BLTC Message from the Directors of BLTC

We are committed to excellent etiquette and sports-personship on and around our courts across adult, junior players and spectators. We would like to direct all to the Lawn Tennis Association Code of Conduct for players, and the associated guidance for spectators, parents and coaches.

 https://www.lta.org.uk/494b8d/siteassets/about-lta/file/lta-code-of-conduct.pdf

We circulate this as general call for all members to follow the Code of Conduct. Behaviours to avoid include: 

Raquet abuse / smashing, uncontrolled hitting of balls in anger, excessive shouting / poor language, repeated bad line calls, distracting noises and shouting during a point or at the point of serve, tapping the net   when opponent serving, not being attentive or   ready to play, and general delaying tactics, and excessive time out of court during matches.

We are all examples to other players, whilst instances may happen , we can all contribute by adhering to the LTA Code of Conduct. Some of these instances constitute code violations: - HINDRANCE and/or UNSPORTSMANLIKE BEHAVIOUR, which typically result in loss of points, games, and ultimately disqualification with repeated occurrences. More extreme examples, hitting another person with a stray ball hit in anger even if by accident is an automatic default of the match.

ROLE OF SPECTATORS /SUPPORTERS

The LTA code of conduct requires no direct speaking to players (through the netting)  by spectators during a match. Coaching from the side e.g., “Focus”, Move”, or specific guidance “mind your backhand” should be avoided in competitive play. At tournaments there are repercussions for these instances. At BLTC we often have no referee and so we are self-policing, which requires awareness and adherence to the LTA Code of Conduct.

NATIONAL LEAGUE MATCHES

Our ten National League junior teams this Winter and Summer are important and prestigious junior matches competing with Clubs from all over the county. Both players and spectators should be aware of rules and standards when these matches are taking place.

This policy is available here and on the LTA website. https://www.lta.org.uk/494b8d/siteassets/about-lta/file/lta-code-of-conduct.pdf

WIRRAL LEAGUE AND CLUB TOURNAMENT MATCHES

All matches at the club should be conducted in accordance with this code of conduct, and so please have it to hand when matches being played.

 Matches under the auspices of the Wirral League also adhere to the LTA Code of Conduct.

 Parents and coaches please support our juniors towards adherence of this code of conduct. The Club Welfare Officer is available for private conversations about this, should that be necessary.

Your efforts and support in this are appreciated.

BLTC Directors