Phased Return to Tennis in the CIAC.

In these extraordinary times it comes bitter sweet to be announcing these requirements and guidelines to get us all back on to the courts to do something that we all took for granted only a few short months ago. This is a serious matter so please read through this mail to the end. It’s not short but it is important.

Before I go into the details I would like to thank all our frontline health/retail/services members of which we have many, for their bravery and service to us all. It is an unseen, deceptive and dangerous enemy. I know how difficult it can be to risk your health and your families’ health each time you take up your roles and I thank you on behalf of the club and all its members.

Therefore, knowing the terrible loss this country has suffered with many families losing loved ones and so many risking the same while doing their jobs, I am outlining these steps to ensure that we as a club and as a society are doing as much as we can to minimise any risk while providing an outlet for exercise and fun with friends we haven’t seen in a long time.

For this to be successful it will require individual responsibility. We can only advise and set the rules but you as members will need to take it upon yourself  to adhere to them.
Thankfully its mostly common sense here with one or two strict rules that we must enforce.

We need to make it clear these few points.

1. Only Pre-booked play will be allowed. – You will not be allowed to just turn up and go onto a court. We will ask people to leave the club if this is the case. Please do not put us or yourself into this position.
2. Contact details must be up to date and accurate. – We need to have the details correct in the case where contact tracing is required. We hope that this will never arise but we need to ensure the details are there.
3. All players on the court must be named on the booking. – Again for contact tracing we need to be able to easily go through our bookings and see who someone played with and when. All details need to be updated.
4. Strictly Members Only – In this phase we can only allow members and not guests. In later phases we will address this.

We are taking these rules very seriously as if not adhered to the safety of our members is at risk, the reputation of the club is at risk and the reputation of the early sports allowed to do this is at risk.
Many other sports will be looking to see how Tennis and golf manage in this early phase. They will be looking to us to do it right so that other sports can get their chance to get back active.

We will provide hand sanitizers at the court entrances, please use it. Entrance to courts 1, 4 and 7 will be left open so no need to handle them. Court 3 entrance will be closed. Please enter via court 1.

Ensure entering to the courts that you adhere to the usual etiquette while adding the social distance.

If you are posting on social media, please make sure to advise that all guidelines are in place in the CIAC. There is a lot of scaremongering on social media and we would like the right message coming from the CIAC.

If you see that hand sanitizer is missing or empty, if you see anyone not adhering to the guidelines or you have any comment please let us know at tennisciac@gmail.com and we will pick it up.

Thank you. Stay safe. Have fun. Reconnect and please adhere to the following guidelines.

Cathal Sherlock
CIAC Tennis Captain.

• Have been in contact with someone with COVID-19 in the last 14 days
• Have been overseas or exposed to someone with COVID-19 in the last 14 days
• Have flu-like symptoms
• If you are in a high risk health category check with your GP prior to playing

• Only pre-booked play will be allowed. There will be no exceptions.
• Pre book your court online or on Mobile App.
  • Ebookingonline.net/box/278
  • Video Tutorial
• Address and contact details must be accurate and Updated if not.
  • Click Manage Account when you login to Ebookingonline.net/box/278
  • Video Tutorial
• Only people core to playing should attend tennis activities such as players, participants, coaches and operational personnel
• Arrive and leave as close as possible to when you need to be there
• Court Gates 1, 4 and 7 to be used only.
• Only one parent/guardian should accompany younger children where possible.
• Singles should only be played unless you are playing with a member of your household
• Club house will remain closed in this phase so no access to toilets or changing rooms.

• Players must refrain from handshakes and high fives

• Keep 2 metres away from other people while watching or attending an outdoors tennis activity.

• Do not share food, towels and drinks

• Wash your hands frequently with soap and water or hand-sanitiser when available, before and after eating, after going to the toilet, sneezing and coughing

• Cover your coughs and sneezes and dispose of any used tissue immediately

• Avoid touching your face

• Keep your distance from people who are obviously sick

• Be aware of what surfaces you touch and if you touch the on court equipment such as net, net handle, hoses you must clean these before you leave.

• Change ends at opposite sides of the net. If this is not possible then do not change ends.

• Use two sets of clearly marked tennis balls. These should be alternated for serving with each player only touching their individual tennis balls.

• Use your racquet / foot to pick up balls and hit them to your opponent. Avoid using your hands to pick up the balls.

• Remain apart from other players when taking a break.

• If a ball from another court comes across, send it back with a kick or with a racquet.

• Once play has finished players should leave the club promptly

• Hands should be washed and sanitised as soon as possible

• Ensure equipment is cleaned thoroughly after use.  Tennis balls can be sprayed with a disinfectant

• If a player becomes unwell after playing, they should first contact their GP/HSE and then inform their club. The club will then follow advice provided to them by the HSE on the next steps

• If you witness poor practice report it to the club as soon as possible