Following publication of revised LTA guidelines yesterday, we will be adopting some changes to tennis court booking and play conditions WITH EFFECT FROM SATURDAY 4 JULY.
The main impact will be for those wishing to play doubles tennis:
• It will no longer be necessary to book out both courts for doubles tennis and we would ask those who already have both courts booked for the same period, beyond 4 July, to please cancel one of their court bookings;
• A maximum of 6 players are allowed on one court booking with 4 playing and 2 remaining off court;
• the maximum number of people on both courts at any one time is 8 in two separate bookings;
• there must be NO interaction between players where 2 courts have been booked separately. NO attempt should be made to chase balls across courts;
• if both courts have been booked for the same group, the maximum number of players is 6 in TOTAL;
• 2 metres distance to be maintained between players at all times – on and off court – other than in exceptional circumstances where 1m+ will be permitted with mitigating actions;
• existing LTA COVID-19 conditions for doubles tennis play must be observed which include NO changes of end and nominating one partner to take balls down the centre of court
• there is now no requirement for a 10 mins buffer period between booked sessions but as a courtesy to other users, we ask you to end your play a few minutes early to allow safe handover of courts.
In view of these changes, we are reintroducing a weekly social tennis night on Wednesdays from 8 July, 6-8.00pm for a maximum of SIX players. Due to the limitation on numbers, you must let the organiser, Kelvin Hughes, know you wish to attend by leaving a message on the Social Tennis Night chatroom that has been set up for the purpose on the App. Otherwise the sessions are completely informal, just meet up and play, with no coaching or fees.
All other latest court booking conditions remain the same:
• The tennis courts are available for booking online ONLY.
• Before leaving home & after you return wash your hands
• Bring hand sanitizer with you
• Arrive changed and ready to play
• Use all your own equipment
• Clean and wipe down your equipment, including rackets and water bottles
• Bring a full water bottle, and do not share food or drink with others
• Ensure you take all your belongings with you at the end of the session
• Avoid using public transport
• Arrive as close as possible to when you need to be there
• Avoid touching court gates, fences, benches, etc. and wipe them down if inadvertent contact
• The court nets will be set at the appropriate height and the winding handles removed
• Allow others to leave before you enter the court – if you need to wait then do so away from the courts and clear of the gates
• The first court users to arrive for each session are to take the court furthest from the gate irrespective of the court booked
• PLEASE WIPE DOWN THE COURT KEYPAD AND HANDLE AS YOU LEAVE AND BEFORE OTHERS SEEK ACCESS
• Do not congregate after playing and leave the premises promptly
• Do not make physical contact with other players
• Make sure you have the court access codes from the booking confirmation
• Do not provide anyone with the court access codes or facilitate access to ANYONE ELSE, especially if they have not booked
• Under no circumstances are people to access or use courts they have not booked. This includes overstaying after a booked session.
The LTA guidance tennis players are required to observe – including specific conditions for doubles play – are included under Documents on the Club App.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE CLUBHOUSE REMAINS CLOSED AND OUT OF BOUNDS TO ALL. So bear in mind that there are no toilet facilities or access to water although First Aid boxes will be available.
The Tennis Committee will keep conditions under continuous review and amend as necessary so please keep checking Club media and the Tennis chatroom on the App in particular.
Any abuse of or failure to observe the required conditions may lead to the curtailing or withdrawing of the facilities and/or cancellation of individual bookings. We ask members to continue reporting abuses of the conditions for the protection of all court users.
OUTSIDE OF COURT BOOKING AND OFFICIAL CRICKET PRACTICE SESSIONS THE CLUB SITE REMAINS CLOSED.
Location
Staplehurst Cricket & Tennis Club, Frittenden Road, Staplehurst, TN12 0DH
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