Wheldrake Tennis Club: ‘Partial Re-opening Rules’ for Members: May 2020

As a consequence of the recent relaxation of the lockdown, the committee have discussed the issue on-line and has made the decision to re-open the Club.

The following steps have been taken by the club to enable members to use the courts from 09:00 25/05/20. Please take time to read and follow these rules prior to play.

1. The committee has taken into account Government and LTA guidance and a copy of the key guidance will be displayed adjacent to the court entry location to ensure full visibility.
2. The Club is only open for members. There will be no public use of the courts and strictly no non-members are allowed to play.
3. No member displaying any symptoms of COVID-19 should attend the Club for any reason.
4. Unless playing with members of the same household, in which case all members of the same household can play together, only singles may be played.
5. The Village Hall and toilet/hygiene facilities will not be accessible in order to minimise the risk of spreading the infection.
6. In addition to item (5); each member plays in the full knowledge of the lack of facilities available and therefore needs to provide for themselves the necessary hygiene requirements (this may include items such as a basic first aid kit, disposable gloves, personal towel, potable water, soap, disinfectant and hand sanitiser).
7. Access to and egress from the courts will be via the locked gate opposite the Village Hall (the existing gate by the car park).
8. Upon Arrival to the one court ready for play, one should find the gate locked, and the courts empty prior to access. It is essential that each player only enters the courts to play after the previous players have left the court; basically, follow the rules of the booking system which includes the buffer zone between playing slots. In the unlikely event that the previous session has ‘run-over’, then, from a safe distance, please politely remind the players that their slot is over and wait for them to finish and leave the court whilst remaining socially distant. Prior to play, please ensure you sanitise your hands immediately before and after touching padlock and gate and if this is not possible then wear gloves whilst touching them.
9. Then un-lock the padlock and open the gate and close. Leave the lock hanging on the gate un-locked whilst in play. These two items should be the only items in common use that will knowingly be touched by other people.
10. Only one court will be open for play: the other two will have the nets wound down and handles in-accessible. They are not to be touched or used. Access to those areas will be allowed strictly for the retrieval of balls only. The net on the playing court is NOT to be touched, nor the net height adjuster under any circumstances. These will be fixed in place and ready to play.
11. Having booked their ‘slot’ using the on-line booking system, at the conclusion of their booked session, players should leave the courts, close and lock the gate behind them. They should then disinfect the handle and lock as above (the only common items they needed to touch and then leave the Village-Hall area: – it is not a meeting place for a ‘catch-up’.
     
12. It is essential that members provide their own tennis equipment, including marked balls, so you and your opponent do not touch the same balls with your hands:  and use your racquet/foot to hit/kick them to your opponent.
     
13. The benches have been removed and placed in the tennis ‘hut’ by the courts and the area taped off. This is for your own protection to remove any potential common ‘touch’ areas. Please do not replace the benches for use, they are OUT of BOUNDS.
     
14. No U-16s member to play without supervision by an adult member from the same household.
     
15. Please avoid any social activities on or around the courts, and please note, the committee actively discourages non-playing spectators during this lock-down period. Where attendance of a parent/guardian (non-participant) or a carer for a disabled player is required, it should be limited to one per player where possible, with social distancing strictly observed while watching the session from outside the court area.
16. Please ensure that you comply with the general lockdown provisions including obviously maintaining distance from other members of at least 2 metres.  We trust that members understand the reasons for these measures and acknowledge that the committee has a responsibility to take reasonably practical measures to minimise the risks of contracting Covid-19 coronavirus.
17. If any member has any concerns or queries at any time please do not hesitate to email back or contact a committee member.

 Note, these rules have been formulated by the Wheldrake Tennis Committee following consultation with the LTA guidance as advised (https://www.lta.org.uk/workforce-venues/tennis-venue-support/resource-library/) and All activity should be consistent with the government guidance regarding health, travel, social distancing and hygiene at all times

The above rules and guidelines will be continually reviewed and may be subject to change.
Further player guidance is available from the LTA