Table Tennis, Helsinki, Adults
COACHING TERMS AND CONDITIONS 12.8.2024 – 1.6.2025, TABLE TENNIS, HELSINKI, ADULT COACHING
BY PARTICIPATING IN A COACHING SESSION ORGANIZED BY SMASH RY, THE PLAYER/GUARDIAN ACCEPTS AND AGREES TO ABIDE BY THE FOLLOWING COACHING TERMS AND CONDITIONS
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PRACTICE TIMES AND INQUIRIES
Approximately one week before the start of the season, we will send an email announcement to all participants who have been accepted, once the groups are published and available on TennisClub under Coaching / My Groups. Players who are not initially accepted will be notified separately via email.
COACHING LOCATION AND SEASON
Coaching sessions are held at Smash Center, Varikkotie 4 (about 500 meters from the Itäkeskus metro station and 15 minutes from Rautatientori). The coaching season runs from Mon 12.8.2024 to Sun 1.6.2025.
By registering for Smash’s adult coaching, the player commits to participating for the entire 2024-2025 indoor season, with sessions continuing in the same groups in the spring season without further notice. Groups may be adjusted as needed (the coach will decide based on the player's level), but no one will be moved to a new group without consultation and notification.
COACHING SLOT = COACHING SESSION
Each weekly practice session a player attends counts as one coaching slot. For example, if a player has one practice session per week, they have one coaching slot. Similarly, a player practicing three times a week has three coaching slots, and so on.
DISCONTINUATION OF A GROUP MID-SEASON
Smash ry reserves the right to discontinue a coaching group. Players will be notified of any discontinuation at least 21 days before the last coaching session. Efforts will be made to transfer players from the discontinued group to other groups if possible.
PRACTICES ON HOLIDAYS
Coaching sessions will be held on all holidays except Christmas (23.12.2024-1.1.2025), Easter (18.4.-21.4.2025), and May Day 1.5.2025. Coaching will continue as usual during the school autumn break, Independence Day on 6.12., Epiphany on 6.1., and Ascension Day on 29.5.
Smash ry reserves the right to make group changes during holidays and the school winter break from 15.2. – 22.2.2025.
BILLING
Billing is based on a place in the assigned coaching group and the group's practice sessions from the time the player joins - not individual attendance. The autumn coaching sessions are billed in two installments, and the spring sessions are also billed in two installments. Invoices are sent to the email address provided on the registration form (for communication and billing purposes). Participation in coaching requires the payment of previous coaching fees.
Billing occurs at the end of each period.
Adult coaching fees can be paid with ePassi sports benefits. Other sports benefits are not accepted for payment for Smash ry's coaching.
The season fee consists of billing periods (Note: see also "Resignation from coaching mid-season"):
1. Period: 12.8.2024 - 13.10.2024
2. Period: 14.10.2024 - 22.12.2024
3. Period: 2.1.2025 - 16.3.2025
4. Period: 17.3.2025 – 1.6.2025
5. Period: 2.6.2025 - 19.6.2025
TEST SESSIONS AND THEIR BILLING
For a new player attending a level test in a group, the test is free if it is determined that the group is not suitable for the player and no other suitable group places are available. This also means that the player may not necessarily continue the entire session (most practices are based on pair exercises and are chargeable to the group members). A maximum of 2 test sessions is allowed in different groups. If the player's level allows them to participate for the full session and a regular spot in that or another group is assigned after the test, the first test session will also be billed.
MEMBERSHIP
Participation in coaching requires membership in Smash ry. Participants will be enrolled as members of Smash ry if they are not already members. Those joining adult coaching for the first time will pay half of the 2024 membership fee, €22.50 (full year €45), with the first autumn practice fee and agree to adhere to Smash ry’s coaching and billing terms. The 2025 membership fee will be billed according to the club's normal practice, and no part of it will be refunded if the participant resigns from coaching during 2025.
Membership is continuous until it is terminated in writing either with the resignation form for coaching, by email to smash@smash.fi, or by mail to Smash’s office at Smash ry, Varikkotie 4, 00900 Helsinki. The resigning member is obliged to pay the membership fee for the current year. Resigning from coaching does not automatically end club membership, but one can indicate on the resignation form if they do not wish to continue membership the following year. Membership remains valid until the end of the calendar year after resignation.
A verbal or written notification to, for example, the coach or cashier is not sufficient for resignation.
