Standards of behaviour

Stebbing Tennis Club (the "Club") is responsible for setting standards and values to apply throughout the Club at every level. Tennis should be enjoyed by everyone who wants to play the game. This policy is fully supported by the Club Committee.

Tennis etiquette is different from the rules of the game. It covers a broad range of actions and behaviours which are traditionally considered acceptable on and around the tennis court. Here are some actions and behaviours that the Club recommends to members:

• All members attending Club Sessions should be inclusive and welcoming.
• When playing please wear recognised sports clothing (not jeans, beachwear or football shirts etc.) and most importantly non-marking “Tennis Shoes “. This is for two reasons, first, other shoes mark and damage the courts and second, non tennis shoes do not grip the courts as well and can cause accidents and avoidable injury if you were to fall or slip.
• Show respect and courtesy to your opponent(s), your partner, and others on or near the courts. Keep your voice down and confined to your court as much as possible so as not to disrupt players on adjacent courts or neighbours of the Club.
• Please do not walk behind players whilst a game or a rally is in progress, this is to avoid distracting other members and most importantly to avoid any potential accidents on court.
• No food or drink is allowed on court except water and sports drinks.
• Mobile phones must be switched off on court.
• Rude and offensive language is not permitted.
• If the club is busy and players are waiting, then the rule is to play one short set only (best of 7 games) and then vacate the court.
• Please use the paths to access the courts and do not cut across the grass verges – this saves mud from being taken onto court.
• All litter must be removed from the courts and grounds at the end of play and deposited in the appropriate receptacle or taken home with you.
• During Club Sessions stronger players are expected to adjust their style of play accordingly when playing with or against weaker players.
• All players are expected to observe the accepted standards of tennis etiquette at all times.
• All league matches are governed by the rules and regulations put in place by the league, ie they take precedence over any Club rules or etiquette guidance.

Safeguarding

The Club strives to ensure that all children, young people and adults at risk are safeguarded from abuse and have an enjoyable tennis experience.

Everyone who is involved in tennis has  shared responsibility to support this by promoting the welfare of all children, young people and adults at risk

Coaches at the Club are all accredited and are DBS-checked.

The Club Committee receives safeguarding training.

The Club has a safeguarding policy and statement. STC Safeguarding Policy

For any safeguarding concerns, please contact the Welfare Officer, Stephanie Taylor on 07787 127117 or email steph.tenniswelfare@gmail.com. 

Children/adults at risk

A child is considered to be a person under the age of 18.

Children under the age of 14 must be supervised by their parent, carer or guardian. This is due to concerns that they may not be mature enough to deal with an emergency or difficult situations.

It is understood that in certain circumstances, a parent, carer or guardian may delegate responsibility for supervision of their child to another adult member of the Club. It is not acceptable, however, to leave a child on Club premises with other adults without making specific arrangements with an individual.

It is a parent’s decision as to what age they allow their child to the Club unsupervised between the ages of 14 and 18.

The above applies both at events and activities at the Club and at away matches, with the exception of coaching sessions at which a named LTA-approved coach will be in attendance.

Adult Club Sessions (Ladies Mornings - Thursdays, Club Night - Thursdays, Club Morning - Sundays)

Guidance for Junior Members' attendance: 
• Junior Members must be fully paid-up members (or part of a family membership)
• Aged 14 and over
• Of Yellow Ball Standard (confirmed by a club coach)
• Able to have a parent or nominated responsible adult in attendance
• Mature enough to follow Club etiquette
• Aware that overall say will be from the Adult Member or Committee member running/attending the session

Anti-bullying

The Club will not accept any form of bullying within the Club, be it in person or via social media.  Any complaints of bullying will be dealt with swiftly by the Committee.  If evidence of bullying exists the person/child responsible may be asked to leave the Club.

Booking the courts

The code for unlocking the gate to the Club as well as the courts is sent to you when you pay your subscription.  Members may reserve courts by making a booking via the Court Bookings page. 

Guests

Members may also bring guests to play at the Club, for which a fee of £3 per guest is payable.  The fee should be placed in the money box located in the clubhouse or transferred into the Club's bank account, details of which can be found on the noticeboard outside the clubhouse.

Guests are limited to 4 sessions per year.

Floodlights

The floodlight box is located outside Court 2 and is opened and operated by using keys, which are located inside the clubhouse. Please note that the floodlights may only be used Monday to Friday until 10pm and not at weekends. Please ensure that lights are turned off and keys returned to the clubhouse. Please contact a Committee Member if you need advise on this.

Clubhouse

The clubhouse is open for Club Sesssions, for club matches and for all club events. There is an outside toilet for members to use when the clubhouse is locked.  

All litter in the clubhouse must be deposited in the bins provided.

The clubhouse and toilet areas should be left clean and tidy at all times. Cleaning supplies are located in the toilet.

Car park

The last person to leave the Club is responsible for securing car park gate. It should always be closed and locked if you are the last to leave the Club.

Dogs

Well-behaved dogs are welcome at most times at the Club.

Dogs may not be brought to the Club on junior camps days, during junior group coaching sessions, on junior prize giving day and to other ad hoc events at the Club (members will be notified of these at the relevant time). 

The committee reserves the right to request that a member’s dog is kept on lead at all times, or not brought to the Club.

Dog owners are responsible for clearing away their dogs’ mess immediately from the lawned area.

Tennis balls

Please take any dud balls be taken out of circulation and place them in the “old ball box”. We recycle all old balls so please don’t throw them in the bin.

Please collect any balls that are hit out of the courts and don’t leave them to litter our hedges. We appreciate some balls land in the middle of prickly hedges and can be difficult to retrieve, especially in the dark. 

All balls should be collected at the end of play and returned to the appropriate place in the clubhouse.

There is a regular stock of nearly new balls from league matches to be used for Club Sessions. The Club purchases a supply of new balls which can be used when the stocks or quality of nearly new balls are deemed inadequate.

If any member is unhappy with the quality of balls available during a Club Session, please ask for better balls. If no better balls are provided, please inform a committee member afterwards.

Coaching

Coaching sessions are ONLY permitted with the club’s authorised coaches. At present the coach approved by Stebbing Tennis Club is Mark Clark and Ashleigh Draper.