TWLTC Court Re-opening Rules – Updated 18 May 2020                                                            

We have monitored the booking system and taken your feedback into account, which has led to this updating of our Re-Opening Rules. We have also updated the section in relation to coaching, which you should read carefully.

The guidelines set out below are based on the Government’s latest announcement (10 May 2020) and the LTA Guidance (13 May 2020).   Members are reminded that these rules are put in place to reduce the risk of contracting Covid-19. This risk cannot be removed, and you therefore play at TWLTC within these rules at your own risk. Government guidelines will change, and you should follow these guidelines at all times.

This phase:

  1. Allows sporting activity in open outdoor public sports amenities (e.g. pitches, tennis courts, golf courses etc.) where social distancing can be maintained at all times.
  2. Allows people to engage in outdoor sporting and fitness activities, either individually or in very small groups. For tennis purposes, this permits doubles play from the same household (maximum four people) and singles with a person who may or may not belong to your household, provided social distancing can be maintained.

Our Rules

 The Club

TWLTC will maintain an accurate record of who is playing and when. Changes have been made to our booking system requiring you to enter the name(s) of all people with whom you are playing. You will be prompted when making your booking and will not be able to complete the booking without the inclusion of this information. This must be carried out for coaching sessions as well, and in the case that a parent/guardian is present in the club, that must also be recorded. This will help with contact tracing if necessary.

Non-members will not currently be able to attend the Club as guests of members or for coaching purposes.

The Club will inform all members of the Covid-19 guidelines as they are updated and will insist on full cooperation. This information will be emailed to all our members and will be displayed on our website. We ask all members to update their contact details with us immediately if they may be out of date in case they are required for tracing. You can do this through admin@twltc.co.uk. The Club will continue to listen to the latest changes and updates provided by the Government and LTA and adjust these protocols accordingly.

 Club Access

Members can access courts between 08.00 and 21.30 and booking slots have been extended accordingly.  Court bookings are restricted to a maximum of one 90-minute or one-hour session per day. This will be available for up to four days per week for full adult members, including adult members of a family and three days for all other types of membership. You are encouraged to book for an hour if that is what you are likely to use. Playing as a named opponent will also count as one of your three or four sessions.

You must not use a family member’s booking slots for yourself unless you are playing with that family member. For example, if your child is a member and you make a booking in your child’s name, your child must be one of the players on court. In recognition of the fact that many parents hit with young children, parents with a family membership have an additional two sessions which they must use to hit with their children. To use these slots, please make sure that the parent is not the primary person in the booking.

In line with LTA advice, a buffer zone of 15 minutes has been incorporated into our booking system. This must be strictly observed, and you must not play beyond your booking session. The booking week starts on Monday and runs to Sunday.

All social tennis sessions have been suspended. However, we have set up a social tennis section on our Events Page to contact each other and team up to play singles which we will update each week. You can also get in touch with other members here. Click “member search”.

Courts should only be accessed by staff and current members. Junior members aged 11 and under must be accompanied by a parent/guardian who is over 18. If junior members over 11 are found to be failing to observe social distancing rules, then they will only be permitted to return to the club with a parent/guardian present.

Members using the courts must:

  • Not have been out of the country in the last 14 days.
  • Not have been around someone with symptoms of Covid-19 in the last 14 days.
  • Not be in a period of self-isolation under the current government guidance.
  • Not be displaying COVID-19 symptoms.
  • Have a pre-reserved playing time.

Booking and Arrival

Members must book a court time in advance using the court booking system via the website. The App is no longer available as it is not synchronised with the new booking slots. Play is limited to singles only other than where players are all from the same household in which case, they can play doubles. Ample car parking spaces are available, and members must ensure that social distancing is adhered to at all times, even in such areas. If players must park next to another car, they should wait for the other person to exit or enter before doing so themselves. Members are also encouraged to walk or cycle to the Club where possible.

  • Courts are bookable as follows:
    • Courts 1, 2, 5, 8, 11, 12, 13 – one-hour session
    • Courts 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10 – one-and-a-half-hour session
  • Members should arrive at the courts no more than five minutes prior to the reserved playing time. It is important that players maintain social distancing and wait in their car or away from other members.
  • Members should stand back away from the gate entry system by at least two metres if another member has approached the gate.
  • Members should observe social distancing at all times and resist the temptation to socialise.
  • Changing rooms and toilets will remain closed.
  • Members should sanitise their hands at every opportunity possible and are asked to provide their own sanitiser.
  • Members should head straight to their designated court.
  • To maximise court usage, the hitting walls will not be open for use, except for coaching.

 

 

 

 

The Courts

All courts are available, and we have introduced a booking system for the grass courts, once open. Courts 11-13 are prioritised for coaching. Courts can be booked seven days in advance as opposed to the current 14.

Players should enter the courts one at a time. It is more important than ever that you cancel your court as early as possible if it is not required to enable it to be used by another member.

The ball machine and floodlights will not be available for use.

Entrances

Gates leading directly to courts will remain open and tied back to prevent use of handles. Other gates in between courts will be locked. Rubbish bins will be removed, and all items brought on court should be taken home afterwards. Benches will remain on courts but should not be used. Other items removed from the courts include court dragging mats and shoe cleaners. Net winders remain in place as they are screwed in but will be adjusted by Kevin each morning and should not be used.

Membership

Any member(s) not following these rules will be asked to leave and your booking will be cancelled. Breaches of these rules may result in your membership being revoked or suspended. Only those playing are permitted on court. There should be no spectators present. Parents supervising children should be limited to one and, unless playing, they should observe social distancing.

 On Court Play

Physical distancing should be observed throughout the period of play. Members should refrain from changing ends or change at opposite ends of the net. Members must refrain from handshakes and high fives. Equipment such as towels, rackets, food, and drink must not be exchanged between members. Members should avoid touching their face after handling a ball, racket, or other equipment. Members should bring their own hand sanitiser and use frequently whilst playing.

Members should use two sets of clearly marked tennis balls. These should be alternated for serving with each player only touching their individual tennis balls. Members should use their racket / foot to pick up balls and hit them to their opponent and should avoid using their hands to pick up the balls. Members should remain apart from other members when taking a break. If a ball from another court comes across, members should kick it back or send it with their racket.

If a member has an accident of any kind, they are required to complete an accident form which can be found on our website and send it to us by email within two days of the accident occurring.

Coaching

TWLTC has allocated coaching slots on courts 11-13 which our coaches will adhere to. These slots will be booked on an as needed basis by the coaches. If the courts are not booked out by coaches 24 hours prior to the date of play, booking slots will be made available to members. Only contracted TWLTC coaches are permitted to coach members on these courts. Please note:

  • Only one to one coaching will be available.
  • Payment to coaches must be made by bank transfer and not cash.
  • Coaches should brief their students and/or their parents of the protocols that must be followed in advance of the session.
  • Coaching will only be provided to members.
  • Members are allowed a maximum of two individuals lessons per week.
  • Coaching sessions will not count towards your three or four sessions per week.
  • Players should use their racket or their foot to push balls back.
  • Once the coaching session has finished members should leave the premises promptly, sanitising their hands.

Exiting the Club

Once play has finished players should leave the Club or premises promptly. If a member becomes unwell after playing, they are encouraged to contact the member with whom they were playing and the club.

 

Thank you in advance for your cooperation.