Latest Wigmore Covid-19 Rules
The health and safety of our members and coaches is important to us. Below is some updated guidance to help us all return to the courts safely.
More in depth guidance for players is available from the LTA website here: https://www.lta.org.uk/globalassets/news/2020/lta-guidance-for-tennis-players---covid-19.pdf
General
If you catch COVID-19 or are asked to self-isolate because you’ve been in contact with someone who has, please contact the Wigmore Administrator (wigmoretennis@hotmail.co.uk) so that we implement Track and Trace
In line with LTA guidelines, doubles play is permitted for all members. This can be 4 people from different households (within the “Rule of 6”), as long as you remain 2 metres apart where possible.
The government currently advises that shielding can end on Thursday, April 1st. 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 until then, since we do not want to put you at risk.
The clubhouse is currently closed during the refurbishments, so there is no access to toilets, kitchen facilities or changing rooms. Please arrive changed and ready to play.
A portaloo is available for emergency use only. For access, please speak to a member of the coaching team or call 0208 144 3123 if a coach isn't on site. (Please bare in mind that coaches are likely be in the middle of a lesson, so might not be able to assist immediately)
The floodlight console for courts 1 – 7 has been moved outside, next to the one for court 8. Please use the hand sanitizer before and after using the floodlight coin mechanism.
Members should bring their own full water bottles. Please note the outside water fountain is not in use as a result of the building works.
All members must book courts before turning up at the club except for social sessions. Members should not just turn up and play without booking – this is to ensure we have an accurate record of members at the club in case we need to implement Track and Trace. Members playing in social tennis session must sign in on arrival at the club
We are now welcoming visitors to the club. All visitors must be booked in via the court booking system and guest fees of £2 per half hour paid there (same fee whether adult or junior guest). While the clubhouse remains out of bounds you will not have to sign your guest in, but we kindly ask you to respect the restriction of the maximum of 4 visits per visitor per year. Visitor fees will be refunded if you cancel the court.
We kindly request members to cancel courts if they are no longer required. It has been noted that there have been several “no shows"; this is unfair on members who might be able to use the courts when you no longer want them. Cancelling also means you won’t be unnecessarily contacted in the event of a Track and Trace incident.
If using the NHS Track and Trace app, members and guests should scan the QR code located around the club for Track and Trace purposes. More information on the NHS Track and Trace app is available here: https://www.nhs.uk/apps-library/nhs-covid-19/
Booking courts
Members will be restricted to 5 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.
The clubhouse console is currently not in use, so there is no need to sign in. However, as above, please cancel courts if you no longer wish to use them so other member can make use of them.
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.
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 limit this to 1 adult per child and avoid bringing additional children to the club – we need to limit the number of people in the grounds due to the building works and provide a safe environment for all members.
Please use the designated door for each court – each court has its own door. This is to minimise too many members touching surfaces.
Members should use the hand sanitisers before and after accessing the court.
Members are no longer required to use their own individual clearly marked balls. If you do choose to share balls with your playing partners, please ensure you do not touch your face during play and clean your hands before and after play. We suggest that you bring your own hand sanitiser to facilitate this. 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.
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
Social Tennis
Social tennis is permitted as an organised group sporting activity from 29th March (and so is exempt from the “rule of 6”). However, social interaction among participants before and after social tennis is limited by the “rule of 6” and therefore discouraged at present. Please maintain social distancing throughout.
The first session will be Wednesday evening 31st March.
Members do not need to book to play but will need to sign in with the organiser so we have an accurate record of who has been at the club should we need to implement Track and Trace
A coach or designated committee member will be at the club to organise the social tennis sessions
Members should bring their own marked balls so they can be identified and returned to the correct player if they stray onto other courts
Coaching
Safety measures in place for coaching sessions can be found here: https://clubspark.lta.org.uk/WigmoreCoaching/News/f24fdc38-4961-44f0-88af-c1a60f7ed180
Bar and Socialisation
The bar is currently closed during the clubhouse refurbishment
Members and guests should adhere to social distancing from those from another household/support bubble when not actively participating in tennis activities.
Please avoid social interaction with anyone outside the group you are with, even if you see other people you know, at all times during your visit. This is especially important during social tennis.
Surrey League Matches
All players (home and visitors) must sign a sheet to confirm they will comply with Wigmore’s Covid-19 rules as well as the Surrey rules.
Captains must complete the score sheet with players names and mobile numbers BEFORE the start of the match.