Expectations and Guidance for Club Coaching Group Sessions

Expectations – this is what we should expect of each other:

The Coach – will endeavour to offer tennis lessons in an individual or group context which are well planned, enthusiastically delivered and which focus on the player having a great time on a tennis court. Coaching will help to develop tennis skills and tennis strategy and will promote a healthy lifestyle.

The Player – will endeavour to be respectful of other players being coached by accepting that we all have different needs whether these be related to tennis ability or lifestyle. Players should be aware that others are able to enjoy their lessons as well as focussing on their own improvement.

The Parent or Guardian – will endeavour to support and facilitate tennis lessons by letting their children improve at a pace set by the coach and by subscribing to the guidance that has been promoted by the club.

Guidance – this general guidance is intended to give the AITC membership a level of transparency in terms of safeguarding, risk assessment and include details about postponement & cancellation.

Full details of AITC safeguarding and risk assessment policies are available through the committee.

The main aim of AITC club coaching group sessions is to focus on playing tennis and running sessions wherever possible. The committee wants to avoid postponement, cancellation and refunding.

Weather Issues:

The focus will be on playing tennis which will apply in mild adverse conditions inc. cold and drizzle.

• Severe weather – coach to WhatsApp the group to postpone the session to the reserve date.
• Regular severe weather – committee to refund or defer lost sessions.
• Mild adverse conditions – coach and players to meet at the court for coach’s decision.

Coach Issues:

• Non-availability inc. illness – coach to WhatsApp the group to postpone the session to the reserve date.
• Regular non-availability, committee to refund or defer lost sessions.

Player Issues:

• No show – no refund.
• No show for good reason with advanced notice – no refund but subject to committee discretion.
• Where a number of players cannot make a session, the reserve date may be used.

Safeguarding & Risk Assessment:

Note that the following points are not exhaustive and that thorough checks about safeguarding and risk assessment will be overseen by the AITC safeguarding officer in conjunction with the LTA.

• Primary School Players will not be able to leave the court unless collected by an adult.
• Secondary School Players will be allowed to leave the court under instruction by an adult.
• School aged players to arrive/drop off on time or after the session starts.
• School aged players to depart/pick up on time or before the session ends.

NB. All parties must avoid early drop off and late pick up when coach supervision in more difficult.

• Players to be clothed suitably for prevailing weather conditions inc. caps and sun cream for hot conditions.
• Players to come equipped with tennis rackets and suitable footwear.
• Tennis rackets may be provided by the committee to borrow and return from the clubhouse.