Back to Tennis!

We appreciate that members will be very keen to start playing tennis now that some restrictions are being lifted from 13th May. We are putting measures in place to phase our return to the courts and to ensure the safety of our members and coaches and respectfully ask members to follow the rules. Any members found to be flouting the rules will be asked to leave the grounds and then stopped from booking courts for a period.  

General 

  • In line with LTA guidelines, singles play is permitted for all members.  Doubles can only be played by members of the same household.   There will be no social sessions until we are advised that we are able to offer this 

  • We kindly request those members who have received a letter from the government deeming them vulnerable or at high risk to stay away from the club since we do not want to put you at risk 

  • Please only access the clubhouse to use the loo, turn on the floodlights or access the first aid kit in an emergency.  Only 1 person to be in the clubhouse at a time and please wash your hands thoroughly and use the hand sanitizer before and after using the floodlight coin mechanism. Strictly no admittance to the clubhouse to change, drop stuff in the clubhouse or wait.  If it is raining, windy or cold, please either play in those conditions or go home.  The clubhouse will be cleaned once at the beginning of every day – please avoid touching any furniture and do not use the kitchen facilities (sink, fridge, crockery, cutlery etc) 

  • Members should bring their own full water bottles until the outside water fountain is operational 

  • One to one coaching will commence on Monday 18th May for current members.  Any lapsed members will need to renew their membership first. For details about booking private lessons please go to www.joeandscott.tennis  

  • Only members who have paid their subs will be able to book courts 

  • All members must book courts before turning up at the club. Members should not just turn up and play without booking 

  • We will run the singles element of the Summer Tournament.  Please see a separate email regarding this 

  • No visitors are to play at the club until further notice 

Booking courts 

  • Members will be restricted to only 3 open bookings at a time and each session will be restricted to 90 minutes to ensure that as many members as possible will be able to play 

  • Please DO NOT use the clubhouse console   

  • Any new members who do not know other players to arrange singles matches with are advised to contact the coaches who can provide suggestions 

Accessing the club 

  • Our alleyway doesn’t allow for social distancing so members are asked to ONLY walk up the alleyway if there is no one coming down the other way.  Members entering the club should have priority over those leaving 

  • We have provided hand sanitizers at certain points; please ensure you use them before and after accessing the courts (and if you have had to enter the clubhouse in an emergency) 

Accessing the courts/during play 

  • Members waiting to play should wait outside the court until the court is vacated, keeping 2m from other members.  DO NOT wait in the clubhouse or porch area 

  • If you are at the club as an adult supervising junior (under 13) members, please supervise from outside their court and make sure they follow social distancing and use of ball rules. Please do not bring additional children to the club – we need to limit the number of people in the grounds and provide a safe environment for all members 

  • Please use the designated door for each court 

  • Members should use the hand sanitisers before and after accessing the court 

  • Members should bring their own balls which should be clearly marked – both players should only handle their own tennis balls (suggest 2 balls each person).  If a ball strays onto another court, please ask and wait for them to be returned.  Please do not go onto other courts to retrieve.  Any balls that stray onto your court should be kicked back or returned using your racket, this saves handling  

  • Please keep 2m distance at all times, no handshakes, high fives etc. The LTA recommends that you do not change ends, but if you must, do so on opposite sides of the court 

  • Clay courts do not need to be swept after play, we have arranged for them to be swept every morning  

  • The nets have been set at the correct height and will be checked weekly.  Please do not adjust them yourself 

We will continue to review these measures and will update these when appropriate.

Please be aware that work on replacing the roof will start within the next couple of weeks.  Please ensure that workers are safe by keeping your distance at all times.  Please avoid touching scaffolding. 

We’d particularly like to thank Scott, Mark, Penny, Nick and Martin, all of whom have put hours in at the club today to get it ready for tomorrow’s opening.  Martin has been deep cleaning the clubhouse over the past few weeks as well as working on the grounds so if you do see him, please thank him for all of his hard work! 

 The latest LTA guidance for tennis players can be found here https://www.lta.org.uk/globalassets/news/2020/lta-guidance-for-tennis-players---covid-19.pdf 

 Please watch our Covid-19 safety video before going to the club to play.

Cat Hirst