- June 06, 2020
Re Return to Managed Play
As you may be aware, following the easing of restrictions in England from 1 June announced by the Prime Minister on Thursday evening (28 May) and the publication of detailed Government Guidance on Sunday (31 May), the Government has confirmed what these measures mean in relation to tennis. The LTA has now published updated guidelines for venues and players under the heading “ Return to Managed Play”at https://www.lta.org.uk/globalassets/news/2020/lta-guidance-for-tennis-players—covid-19.pdf
There are various updates but the key one is that players from different households can now play doubles together as long as they stay two metres apart as far as possible, and small group coaching for up to six people can resume. The other LTA guidelines notified previously largely remain in place.
Prior to going to the Club and resuming doubles play, it is essential that all members read carefully the following guidelines for players:
While I am sure that members will welcome the new opportunity to resume doubles play, it needs to be stressed that the previously published LTA guidelines for venues and players remain substantially the same.
In essence, the priority remains ensuring that our Club environment is safe.
With this in mind, the emphasis must please remain on arriving/playing/departing. It is not the time (yet) to be facilitating/encouraging social activity either in the vicinity of the clubhouse nor in the car park. The LTA guidelines for venues (which the Council will also be expecting us to follow) make clear reference to this.
The Committee wish to highlight the following practical matters:
1.The Clubhouse remains closed and, therefore, no toilet facilities are on site.
2.Courts must continue to be booked online in advance via the Club website. DO NOT simply turn up expecting to play. For the time being, please do not book a court ( for singles or doubles) for more than one hour consecutively. The courts are being used extensively during this lockdown period ; we should try to facilitate as many different members as possible (and the wider family group we are currently allowing to play with a member) to have access to our courts , while also give our Coaching team the opportunity to build up their programmes.
3. The Club is open only from 8.00am. Please be as respectful as you reasonably can to our neighbours living nearby when playing at the Club. Excessive noise easily travels in these sunny and often windless times, and that is unfair on our neighbours, especially during this lockdown period.
4. If you are the last person on site, please remember to lock the gate as you leave.
Thank you very much in advance for following the above guidance which collectively will help ensure that our Club remains an enjoyable but also safe environment to play tennis!
Kind regards
The Committee
