Safe to Play Guidelines

*All lessons are compliant with COVID-19 guidelines for playing tennis – there will be no more than five players to a coach, and coaches have made necessary adaptations to classes in line with social distancing. ​Please ensure you read and understand the Safe to Play guidelines before booking & attending.

​Players who breach any of these rules will be unable to book lessons with any of our coaches.

• Coaches reserve the right to refuse lessons without refund if you turn up with symptoms or generally feel unwell.​
• Coaches reserve the right to refuse lessons without refund if you do not follow any of the guidance below.

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Stay Up to Date

• Government information around social distancing is available here and should be read in full
• Be aware guidance can change and restrictions may be reintroduced, if tennis is closed again group players will be moved to next term.

Bookings & Payments

• All bookings & payments must be made online and in advance 
• Buffering periods have been built in between each session to allow cleaning of the equipment & social distancing between groups.
• Please arrive no earlier than 5 minutes before the start of your lesson & we finish promptly at the end for collection no later than 5 minutes after.

Clothing

• Players must be appropriately dressed for the weather, as we will play if the courts are safe to do so
• Footwear: Clean non marking trainers must be worn on court (astro, studs, school shoes, boots, etc are not permitted)
• Summer clothes: recognised sports clothes, sun cream, baseball hat and a light waterproof coat encase of rain
• Warm clothes: tracksuit bottoms, thermals, waterproof coat, beanie or baseball hat & gloves that grip the racket (not bulky ski gloves!)

Equipment

• Bring your own hand sanitizer with you
• Currently we are not lending out rackets, so players must bring their own tennis rackets.
• Players must bring a drink, hand sanitiser and be dressed for the weather.
• Coaches will clean equipment in between sessions during the buffer period.
• Only take the minimum amount of equipment with you that you need to play
• Ensure you take all your belongings with you at the end of the session and do not leave anything on court
• Players who do not bring their own tennis racket or are not wearing appropriate non-marking trainers or not wearing appropriate clothing will be unable to take part in the lesson & will watch from the side.

Pre-Attendance Checklist

• All coaches and participants should undergo a self-assessment for any COVID-19 symptoms before leaving home.
• No-one should leave home to participate in tennis if they, or someone they live with, has symptoms of COVID -19,.
• Should an individual have demonstrated any such symptoms, they must follow NHS and PHE guidance on self-isolation
• Should an individual or family be told to self-isolate, they must follow Government rules on self-isolation and not attend tennis.
• Should a covid case happen in your schools year group, that schools year group (plus any family members linked to the covid case) will not be able to attend tennis until they are allowed to mix with others as per covid guidance. 

Before Leaving & After you Return Home

• Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before leaving home to go to the court (use an alcohol gel if washing hands is not possible).
• Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds when you return home (use an alcohol gel if washing hands is not possible).
• Clean and wipe down your equipment, including racquets and water bottles before and after use
• Bring a full water bottle, and do not share food or drink with others

Travelling 

• Avoid using public transport if possible - safer travel guidance is provided on the Government website
• Arrive no earlier than 5 minutes before your lesson.
• 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
• Avoid congregating on or around the court after playing to allow access for others

Venue Facilities

• There is no toilet access at Wrecclesham at this time.
• There is no player or parent/guardian/spectator access to the clubhouse at this time.
• There is free parking along Riverdale or in the small car park by the playground.
• Spectators are to watch from the side or ideally from the field and observe social distancing while watching.

Tennis Lessons

• No more than 5 players to 1 coach or assistant for coaching.
• Players should continue to maintain social distancing.
• Pay careful attention to the instructions of the coach.
• Players are advised to limit their interactions with anyone outside of the group they are attending.

Hygiene

• Hand hygiene is imperative - hand sanitise at intervals if you have to touch communal surfaces
• If you need to sneeze or cough, do so into a tissue or upper sleeve
• Avoid touching your face

Supervision & Spectating

• Where attendance of a parent/guardian (non-participant) is required, or a carer for a disabled player, it is permitted and is not counted as part of the maximum group size, but should be off court and limited to one per player where possible
• Supporters, parents, and other spectators should remain socially distanced whilst attending events.
• Spectator groups must be restricted to discrete six person gathering limits and spread out, in line with wider government guidance

Weather Policy:

• Players are required to come dressed for the weather as we have no indoor access.
• We will play in light rain and drizzle if the courts are safe to do so.
• If a lesson has to be cancelled, Coaches will text the contact number on the booking forms as soon as they can.
• Please note we cannot control the weather so messages will be sent as soon as a decision is made.
• If you receive no text or email from the coaches, this means the lesson is going ahead.
• If the weather stops the lesson from going ahead and the coach has cancelled the lesson, we will issue a discount code for next term.
• On some occasions coaches may check with you how the weather is in your area if they are working elsewhere, this does not count as a cancellation text but is an enquiry.

Policies and Code of Conduct

• Participants and Parents/Guardians are expected to understand and comply with our code of conduct
• Participants and Parents/Guardians are expected to understand and comply with our policies
• Our Safe to Play information can be viewed by clicking here​

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​Coaches LTA Profiles:

• Head Coach – Gemma Wiltshire: Coach details Gemma Wiltshire | CO023360 | LTA
• Senior Coach – Ian Bicknell: Coach details Ian Bicknell | CO008474 | LTA​