Given the almost Daily Updates to the requirements relating to International Travel, the following protocol has been deemed appropriate to Access the Courts under Level 5 Restrictions. 
A member must

• Not be subject to a Quarantine Restriction as per the Department of Foreign Affairs Travel protocols. For more information visit https://www.dfa.ie/travel/travel-advice/coronavirus/general-covid-19-travel-advisory/ 
  
• Those who come back to Ireland from any Country not designated a Category 2 State, must Quarantine at home and may exit Quarantine with a negative or 'not detected' PCR test taken 5 days following their arrival at the earliest. 

Doubles is back as you probably know! Tennis Ireland have advised that we can play doubles again as part of the Phase 3 protocols.

You will find a list of all Recommendations for Phase 3 on the Tennis Ireland Website. We ask all members to read and adhere to the Recommendations.

The Covid Committee met today to review all recommendations and felt that at this stage it is not possible to implement all of these at this moment. Please bear with us as we work out the safest and fairest way for us to do this. Below is a summary of what changes are coming into effect and which ones are still on hold pending further review.

What's Changing?

Both singles play and doubles play is now permitted with people from outside of your household, so long as you remain 2 metres apart as much as possible

Players do not now need to use their own clearly marked tennis balls.

If you choose to use shared balls then extra care must be taken to ensure you do not touch your face during play, and you should clean / sanitise your hands before play, during play (Particularly after Serving) and immediately after finishing.

Internal club competitions will be run subject to appropriate protocols. More announcements will follow very shortly on what internal events are being organised by the club.

What’s not changing?

Visitors/Guest Players are NOT ALLOWED FOR NOW due to the very high demand for Courts at present. This will be reviewed in the future.

The Clubhouse will not open up at present. The toilet is available when needed but we ask players to minimise use to emergencies only. We do plan to have the Clubhouse open for all upcoming internal/Social events.

Consecutive court bookings are not allowed to minimise the requirement for toilet usage between games.

All names must be included on each court booking. If you get a sub, you must change the name on the booking.

Maintain social distancing, clean your hands, avoid unnecessary contact, do not play if feeling unwell.

Members should be encouraged to remind other members of the guidelines, in a gentle way, when they witness poor practices.

Again, please enjoy the return to doubles. Please continue to observe all of the guidelines in the club...more people means a higher risk, making the guidelines more important than ever.

Thanks for your brilliant and continuing support

Covid Committee

1.       Ensure that your booking has your name and the name of your opponent (very important for contact tracing)

2.       Ensure you have 3 marked balls which can be easily identified (see Tennis Ireland recommendations on tennis balls below)

3.       Check which court you’re playing on. You need to park close to the court. See map below

4.       Bring water with you. Taps are turned off at the club

5.       It is strongly recommended that you bring your own hand sanitizer.

6.       Go to the bathroom if needed! No access to clubhouse

7.       Follow Tennis Ireland Stay at home policies

1.       Park in the designated parking area for your court (see attached parking layout. Look out for signs when you get there)

2.       Wait at your car until others leave

3.       When the court has been vacated, sanitize your hands

4.       Enter court using your racket to open and close the gate.

5.       Do not drop your bag close to your opponents

1.       Physical distancing should be observed throughout the period of play, particularly on change of ends and entering and exiting the court

2.       Players must refrain from handshakes and high fives or other contact 

3.       Each player brings their own marked balls and only serves with these. 

4.       Players should use their racquet / foot to pick up balls and hit them to their opponent or adjacent court and should avoid using their hands to pick up the balls. 

5.       Players should remain apart from other players when taking a break. 

6.       Leave you court on time and avoid contact with oncoming players. 

Clubhouse is out of bounds but First aid kit is available inside the main door for EMERGENCIES ONLY

1.       Once play has finished players should leave the premises promptly, sanitising their hands on the way out using a courtside dispenser.

See latest Update from Tennis Ireland. Over 70s now allowed to play!

Tennis Ireland recommendation for 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