Coronavirus

Coronavirus (Covid-19) - guidelines for play

UPDATED 19 JULY 2020

The Club is now open, but strict guidelines must be followed so that we can all play tennis in a safe environment, including mandatory booking of courts. These guidelines have been designed in line with the latest LTA guidance and following our own risk assessment and must be read in full before you book a court and play.

Any player(s) repeatedly not following the guidelines will be asked to leave the premises immediately and may jeopardise their membership or result in the Club having to shut.

Please be aware this guidance may change and restrictions may be reintroduced at any time. Please check back here regularly for the latest updates.

Staying Safe

Undertaking any activity, including tennis, has the potential for increased risk of transmission of COVID-19. Please ensure you have read the Government Guidance on staying safe outside your home before you come to play.

IMPORTANT:

Anyone attending the Club must undergo a pre-attendance self-assessment for any COVID-19 symptoms using the information on the NHS website before leaving home. No-one should leave home to participate in tennis if they, or someone they live with, has symptoms of COVID-19, currently recognized as any of the following:

A high temperature
A new, continuous cough
A loss of, or change to their sense of smell or taste

Should an individual have demonstrated any such symptoms, they must follow NHS and PHE guidance on self-isolation.

If you develop symptoms after playing, please let the Club know, including the time and day you played and who you shared a court with. You must also follow Government guidance regarding isolating and test and trace.

It is essential that you book a court every time you play and include all the names of the players on court with you for each game so that we can assist NHS Test and Trace should we need to.

Permitted Activities

You are now allowed to play doubles. Individual and group lessons are also permitted. Whilst you can arrange to play doubles, adult social sessions on Tuesday evenings and Saturday afternoons remain suspended for the time being. The clubhouse will remain closed except for Committee Members and Coaches who need access to equipment and to enable the running of the Club. For members, this also means there is no access to floodlights or toilets for the time being.

Access to toilets only, using your fob, will be made available during opening hours from week commencing Monday 27 July. Please only use the facilities if you really need to. Only one person at a time is permitted into the mens’ or womens’ toilets so please wait outside the Clubhouse if there is someone already in there. Please sanitize your hands before you go into the Clubhouse. Afterwards, please wash your hand thoroughly and dry them using the paper towels provided. Place the paper towel in the bin and sanitize your hands when you go back on court.

Court Bookings

Everyone must book a court before making their way to the tennis club. All names of players must be put into the booking system not just the name of the person booking it. We must have this information to assist NHS Test and Trace if required. The court booking system is accessed via the link at the top of this page. This is accessible to all current paid members and is part of the new ClubSpark system which we have used for renewals too this year. You must book a court via the system to play.

Courts 1, 3, 4 and 7 are available from from 9am to 8pm 7 days a week. The Club will be shut at 9pm every evening. You can book 4 x 1 hour slots every 7 days.

From Monday 27 July all courts will be available to book from 9am to 8pm 7 days a week.

We ask family groups of more than 4 to book two courts next to each other (preferably 4 & 5 or 6 & 7) to help maintain social distancing whilst on court. If only one court is available, please ensure only 4 people are on court at any one time.

The restrictions on the number of courts in use, the number of slots you can book and the timings will all be reviewed by the Committee on an ongoing basis depending on demand and how social distancing is being managed.

We ask that you arrive promptly but not more than 5 minutes in advance of your booked time. You must finish 5 minutes early and leave the premises promptly to allow the court to be free when the next people arrive.

If you book a court and are unable to use it please cancel it on ClubSpark.

Visitors

Visitors are permitted. Please place the visitors fee in an envelope with your name and your visitor’s name on the outside of the envelope along with the date and the amount enclosed and place it in the external post box by the Clubhouse front door. Please ensure your visitors have read the guidance on this page before they come to play.

Visitor fees are £5 for adults and £1 for juniors.

Visitor names must be added in the court booking system so we can provide information to NHS Test and Trace if required.

Entering and leaving the courts and premises

Arriving at the Club

For those arriving on foot please check the driveway is clear of any other pedestrians (and cars!) before you proceed up the driveway. If anyone is walking down the drive when you arrive, please wait until they have exited the driveway before you walk up to avoid passing in close proximity to others.

The fob access gate must remain closed for security reasons. There is a sanitizing point by the gate, please apply it before pushing open the gate (please do not touch the sliding handle at all - the gate is secure enough when pushed shut and it clicks). Please close the gate behind you using the wooden handle provided and sanitize your hands before you leave.

Entering and leaving the courts

Players should head straight on to their court on arrival using the sanitizing stations at each court entrance. These should be used both on the way in and on the way out of the courts.

Gates to the courts must remain open at all times.

The nets have been adjusted to the correct height and winders and net measurers have been removed. Please do not touch any of the nets or fixtures on the courts. If you see a net that needs fixing or adjusting, please let Chris or another committee member know.

Players should observe social distancing at all times and resist the temptation to mingle.

Leaving the Club

Please sanitize your hands before pushing the exit button to release the fob access gate and close it behind you, using the wooden handle provided. Please leave the car park promptly.

On Court

Gates to the courts must remain open at all times.

Singles and doubles play is now allowed. For doubles, agree with your partner who will take the balls down the middle of the court during play to avoid close contact (unless playing with members of your own household).

Players must provide their own racquets and equipment. Please mark your tennis balls so they are easily identified from those on an adjacent court. This is particularly important once all 7 courts are in use.

Players should ideally bring a small bottle of hand sanitizer with them and keep it in their pocket or bag for use, particularly when playing doubles or if you decide to share tennis balls.

Players should avoid touching their face after handling a ball, racquet, or other equipment. This is particularly important if you decide to share tennis balls with your partner/opponents. If a ball from another court comes across, players should send it back with a kick or with a racquet. Please do not pick it up.

Physical distancing should be observed throughout the period of play, particularly on change of ends and entering and exiting the court. Players should change ends at opposite sides of the net. Players must refrain from handshakes and high fives. Players should remain apart from other players when taking a break.

Players should not hang clothing items or towels on court pegs, on the net posts. Please put them in your bag when they are not needed.

Practice Wall

The practice wall may be used and does not need to be booked. Only 1 person may use it at a time unless you are from the same household. Please do not enter the practice court if someone else is already using it.

Coaching

Individual lessons are allowed and small groups of up to 5 adult players and 1 coach are allowed. Groups of up to 15 children per coach are also now allowed with adequate court space and subject to consideration for DfE Guidance.

Social distancing will still need to be maintained along with the usual hygiene measures during these sessions. Coaches will advise groups and individuals on handling of tennis balls in line with relevant guidance.

Coaches should be paid by bank transfer only to avoid handling cash.

Spectators

Parents supervising children should be limited to one. No other spectators are permitted.

First Aid

In emergencies the first aid box will be available for use by the side door underneath the defibrillator.

Cleaning

Daily cleaning of the fob entrance, gates, handles, first aid box and any other frequently used areas will take place. During the summer holiday camps, daily cleaning of the key touchpoints within the toilet facilities will also take place alongside a twice weekly deeper clean.

Additional Information

More information on how to protect yourself against the virus, whether you need to self-isolate, test and trace, and the latest guidance from the LTA can be found in the following links:

https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/staying-safe-outside-your-home/

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/nhs-test-and-trace-how-it-works

https://www.lta.org.uk/coronavirus

Thank you for your support and understanding.