Please read the following advice re tennis from the LTA. The latest updates can always be found at the LTA website:  https://www.lta.org.uk/about-us/tennis-news/news-and-opinion/

Coronavirus (Covid-19) – Advice for tennis players

21/03/2020

As this is a rapidly evolving issue, please refer to this page regularly for the latest advice and guidance on dealing with Covid-19.

The guidance below reflects updated advice following the Government’s announcement on Friday (20 March).  Further guidance will be added to this page in due course relating to the statement made by the Chancellor as part of this announcement.

The information has been produced based on the latest information available to us and in consultation with both Tennis Scotland and Tennis Wales, and follows our continued dialogue with Government.

The guidance on this page is intended to be read in conjunction with the information on the LTA’s main coronavirus (Covid-19) page which provides links to the latest Government and NHS advice.

Recreational Tennis Activity

Following the Government’s announcement (Friday 20 March) that social spaces such as pubs, gyms and leisure centres must close, all tennis clubhouses and similar social facilities should be closed as soon as possible.

Courts however can remain open for use to help ensure people remain active, subject to strict social distancing and hygiene practices being employed.

We all know tennis is a unique sport which has many benefits – the main one being health and wellbeing. The Government have currently indicated that physical exercise that takes place at a safe distance from others and in safe exercise environments is something that can continue at this time. The current Government guidance states you can exercise outdoors if you stay more that 2 metres away from others.

The Department of Culture, Media and Sport has specifically advised us that tennis is one of the best examples of social distancing in practice, and so should be encouraged as long as the guidance permits.

Venues (including parks) and coaching providers across the country are all different and operate in different local contexts. They are also independent organisations. Making an assessment of whether a safe exercise environment can be provided also depends on a range of factors, which will apply differently at each venue – each venue and coaching organisation will need to make that assessment based on their local environment.

If, as a result of that assessment, a venue or coaching business decides to close then it is important that decision is respected by players.

If a venue (including parks) or coaching business decide to continue offering tennis activity (court bookings, pay and play, free play, coached sessions etc.), then tennis activity can take place as long as it is done in a way that is compliant with Government advice. We all have a responsibility to behave in an appropriate way at this time, and so we wanted to provide players with some practical suggestions to help you enjoy safe, recreational play or take part in coached activity during this period:

Adapting activity to accommodate the advice on social distancing:

• Activity should be in line with the Government’s advised social distancing measures at all times (defined by Public Health England as spending no more than 15 minutes within a 2-metre distance of someone), including when arriving to and departing from a court

• If you are not confident that you can adhere to the social distancing guidance when undertaking tennis activity in doubles format, you should only take part in activity with two players per court

• Social spaces should be closed and should not be used, including changing and toilet facilities

• Use online booking for courts and sessions where at all possible

• A buffer period is likely to be implemented between court booking slots to allow time for players to leave before the next players arrive. For walk-on courts, if courts are in use do not wait at the gate and leave adequate space when players depart.

• Activity should only take place where travel to and from the courts can be done in a way compliant with social distancing advice, with players not travelling together unless they are part of a group residing in the same place

• Players are advised not to change ends during play

• Avoid close proximity when resting

• Ensure no physical contact during games – don’t shake hands or high five

• No extra-curricular or social activity should take place

Further Government information around social distancing is available here.

The Government is advising those who are particularly vulnerable to risk of severe illness from coronavirus (Covid-19) to be particularly stringent in following social distancing measures.

Adopting best practice in relation to hygiene, especially before and after training sessions, including but not limited to:

• Players should wash hands before and after a tennis session without exception (or use an alcohol gel if washing hands is not possible)

• Clean and wipe down your equipment, including rackets, water bottles, courtside benches (if used). Do not share rackets

• For tennis balls, consider using new balls where possible – do not pass on to other friends/acquaintances for use after your own game. Alternatively, each player could have their own tennis ball(s) clearly marked with their own initials and ensure that they are the only person to touch that tennis ball with their hands. For other tennis balls, other methods could be used such as lifting with a foot and racket or scooping up from the ground with the racket

• Avoid touching your face

• Outdoor courts and open spaces – including outdoor walls for individual practice - are preferable to small indoor spaces

Venues (including parks) will want to make sensible decisions around what is practically feasible and review this on a daily basis, in line with the current and evolving Government advice. Be aware that this is liable to change at very short notice and so should be checked ahead of every session. We recommend you keep checking the official LTA position on this web page and at this link to stay abreast of all current recommendations.

Programmes and Initiatives

All LTA national recreational tennis activity programmes relating specifically to the Big Tennis Weekends, Tennis for Kids and Team Challenge, as well as Tennis for Free, is on hold until further notice.

If you have events/ sessions already booked, your venue will inform participants of postponement or cancellation.

If you have any further questions you can contact the LTA Services Team by emailing info@lta.org.uk.