It's been a disappointing weekend that has unfortunately brought NZ back in Alert Levels 3 and 2. It certainly is frustrating to be back in the higher Alert Levels so quickly and we all hope for a quick return to level 1. You will be very familiar with the permitted tennis activity across the alert levels but if you'd like a re-fresh, you'll find everything you need at https://tennis.kiwi/covid-19
Level 3 is not an easy situation for tennis coaches to be in. We certainly have empathy with coaches in Level 3 and understand the impact this has on your coaching business. Tennis NZ continues to advocate for a review in permitted coaching activity at Level 3 and we will keep you informed on this progress. This morning, Sport NZ have confirmed that they will again revisit this request with MBIE and the COVID response team.
14 February 2021 - Sport NZ unfortunately confirmed that private coaching of sports at Level 3 is still not permitted.
August 2020 - Tennis NZ approached MBIE and Sport NZ to advocate for a review to allow 1-1 coaching at Alert Level 3. Over the following months we have continued to pursue this request - and will continue to do so on behalf of professional tennis coaches.
At this stage, tennis coaching of any form is not allowed under Alert Level 3 or 4 (unless you are in your students bubble), but we will update you with any news or feedback from Sport NZ as soon as we get it.
Below is the information we shared with Sport NZ last year, and we will continue to work with other similarly safe sports to advocate for 1-1 coaching at level 3.
After reviewing all of the Government literature regarding businesses operating at Level 3, we see tennis is in a strong and safe position to deliver private (1-1) tennis lessons in an environment that meets and exceeds all health, safety, and hygiene requirements at Level 3. Tennis coaches do not have the option to work from home, but we believe they can operate safely from tennis courts. Tennis coaching DOES NOT require or involve close physical contact. Tennis coaching is safer, and can guarantee better health, safety, and hygiene practices than, for example, a real estate agent undertaking private viewings, or a tradesperson entering your house for repairs.
Professional tennis coaches will:
Only offer 1-1 private lessons
Only operate in an outdoor environment
Schedule clients through text or online booking
Keep full contact tracing records of all clients
Display a QR code poster at the club/coaching venue
Ensure a suitable change over gap between clients to ensure clients can arrive and leave safely
Receive contactless payments online or through bank transfer
Sanitise touch points such as gate handles between lessons
Display/provide online a safety plan for safe coaching operations as required from April 2020
Remain a minimum of 13.5 metres away from clients at all times (the distance between the two service lines)
Coach and client will ALWAYS remain on opposite sides of the net from one another
Restrict clients from ANY contact with equipment other than the client’s own tennis racquet
Client will not touch tennis balls or practice serving
Coach will be the only one to touch any equipment
For a reminder on permitted tennis activity at during the alert levels, please visit: https://tennis.kiwi/covid-19
