The
LTA have updated their guidance since the government announced the further
easing of their restrictions and now refer to us returning to ‘Managed Play’.
The
essential changes for us is that doubles play is permitted from
Monday 1st June 2020 with four people from different households. The
guidance for players indicates updated advice for maintaining social distance
such as agreeing who should take balls down the centre of the court.
There is also updated advice contained regarding tennis ball use which
can now be on a shared basis with good hand hygiene. Players do not now need to
use their own clearly marked tennis balls. However, if you choose to use shared
balls extra care must be taken to ensure you do not touch your face during play
and you should clean your hands using use alcohol hand gel both before and
immediately after play. Please read the LTA player guidance carefully
noting the updated sections to protect us all from Covid 19.
The
booking system has been updated to allow booking for up to two hours as per the
original rules. The maximum slots that can be booked in any rolling
7 day period will remain at 2 as the committee consider more members will use
the opportunity to play now that doubles is permitted.
Coaching for up to 6 people (including the coach) at a time can now
commence and Ben will be updating our risk assessment for this before
announcing any group sessions. We still await updated guidance on whether the
number of sessions per day will be restricted.
The remaining guidance below is still in place and amended for this return to
managed play period.
All the nets on the hard courts are set at near the correct height as
the net winders have been removed and they are checked three times a week by
the groundsman.
The entrance gate requires only the use of the keypad and you should use
disposable gloves and disinfectant wipes when entering and exiting.
Please keep the main gate closed at all times.
Before you visit the club, please ensure you have your own supply of disposable
gloves, disinfectant wipes and hand sanitiser.
On entering the club grounds, please read the club rules relating to Covid-19
which are on the new noticeboard, just inside the entrance gate.
The Clubhouse facility remains closed as we do not have the resources to ensure
the required cleaning and disinfecting regime for objects and surfaces that are
high use indoors like the cloakroom facilities, doors handles, lights and token
boxes. Fortunately, nights are getting lighter for longer as we go forward.
Booking is open and for this period of managed play has reverted to two
hours maximum booking time but still requires a ten minutes crossover period
which is more important with higher numbers of people coming and going.
Good news, the grass courts will open from Wednesday. Booking
will be available for court 2 & 4 only as the run off gaps between these
three courts are below requirements. Be aware that if it rains you will
not be able to play on grass.
On Monday, Wednesday and Friday booking is only available from 09.00 to allow
the groundsman one hour of maintenance time on the hard courts.
The maximum number of booking slots remains at two per week per
member. Please try to avoid leaving a half hour gaps when
booking.
If you have a booking in the coming week and there is a gap before or after it
you can cancel the booking and then rebook a two hour slot.
During this managed period of play parents of juniors will be able to
book courts up to 4 days in advance. Parents/guardians of
junior/mini members have been emailed instructions separately for this.
Court 5 remains the coaching court which is allowed only on a 1:1 basis and
groups of 6 in line with LTA coaching guidance.
Juniors aged 14 years and under may only play under the supervision of an
accompanying adult who can ensure they keep to social distancing and other
required measures.
No visitors are permitted during this period.
The first aid box is now situated outside in a marked plastic box under the
clubhouse fire exit steps.
IMPORTANT:
Do not come to ALTC to play tennis if Government advice means you should stay
at home because you or someone you live with has or has had symptoms of
COVID-19, or you are in the most vulnerable category and have been advised to
shield from the coronavirus.
Member
Requirements for Safe Use of the Courts
Social Distancing
Keep
2 metres apart from anyone else at all times and in particular give way to
those exiting at our entrance/exit and on the narrow pathways as the signs
indicate.
Members can only play after booking a court via the Court Booking System.
Members are not allowed to turn up at the club “on spec.”
Do not arrive early for your booked court time or congregate.
Go on court 5 minutes after your booked time and leave five minutes before the
end of your allotted time in order to prevent encounters with other members
coming and going to the courts.
Leave immediately without congregating anywhere on our facility.
Hygiene
Measures
Provide
your own hand sanitiser, disinfectant wipes and disposable gloves and take
your used waste material back home for disposal.
Practice public health advice for hygiene and in particular use hand
sanitiser/disinfectant wipes before and after play.
Use a gloved hand and clean the keypad with disinfectant wipes
before and after use when operating the main gate
Clean your point of contact with court gate with disinfectant wipe before and
after use and use gloved hand when opening / closing.
Equipment
Use
your own equipment and it is recommended that you sanitise racquets and water
bottles before and after use.
Take only the minimum equipment required on court and make sure you take
everything you brought with you away when leaving. This includes any waste
material.
No items should not be placed on the net posts, keep all your possessions in
your bag separate from others.
Each member may either continue to use their own balls or agree as a set to
share tennis balls following the LTA guidance for this previously stated.
Dispose of any tennis balls at home.
All the bins around the club have been removed for the safety of the
groundsman.
Play
Both
singles and double play is permitted with players from different
households.
Maintain a two-metre distance at all times during play and taking breaks.
No handshakes or other physical contact.
Avoid changing ends or agree to do so using opposite sides of the net.
Avoid going on to an adjacent court during play or to retrieve a ball if
players are present on it.
Here is a link to a video Ben kindly offered to make for us to illustrate the
venue requirements. https://youtu.be/LrJNt-WJb0E
Coaching
Coaching
on a 1:1 basis is available in accordance with Ben Obong’s guidance which is in
line with the LTA. Contact Ben to arrange. Group coaching in line
with the LTA updated guidance will commence once Ben has completed the
risk assessment and organised his sessions.
The committee hope that more of you will now be able to enjoy
getting back on court now that doubles play is permitted.
Thanks to those who have played so far and kept to the club and LTA
guidance. It was a shame the very day after we opened the winds came
and the courts looked like a war zone!! Please continue to be responsible
during this managed play period and keep to the guidelines and
requirements so that collectively we can sustain keeping the club open for
play.
If
you have any suggestions in the light of experience, please let one of the
committee know and we can consider them.
This is an ever-changing situation which we are keeping under constant review.
We will keep you informed if we find some things are not working and changes
are required in the light of experience, if are able to move things further
forward or in the event we have to shut down again.
My personal thanks on your behalf to all the committee and the new club
captains today/this evening for giving their time to ensure we could
expand our tennis opportunities in accordance with the updated
LTA guidance from start of play tomorrow.
Stay alert, control the virus, save lives.
Helena
Culshaw
President
On behalf of ALTC committee
