toilet facilities in their own home prior to arriving at the club.

4. Check-in

Check-in on your phone prior to starting your match
Remain in the carpark until your court is free to enter.
Enter via the designated gates. The gates will be propped slightly open to avoid the need to touch them.
Players should observe social distancing at all times and resist the temptation to mingle
Players should sanitise their hands using dispensers provided at the entrance to the club and court

5. Clubhouse Access

There will be no access to the clubhouse for lights so play can only take place during daylight hours.
The clubhouse, the steps up to the clubhouse and the area at the top of the steps are strictly out of bounds.
Only exceptions to this is are for access to the defibrillator, the First Aid kit or to use the toilets in an emergency..
Toilets can be utilised during Level 2 but on a one in / one out basis.
The committee ask that players should ensure that they utilise toilet facilities in their own home prior to arriving at the club to minimise use of the clubhouse
Changing rooms and showers facilities will remain closed during this Phase of reopening
There will be no access to the clubhouse for lights so play can only take place iduring daylight hours

6. To the Court

Players should enter the court one at a time
Parents supervising children should be mindful of social distancing.

7. On the Court – Playing

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 should ideally bring a small bottle of hand sanitizer with them and keep it in their pocket or bag for use.
While it is not mandatory, players are encouraged to bring and use their own initialled tennis balls.

8. On the Court – Coaching

Coaching sessions must be booked with the participant’s contact details recorded by the Matthew and Louise.
Coaching will only be provided to club members
Matthew and Louise will brief their students and/or their parents of the protocols that should be followed in advance of the session and they will ensure that all coaching protocols are in line with the Level 2 protocols
Coaching sessions should operate with a maximum of four players per court and from no more than two households with a coach observing from a safe distance.

9. Getting Home Safely

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/NHS and then inform their club. The club should contact the NHS and follow the advice provided to them on the next steps

69513_Ulster_Clubs_Level_2___from_1st_April_2021.pdf (PDF, 576 KB)

18/03/2021

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