28.10.20
As the island of Ireland continues to be placed at level 5 restrictions (ROI) & Covid-19 NI Executive Restrictions introduced for NI on the 16th of October 2020, the Covid-19 Working Group have put together a list of frequently asked questions and answers to continue to bring further clarity to our clubs in the ROI.
We await clarification from Sport NI on a number of issues and when this has been received we will produce a list of FAQ’s pertaining to those clubs.
Rowing Ireland is in continuous communication with Sport Ireland and Sport Northern Ireland for the latest updates and clarification to ensure we as a sport continue to operate within the guidelines laid down by the relevant governing bodies.
At Rowing Ireland, our number one priority at this time is the health and safety of all our members. We ask all our Affiliated Clubs and registered members to continue to observe the guidelines during these unprecedented times.
We must play our part in reducing the R number throughout the island.
We are all Rowing Ireland.
Rowing Ireland Covid-19 protocols Frequently asked questions
The Irish Government has agreed that non-contact training can continue for school-age children (i.e. aged 18 years and under), outdoors in pods of 15. This is outside of the existing provisions of Level 5.
FAQ’s | Question | Answer | Reasoning (Information Resource) |
1 | Can school-aged children train in crew boats? | Yes | In pods of 15, which must include a qualified coach and if required a parent for safeguarding purposes. Pod total must not exceed 15. (1) |
2 | Can parents, school-aged children and coaches travel outside the 5k travel restriction area? | Yes. | school-age children (i.e. aged 18 years and under), qualified coaches and parents of the children attending the session can travel outside the restriction area. Parents must obey the strict Covid-19 protocols while on-site, (Masks and social distancing). Carpooling is to be avoided. (4) |
3 | Can individual rowers go out in sculls from the club? | No. | Individual training is allowed under level 5 but, you must be within 5K of your home. Clubs cannot open facilities to facilitate this type of training. “All club facilities indoor and outdoor must remain closed in level 5, only exemption is for school-age children (i.e. aged 18 years and under)”. (4) |
4 | Can crews living within the 5K travel restriction zone who are part of a family bubble partake in training from their club? | No. | There is no exemption to anyone who is not attending a primary or secondary school (school-age children (i.e. aged 18 years and under) to train from any rowing club at this time. (1) |
5 | Can school-aged children travel outside their county to partake in a training session? | Yes. | The restriction imposed by the government to not allow people to cross their county border was replaced by the 5k restriction rule when the introduction of level 5 was announced. (1) |
6 | Can University students aged 18 partake in training sessions? | No. | School-aged children only (school-age children (i.e. aged 18 years and under) Primary and Secondary school children only). (1) |
7 | Can master category rowers use their own single sculls to get exercise during the level 5 restrictions? | Yes. | But, only if they store their single sculls away from the club and can launch without using any club facilities. (4) |
8 | I live near a river, and store my own scull at home. I am able to safely launch my own scull and exercise within the 5K travel restriction zone. Is this type of exercise ok? | Yes. | Exercise as an individual is allowed under level 5 within 5K of your home. (1) |
9 | Where a coach is not available, can a parent run the school-aged training session for the club? | No. | The training must be supervised by a coach or a trainer accredited by the National Governing Bodies of Sport (NGBs). The National Governing Bodies will have responsibility for approving the training activities to be undertaken. Sport Ireland is available to provide guidance to NGBs where required. (4) |
10 | Can dressing rooms and club houses remain open? | No. | Level 5 restrictions exclude the use of any indoor facilities, clubhouses, changing rooms (or any related “touch” points) which should be closed. (4) |
11 | Can Gyms with plenty of room and ventilation be used while maintaining social distancing and apply strict sterilization protocols? | No. | Level 5 restrictions exclude the use of any indoor facilities, clubhouses, changing rooms (or any related “touch” points) which should be closed (4) |
15 | Can more than one pod of 15 train at the same time? | Yes. | A clear and obvious separation must be maintained at all times. Coaches should not interact between the two pods. (1) |
16 | Must attendees at allowed training sessions wear a face mask? | Yes. | While it is not mandatory under the level 5 restrictions to wear a mask outdoors, it is highly advised when a 2-meter social distance cannot be maintained at all times. (2) |
17 | Can sculling ladders take place? | No. | No organised indoor or outdoor gatherings should take place. (1) |
18 | Can members of pods travel together to and from training? | No. | Households should bring their own household members to the event and not share transport to or from the venue.Encourage parents to have children wait in the car or outside the venue until just before the beginning of a practice instead of congregating with other children prior to the start. (2) |
19 | Does our club need to keep contact details of parents attending session for safeguarding purposes? | Yes | A log of all children and parents attending every session, with contact information for contact tracing purposes must be recorded to enable contact tracing, should it be required. (2) |
20 | Does our club require a COVID-19 Compliance Officer? | Yes | Designating COVID compliance officers is necessary to help with coordination of risk mitigation actions. (2) |
Information Resources
- In line with the Government guidelines, Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021: Plan for living with COVID – 19 documents, (Reference; Gov.ie https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/2dc71-level-5/)
- COVID-19 Interim recommendations for the return to sports activities for children and adolescents https://www.hpsc.ie/a-z/respiratory/coronavirus/novelcoronavirus/guidance/childcareguidance/COVID%2019%20Return%20to%20Play%20Sports%20for%20children.pdf
- Email Communication from Sport Ireland to Sport NGB’s, Friday 23 October 2020,
- Guidance for Non-Contact Training for School-Aged Children from sport Ireland
Sport Ireland advise the following
Any club or group that is not in a position to apply these measures or enforce them should not hold training sessions.
Any local club or group found to be in breach of these measures will result in the club being excluded from the exemption.