Tennis Camp: COVID Safety Protocols and Policies to Know

Before COVID-19 turned our lives upside down over this past year, one of our main goals at every adidas Tennis Camp was to provide a top-notch experience with the best instruction around, all while doing it in a fun and safe environment. No matter how much life has changed since we conducted our first tennis camp, that goal has remained the same, and it’s taken on a whole new meaning as we continue to welcome campers by giving them something to look forward to after spending way too much time at home recently. 

How we administer and the ultimate goal of our tennis camps is still exactly the same as it’s been for the thousands of players who have joined us in past years. Our camps are the only ones in the country that employs a staff that is Double-Goal Certified by the Positive Coaching Alliance. Our teaching curriculum still hasn’t changed, either. We still plan on offering 30 hours of tennis instruction, videotape analysis (at certain locations), one-on-one instruction, special guest instructors and lecturers, mental edge training, conditioning and nutritional programs, and a goal-setting worksheet. 

The biggest difference will be the COVID safety protocols and policies we’ve employed to make sure that everyone at camp — the players and coaches — feels as safe as possible. 

Since we are proud to run our adidas Tennis Camps in 19 states nationwide, it’s important to be mindful of the overarching safety protocols from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), along with the state and local protocols and regulations as it relates to youth sports. As the guidelines change for certain things, such as youth activities, gathering size, and social distancing, our policies, which can be viewed in full here, could change accordingly. 

There are lots of protocols we adhered to throughout the summer of 2020 and plan on continuing to do in 2021, but here are some of the more important ones:

• In the past, parents and other family members were allowed to stay and observe the training sessions. That’s no longer allowed unless the Camp Director says something differently. Even if they do, social distancing and mask-wearing guidelines will need to be adhered to. 
• Campers will not be allowed to share equipment with one another, and it’ll need to be sanitized properly after each training session. Any backpacks or belongings to each camper will be placed two feet apart from one another. 
• There will be strict handwashing rules of at least 15 seconds for all coaches, directors, and campers before and after snack breaks and meals. If water and soap aren’t available, everyone will be required to use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. 
• There will (unfortunately) be no group celebrations, hugs, high-fives, handshakes, fist bumps, or anything of the like with other campers or staff members. 
• If your child is feeling any kind of illness coming on — even if it’s not related to COVID-19 — please keep them home until symptoms have subsided. 

As mentioned before, this is only a small number of the protocols we’ve put in place to run our camps in a safe and healthy environment. If you’d like to see all of them, check out this link. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out and ask.