The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Association will be held on Sunday 17th October 2021 at 12 Noon in the Radisson Hotel, Athlone, Co.Westmeath
All clubs are invited to send 2 representatives to this important meeting. It is essential that all clubs are represented at this meeting. For the best part of 18 months, play has been suspended due to Covid-19. Our sport will restart in the coming months and tournaments will begin the end of October. We need the support of each club to restart racquetball so we can all get #BackToTheCourts safely.

Names of club representatives should be sent to info@racquetball.ie before Monday Oct 11th 2021.

​The Association has now distributed the Sport Ireland Covid-19 grants to our clubs.
The Sport Ireland grant of €33,000 was distributed as follows:

An online meeting organised by the Federation of Irish Sport was held with Minister of State for Sport, Jack Chambers, on July 15th.
The Minister provided his overview of where we are now and that the Covid Delta variant presented a sombre picture which led to the pause in July in planned easing of restrictions. He said that the situation will be reviewed again in August.
He noted the funding impact on indoor sports and that a package is to be agreed for the sector in collaboration with Michael McGrath (Dept Public Expenditure). Mary O’Connor (Federation of Irish Sport CEO) expressed the frustration felt by indoor sports and that financial & communication supports are urgently needed.
The Minister was specifically asked what his plans were for allowing the Digital Covid Certificate to facilitate resumption of more ‘normal’ activity for vaccinated people in indoor sports. This option has yet to be considered.
The Minister suggested that National Governing Bodies (NGBs) submit protocols for consideration in August as to how we can reopen safely.
NGBs requested that the Sport Ireland should be taking the lead on how we can progress reopening the indoor sport sector, rather than always leaving it to the NGBs to produce yet another protocol.
The indoor sport sector was not given any firm assurance about how or when we can reopen further. A hope that pods of 6 for training might be approved in August was as concrete a suggestion that the Minister put forward.
So for now, no change to the current restrictions.
The Federation of Irish Sport are hosting a further meeting with indoor sport NGBs to discuss ways in which we can make progress in our reopening plans. The RAI will be represented.

The planned easing of government restrictions on indoor activities from July 5th is postponed.
Therefore there is no change to the current restrictions for racquetball: solo play only is permitted and two members from the same household may train together.
It is now hoped that from the 19th July there will be an easing of restrictions.
In the meantime please continue to observe all Covid restrictions both on and off court.

The Government announced that from June 7th, sports centres and gyms may re-open. This includes racquetball courts.
Only solo racquetball training is permitted or two players from the same household may train together.
For juniors (Under 18), 2 players are allowed per court for coaching only, no mixing with juniors on another court during the same coaching session.
Courts should remain vacant for 15 minutes in between bookings.
Always keep windows & doors open where possible to promote good ventilation.
Players & coach should arrive ready to go on court as changing rooms and showers will remain closed.
To reduce the risk of Covid, please observe standard precautions at all times (hand hygiene, social distancing, no sharing of equipment, clean down court touch points when finished training, vacate club after training in order to avoid congregating in the indoor setting).
Every individual should take responsibility for their own health & safety in observing the COVID guidelines.

From 5 July (Subject to Public Health)
Indoor sports training, exercise and dance activities can recommence in pods of up to 6.

A Christmas Message from Racquetball Ireland President Martin Lawless:

After a very unusual year, I would like to wish all our racquetball family and friends, a happy and healthy Christmas.
It had been without a doubt, a difficult year for Irish Racquetball. The pandemic has caused us to pause and halt play, cancel tournaments and postpone international play/teams. We appreciate your patience and your understanding during the current situation. We are unsure what the New Year will bring but our main priority is to keep our players, clubs, volunteers and families safe. And return to play when it is safe to do so. This return we will indeed need your help and support as we all want to get back on the courts and play racquetball once more.

But for now, it is the time to keep safe and look out for one another. Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and to a better and happy New Year.

Best wishes,
Martin Lawless 
President Racquetball Association of Ireland