Wednesday 29 September 2021 update

We are pleased to share with you the update of how we can return to the court – across the state! Thank you for your patience as we have worked through the many nuances in the State Government directives. From today, Metropolitan Melbourne can safely return to the court under the below restrictions. As communicated recently, the Chief Health Officer’s directives were published early this morning and the below is the interpretation of these directives for tennis.

Please continue to use and encourage venue users to practice COVIDSafe principles at all times.

Follow the COVIDSafe principles:

• Please carry a face mask at all times and wear a face mask for situations when you cannot physically distance yourself from others (1.5m apart).

• Do not play if you are sick or unwell.

• Everyone attending the courts must check in via the Service Victoria QR code.

• Cough or sneeze into your elbow or tissue.

• Use good hand hygiene.

Metropolitan Melbourne, Mitchell Shire and City of Latrobe COVID-19 restrictions:

Tennis Coaches fall under the Personal Training classification and follow the newly established COVID-19 Vaccinated Activities Directions.

• Group coaching can return with two people plus a coach (for participants and the coach who are not fully vaccinated).
• Group coaching can return with five people plus a coach (for participants and the coach who are all fully vaccinated). The coach must sight evidence of vaccination for all five people and record this information. We have created a template to help you with this.
• Participants younger than 12 years of age are treated as a fully vaccinated person.
• As per the COVID-19 Vaccinated Activities Directions, there is a requirement of coaches or coaching business operators to collect, record, hold and sight vaccination information, if they are in excess of the patron limits (column 4 below).

• As per the Stay at Home Directions recreational tennis (Book a court / casual court hire);
  • Singles play can return for two people for participants who are not fully vaccinated.
  • Doubles play can return for four people from no more than two households for fully vaccinated participants. Participants must carry proof of vaccination and may be required to show this to an authorised officer at any time.
• As per the COVID-19 Vaccinated Activities Directions, in the instance where a person that has obtained certification from a medical practitioner that the person is unable, due to a medical contraindication, to receive a dose, or a further dose, of a COVID-19 vaccine; they are classified as an excepted person and are classified as fully vaccinated for the categories outlined above.
• The Stay at Home Directions, the Restricted Activity Directions and the COVID-19 Vaccinated Activities Directions are all silent on a venue cap. Based on our discussions with State Government, our interpretation is that the above group coaching and people limits apply per court.
• Players must reside within 15km of the tennis facility that they are playing at and exercise activity can be for up to four hours.
• Face coverings are to be worn except if a medical exception applies. They can be removed when participating.
• Competition is not permitted.
• All tennis venues must have Service Victoria QR code check-in signage clearly displayed in a prominent location and all venue attendees must check in.
• Indoor facilities, including toilets, must remain closed.