CHANGES TO PLAYER CONTACT INFORMATION
The player is responsible for maintaining their name and contact information. Changes to contact information should be made primarily by logging into the TennisClub system under the "My Info" tab. Changes can also be reported by emailing smash@smash.fi.
ILLNESS, INJURY, AND ABSENCES FROM COACHING
A continuous absence of at least 4 weeks must be reported, and a medical certificate must be sent to the head coach of adult coaching, Ari Ahokas, at ari.ahokas@smash.fi. Such an absence will be considered in billing, with a deductible period of two weeks from the notification date. Individual absences are not considered in billing.
If the absence is expected to last longer than 4 weeks:
- The player must pay the coaching fee for the period beyond 4 weeks if they wish to retain their place.
- The player may also choose to withdraw from coaching entirely upon sending the medical certificate (in which case the place may be offered to others), paying only for the two-week deductible period. The player can attempt to return to the coaching groups through the waiting list managed by the head coach of adult coaching after recovery.
Absences can be made up in other coaching groups if there is space in suitable groups. Smash ry is not obliged to compensate for missed coaching sessions, nor are they refunded financially.
RESIGNATION FROM COACHING MID-SEASON
Resignation from coaching mid-season must be made in writing by filling out the resignation form. The resignation takes effect at the end of the current billing period.
Resignation from coaching does not automatically terminate Smash ry membership, but one can indicate on the resignation form if they do not wish to continue membership the following year.
If a player retains at least one coaching slot for the season, a resignation notice by email to the head coach is sufficient for other canceled coaching slots (billing for these slots will end at the end of the current billing period).
Billing periods and last resignation dates for billing periods:
1. Period: 12.8.2024 - 13.10.2024 (last resignation date for the 1st period is 31.7.2024)
2. Period: 14.10.2024 - 22.12.2024 (resignation from the 2nd period must be made by 16.9.2024)
3. Period: 2.1.2025 - 16.3.2025 (resignation from the 3rd period must be made by 2.12.2024)
4. Period: 17.3.2025 – 1.6.2025 (resignation from the 4th period must be made by 17.2.2025)
5. Period: 2.6.2025 - 19.6.2025 (withdrawal according to separate instructions).
You can find the resignation form here.
PHOTOGRAPHY
If a player does not want their photos to be used on Smash’s website or publications, they must notify Smash ry at smash@smash.fi or mark "NO" for photo permission in their TennisClub profile.
ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTERS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
The email of those registering for coaching will be added to the distribution list for Smash ry’s electronic newsletters and announcements, unless the player specifically opts out. Electronic newsletters and announcements, along with the website, are important communication channels for Smash ry’s coaching, so it is important to provide an email address that is regularly checked. Providing a phone number also significantly helps in case of sudden changes, such as a coach’s absence.
HEALTH AND INSURANCE
Each player is responsible for informing the coach about any health conditions that may affect their ability to perform all exercises fully. Each player must obtain their own insurance: Smash ry does not insure players participating in practices.
SPECIAL NEEDS CONSIDERATIONS
In group coaching, we cannot accommodate the special needs of individual players that would require separate assistance/aide.
COACH ABSENCE
The group is primarily coached by the assigned coach. In the coach's absence, another Smash ry coach will substitute.
BEHAVIOR
Players must treat other group members and the coach with respect. Swearing, racket throwing, and other inappropriate behavior are prohibited. If a player's behavior causes
damage to the court surface or other property, they are responsible for compensating the damage.
The club has the right to deny a player’s participation in coaching if disruptive behavior persists despite intervention. The first instance of disruptive behavior will result in a warning, the second in a written warning, and thereafter participation will be denied for the remainder of the autumn/spring/summer season. If the behavior is particularly severe, the club has the right to terminate the coaching agreement immediately for a specified period or indefinitely. Coaching fees will not be refunded for this period.
ACTIVITY INTERRUPTION
If we have to suddenly interrupt a group coaching session due to reasons beyond our control (e.g., a power outage in the facilities), the coaching session will not be compensated financially. The interrupted session will be compensated by either adding a credit to the compensation system (for sports where it is used) or arranging make-up practices at a separately announced time.
LANGUAGE OF INSTRUCTION
The primary language of instruction is Finnish, and communication is mainly in Finnish. Depending on the coach's language skills, coaching can be provided in other languages during the session.
CHANGES TO COACHING TERMS
Smash ry reserves the right to make changes to the coaching terms even mid-season. Changes will be announced on the website and through a common notification to all players participating in coaching.