Basketball Ireland have clarified the activities their clubs can undertake during the Level 5 restrictions.
While the national elite leagues have already been halted, there are limited group training options still open to basketball clubs at underage level, while adults must train alone outdoors, with all sports facilities closed for the six weeks of Level 5 guidelines.
Adults must undertake all training within five kilometres of their homes, while all underage training must take place outdoors, with no passing of the ball permitted.
Children are permitted to engage in non-contact outdoor training, but under the following strict conditions:
- Outdoor training must be non-contact
- Pod numbers are limited to 15 people, coaches are included in this number
- No mixing between pods
- Outdoor training must be supervised
- Those training must maintain social distancing of 2 metres at all times
Basketball Ireland CEO Bernard O'Byrne also stressed the fact that the non-contact training did not allow the passing of the basketball between players.
"We welcome the fact that children will still be able to train outdoors in pods of up to 15, but note that passing of the ball is prohibited. Children may travel over 5km to attend training."
Basketball Ireland's instructions came a day after the Return to Sport Expert Group, on behalf of Sport Ireland, clarified what is and is not permissible at Level 5.
Professional and elite sport is allowed to continue as long as it adheres to "comprehensive protocols, which ensure extraordinary levels of control and compliance are in place".
Elite sport is defined as professional sports people or sports people who participate within professional competition; a member of a high performance team funded by Sport Ireland; those who compete at major international events including European and World Championships, Olympic and Paralympic Games.
The Group advised that these are senior athletes only within one of the following categories:
- Athletes on the 2020 International Carding Scheme
- Players on the 2020 Team Ireland Golf Scheme
- Senior riders in Show-Jumping, Eventing & Dressage
- Senior team players in Hockey, Cricket, and Rugby Sevens
- Inter-county sport refers specifically to senior competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association, the Ladies Gaelic Football Association or the Camogie Association
The Group also clarified what non-contact training for school aged children entailed
- Underage activity refers to those in primary and secondary school who are aged 18 years and younger
- Participants and coaches may travel beyond the 5km limit to attend training. Car-pooling should continue to be avoided
- Outdoor facilities may open only to allow the activity to take place. Only those participating in and conducting the training session should attend
