Posts in category: TTI News

TTI today issues the latest update on the Return to Play Protocols, following revised guidance by Sport Ireland.  In accordance with the ongoing relaxation of Government of Ireland restrictions, additional flexibility is now in place regarding space usage and hall numbers.  TTI Protocols should be referenced for guidance around the sport, training space, venues and facilities, etc, while broader Government policy documents should be referenced regarding implementation of ‘pod’ and capacity restrictions.  Please note that pod/capacity restrictions will continue to be eased in accordance with the laid out Government schedule, however, out of an abundance of caution, additional protocols regarding hygiene, masking, distancing and capacity requirements, including for upcoming activity, will remain on in some format in the short term, per Sport Ireland guidance.

Due to the ongoing restrictions, the 2021 Junior Classification and Senior Classification tournaments will not take place, while it is hoped to reschedule the DL Senior Open to some time after Christmas.  The 2021 National Championships will take place on 23/24 October, under the age eligibilities in place for the 2020/2021 season, to ensure that players are not overly negatively impacted by a late National Championships.  2021/2022 age restrictions will take effect following the National Championships.  It is hoped that a ‘regular’ season will then resume, with the next domestic event, the Ulster Open, scheduled to take place at the end of November, with Ireland teams due to take part, in November, in the Home Nations Championships, which will take place in Scotland.  The National Championships entry form will issue this week.

Our National Senior Squads have already resumed activity, with the National Para Squad set to resume on Sunday 26^th September and the National Junior Squad on Saturday 2^nd October.

Following the removal or relaxation, in late October, of most remaining restrictions, it is expected that most leagues, competitions and other activities should be able to resume reasonably close to normal.

In the absence of revised guidance or direction regarding resumption of indoor sports events, TTI competitive activity remains suspended and the National Championships, proposed for August, will not now take place before September.
The situation regarding the 2021/2022 Calendar will be kept under review, however, it is reasonable to assume that there is now a likelihood of a delayed start to the 2021/2022 season, and a consequent knock on effect on what/when tournaments will take place.  It is anticipated that some dates of events will now have to be amended, and some events may be cancelled.

On foot of revised guidance received this week from the Department of Sport and Sport Ireland, permissions remain in place for normal Club training in accordance with TTI protocols, however Summer Camp activity is not permitted under this revised guidance and Summer Camps should not go ahead.  This has impacted on the resumption of training for our National Junior Squad.

TTI have been actively representing our members at every opportunity, including at meetings and contacts with Sport Ireland, with the Department of Sport and the Minister, and with the Federation of Irish Sport, and have been forthright in advocating for the full return of our members and our activities, as in other sectors, and in a manner fully aligned with good practice as contained within our existing protocols.  Following various meetings involving National Governing Bodies of indoor sports, the Federation of Irish Sport and the indoor NGBs will next week be meeting again with representatives of Sport Ireland to explore options, and have separately agreed a more focused and proactive approach in the event that next weeks meeting does not satisfactorily progress matters.  In any case, and in the event that our other actions do not meet with more short term success, we are advised to prepare for an Autumn return of indoor sport.  We will be seeking greater clarity on the precise time frames involved in this advisory.

Behind the scenes, the work of the Association has never been busier, and we remain grateful to our staff and volunteers for all that they are doing during ever more challenging, vexatious, and stressful conditions.  We sympathise hugely with our members, and especially our junior players, who have had so much taken from them in terms of competition, practice, development and experiences, and hope that we may be moving towards, at least, the beginning of the end.