KES CTC COACHING PROGRAMME
To all our parents, players and club members. KES CTC are extremely excited to be getting back on the tennis court and although we’re eager to get back to regular coaching, we would like to stress how important it is to create an environment that keeps everyone safe during such an unprecedented time during the club’s history.
The guidelines the club will be following are in line with those created by the UK Government and set by the LTA, which can be found here:
‘Following guidance published by the Government for the phased return of sport and recreation, the LTA has developed an updated set of practical guidelines for venues, coaches, players and officials/competitions. Key additions and updates to the guidelines have been clearly marked on the pdfs, including what dates they apply from where applicable.
The main update to this guidance is that Government has confirmed that adult group coaching is now possible in larger groups for those coaches and venues that are COVID-19 secure, in line with published Government guidance on organising outdoor sport and physical activity events, and for providers of grassroots sport and gym/leisure facilities.
Groups of up to 15 children plus coach(es) are also possible for junior coaching, in line with guidance from Government on out of school settings. Guidance from Government also means that clubs and venues can host larger groups for outdoor sport and physical activity participation events such as club nights and competitions, as long as they ensure they are COVID-19 secure’. (lta.org.uk, 2020)
As the club is also under the strict guidelines of the school, additional risk assessments have been carried out prior to reopening, and will be periodically assessed as the covid-19 situation guidelines from the government continually adapt to maintain the safety of the nation.
Obviously we welcome any feedback, so please contact us on kesctc@aol.com should you have any questions or would like to address any of the following.
Our Coaching Programme will operate with measures in place that both Coach and Player should take note and adhere to, and ask this to be reinforced by Parents/Guardians in advance.
COACHING PROGRAMME
- All Junior group lessons will have a maximum capacity of 15 players, within the government guidelines of a maximum of 15 children, utilising our full team of coaches which will assist in keeping the group sizes between 6 and 8 per coach.
- All Adult group lessons will have a maximum capacity of 15 players, which is at the top end of the government guidelines, with our coaches being mindful to adhere to the social distancing
- No player or coach should attend if themselves or anyone in their household develop any of the symptoms of COVID-19 as per the government guidelines at the time.(https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus)
- As the clubhouse will no longer be offering refreshments, could all parents ensure their players attend with a drinks bottle, as we will be unable to do assist player’s who haven’t got a drink like we have in the past.
- Use of hand sanitiser before entering the courts will be compulsory and provided by the club. We also encourage players to bring their own, as part of the usual basic requirements such as a drinks bottle.
MAINTAINING SOCIAL DISTANCING
Social distancing of 2 meters between players, parents and between the coach and players should be maintained at all times. This includes before and after the session, our coaches will actively be reminding everyone each lesson.
ON ARRIVAL, ENTERING AND EXITING THE COURTS
- Players and parents should wait outside of the court and maintain a 2-meter distance from other players, keeping their distance from the gate.
- Our coach will open the gate and call players on one at a time, players need to wait to be called.
- Players will enter and go to a Player Station.
- At the end of the lesson, our coach will instruct players on an individual basis to leave the court to avoid crowding the exit. We have unlocked the second gate on court 1 to allow a separate entry and exit point.
- Parents must be ready to collect players from the gate before the end of the lesson. Should a parent not be available at the end of the lesson, we will safeguard the player on court at a Player Station until they arrive.
- We need everyone to be more efficient with their timings before and after a lesson, including our coaches that will need extra time to set up before players enter and leave the court. This may result in getting players on or off the court slightly earlier or later then you would normally expect. Please bear this in mind, especially while we get used to the new practices.
PLAYER STATIONS
- Each Player will be nominated a Player Station, this will be a coloured cone which is spaced out at least 2 meters from another.
- This will be where a player leaves their drink and any belongings, it will act as the resting spot for drink rests during the session.
- The Player Station will be either at the side or back of the court, in a place which avoids getting too close to players within the group or from neighbouring courts.
- Players will not come together to collect balls, collect cones etc. The coach will educate players on the new way to collect balls in the lesson.
DURING THE LESSON
New Drills and Teaching Methods:
- Our coaches will be adapting their practices to avoid bringing players close together and will be emphasising this before each drill. There will be extra use of lines and markers to make it clear where players can stand.
- The new practices will include more baskets drills and stations for players to stand while not hitting, increasing our preventive measures while allowing us to maintain a high level of teaching.
COLLECTING THE TENNIS BALLS
- Tennis ball collection has been adapted and our coaches will talk you through this on the court. Essentially players will maintain social distancing while gathering balls using a racket to collect them or will roll them into a central point, where the coach will collect the balls.
EQUIPMENT
- Players will not need to touch any equipment like cones and markers, should a player touch anything, our coaches will be prepared to clean surfaces.
- We encourage all players to ensure they bring their racket! In the case of a player not having a racket, we will loan a racket for the session and we will thoroughly clean the racket after use. We would ask that a player makes an effort to purchase their own racket.
TOUCHING THE BALLS
- Use of hand sanitiser prior to the start each session is expected and will be provided as the children enter the court. The stance on communal balls has eased since July, and as a club we are meeting the LTA guidelines and as such the players will be able to touch the balls. This will remain pretty fluid and subject to change should we be told otherwise. However players will be reminded to avoid touching their face during the class.
HEALTH, SAFETY & HYGIENE
- Coaches will be using hand sanitiser before, during and after each session with extra care not to touch their face.
- Players are advised to bring their own hand sanitiser and place them at their Player Station. Coaches will encourage players to use this while taking a drink.
- Anyone sneezing or coughing on the court should do this into a tissue or upper sleeve and use the specially designated bin located at the exit of court 1.
- Players should try to avoid touching hard surfaces in gates, fences and net posts.
ONLINE PAYMENTS
- KES CTC has began to move all classes onto our online clubspark page, which will now accept online payments. Our website has all our course listed under the coaching section and multiple weeks can be paid in advance. Please note that in the near future, we will only be accepting online payments and all sessions will be booked online using the new cclubspark system.
- Classes can be paid for in weekly or termly format, with the cost of each session being shown on screen. This will reduce the registration period at the beginning of each lesson and the handling of cash between players and coaches whilst also negating the need to enter the clubhouse unnecessarily.
- To become a member of clubspark and pay online, sign up here https://clubspark.lta.org.uk/Account/SignUp and follow the instructions. The app is excellent for all smart phones and can be found on the app stores of both iOS and Android handsets.
- We understand this is a new process, but strongly encourage all members to pay online whenever possible. Currently we will be accepting cash, but ask players to bring the correct money to the class to assist the coach when signing players. As mentioned above, in the near future will be only accepting online payments for classes, and ask all members to to support this transition. We will be aiming to make this compulsory in the new year, giving all members the opportunity to get up to speed. Assistance can be given, just send us an email to kesctc@aol.com.
USE OF CLUBHOUSE
- Whilst the clubhouse will be open for access to the toilet, we are asking all players and families to wait outside, maintaining social distancing, and whilst the LTA guidelines are in place, we are discouraging spectating wherever possible to limit gatherings.
- All registrations will be taken outside to limit the need to go inside and once the players are allowed off court, we ask to
- Toilets will be available but we will be asking players who require them to use hand sanitiser before and after use, and only enter the clubhouse 1 player at a time.