Tennis coach raging as ban halts classes

HUNDREDS of children are to miss out on tennis lessons after Dundee City Council banned group coaching sessions from local courts.

Despite national guidance stating group outdoor exercise for children is permitted, tennis coach Hayley Donnelly has been told her classes must be cancelled and only one-to-one sessions can be held.

Hayley, who runs Racquet Buddies from the tennis courts at Fairmuir and Dawson parks, has had to cancel coaching sessions for 230 primary and pre-school children because she was teaching 20 youngsters at a time, which the council said was too many.

Hayley arranged outdoor classes earlier this month, in line with national guidance, which states “organised outdoor activities can continue where it is safe to do so”.

Non-contact sport is allowed outdoors for up to 30 children under the Scottish Government rules, but she later received an email from Leisure and Culture Dundee, which manages the courts on behalf of the council, telling her the classes can no longer go ahead because of the numbers involved.

She said: “I was told because of Covid-19 regulations I couldn’t have group tennis coaching. They told me I’d only be allowed to hold one-to-one sessions. I have 230 children signed up and have three coaches – how are we supposed to arrange that?

“This is really upsetting for everyone. All the children and their parents are very disappointed. I’m angry and frustrated, pretty gutted really. We’re doing everything possible to abide by all the regulations regarding social distancing, but still they have told us we can’t continue.”

Hayley pointed out there are fewer children in her outdoor sessions than sharing a classroom indoors at school. She said: “This is red tape gone mad. These classes give children and parents a chance to exercise and socialise. We know young children are suffering mental health issues during lockdown and this seemed an ideal way for them to get out and about safely.”

It is not the first time Hayley has had to cancel classes. Last November, she had to abandon classes for toddlers at Menzieshill Community Centre as parents were throwing balloons for their children to hit, which Leisure and Culture Dundee classed as an “adult sport”.

Private tennis clubs have offered Hayley use of their courts, but she said that would involve more money as the clubs would need some payment. She added: “Football matches can go ahead so it doesn’t seem to be a level playing field at all. I’m prepared to try to make this work by having staggered starts. I hope we can come to an arrangement so we can continue.”

A spokesman for Dundee City Council said: “The council is talking to businesses who are requesting the use of council tennis courts for group coaching sessions.

“While the council is fully supportive of promoting tennis, we shall be discussing a number of issues including appropriate Covid-19 safety measures.”