Newsletter – 2nd of June 2020

Dear all
 
Following on from the latest Government announcement and changes from 1st June, the LTA has issues new guidance for play going forward. 
 
You will find the latest guidance below with the latest changes highlighted in red. 

There will still be:

• Limited access to the Clubhouse with ONLY the toilets available. If you do need to use the toilets, please take particular care and wash your hand thoroughly after use.
   
• The kitchen and bar area will not be open – please bring your own drinks, and do not share food or drink with others.
   
• Access to the clubhouse will ONLY be available whilst the coaching team or a key holder from the Executive Committee are present at the club.

 
This is a lengthy email but it is critical that you read all the details.
 
We must first and foremost ask you all to continue to comply with government guidance regarding, health, travel, social distancing and hygiene at all times (details of which can be found below). Government advises that if you, or someone you live with, currently has or has had within the last two weeks symptoms of COVID-19, or you are in the most vulnerable category, you must stay at home (and not visit the club). For more detailed advice click the button below:

 GOVERNMENT GUIDANCE 

In addition, the LTA advises that if you have played at the club and developed symptoms of COVID-19 you should be directed the Government’s ‘test and trace’ guidelines, which can be read on the Gov.uk website.

This continues to be a fast-moving situation. Please watch out for further instructions via the club website, emails and also our Members Facebook page. The Facebook page allows us to get news to you quickly, so it would be helpful if as many members as possible join our group. To join our group please click the button below.

THE BOOKING SYSTEM

The new booking system has proved to be effective and we will need to continue to use this whilst restrictions are in place. It is important that:

• You book a court, use only the court you have booked and do not overstay your time slot. If you are having a hit, playing points or even a match you must still ensure you finish at the allocated time. This enables us to ensure that change overs are as safe as possible.

• You do NOT use the courts prior to 8.00am or after the last allocated slot at 8.00pm. 
   
• If you have a slot booked but cannot attend, we would ask that you cancel the session so that others can book the courts. 
   
• You must be member to use the courts – this includes parents who would like to play with their children. 

A few members have not been getting email booking confirmations. This could be because they still have an old email registered with the LTA. You can contact Clubspark support to help with this (we are unable to make any changes) – their email is [email protected]. They have been very helpful.
 
You can book using the downloaded app or via clicking on to the LTA website below:

 LTA BOOKING WEBSITE 
 
Any new members will need to become British Tennis Members to access the App and system. This is easily done, simply click the button below and fill out the form to sign up.

 BRITISH TENNIS MEMBERS 
 
You can join as a Lite Member (free of charge) or Team Membership. Please ensure you register with Leverstock Green Tennis Club as your LTA Registered Venue. Any problems please contact the membership team.
 
Court Allocation
 
There are no changes to the allocation, but as a reminder:

• You are able to book up to eight one hour-long sessions in any one week. You are also able to book two x one-hour sessions consecutively – allowing a two-hour session for extended play (note the two-hour session will effectively be two hours and fifteen minutes as this includes the change over time between sessions).
   
• To ensure that everyone has access to the courts we ask that you DO NOT play more than a total of eight hours in one week (this does not mean that you can book 8 sessions and play additional sessions that another member has booked). This can be a mix of either one hour or two-hour sessions but must not be more than eight.
   
• Please DO NOT book more than two x one-hour sessions in any one day.
   
• Clay courts – If you are playing on the clay courts, we would ask that they are swept after use.  If you do sweep the courts please ensure you use the sanitiser provided, or your own if you have it, and wash your hands at the first opportunity. 
   
• You will only be able to book one week in advance at the moment.
   
• The coaching slots will be blocked out. 
   
• Courts 7 and 9 are not available, so that social distancing can be maintained. So, whilst they may look free please do not play on them. 

NB – You cannot play on the courts unless you have completed the booking process – this is so we can ensure member safety – it is essential that at this time we know who is playing on the courts.
 
Additional Guidance for Players at the Club and updates in red
 
Court access – all access remains the same as per the directions at club

• Padlocks – if you ​are the last person on court, you can check on the Booking App, please padlock the court after use. Please ensure that there are no other players on courts which would be affected – i.e. if you padlock the door at the side of courts five and six – please ensure there is no one on courts three and four. Once again, if you touch the padlock please ensure you use the sanitiser provided, or your own if you have it, and wash your hands at the first opportunity. 
   
• Players should avoid touching surfaces as much as possible and all benches etc have been removed from the courts. If players need to touch gates, fences or padlocks please use gloves where possible or use sanitiser after contact. The club does have some sanitisers, but we would ask that members bring their own if at all possible. In addition, wash your hands at the first opportunity.
   
• Players should arrive at the club at their start time and but may not enter the court until all previous players have left the court.
   
• Players should leave the club once their playing session has finished.  Avoid congregating on or around the court before the end of your allotted time.
   
• Spectating is not currently allowed. Where attendance of a parent/guardian (non-participant) or a carer is required, it should be limited to one per player where possible, with social distancing strictly observed while watching the sessions.

Tennis Activity

• Both singles play and doubles play is now permitted with people from outside your household, as long as you remain 2 metres apart as far as possible – meaning that four people from different households can now play doubles.
• The Executive Committee would ask that you only play doubles with people from outside your household if you are confident that social distancing can be adhered to.
• Coaching sessions can now be expanded but should be limited to no more than 6 people, including the coach.
• Coaching can be booked directly with our coaching team as normal.

Maintain Social Distancing  

Other than where players are from the same household:

• Stay at least two metres away from other players at all times (including during play, when taking breaks and before and after play).
   
• Do not make physical contact with other players (such as shaking hands or high five).
• Stay on your side of court and avoid changing ends or agree to change ends at opposite sides of the net.
   
• Avoid chasing the ball down to another court if other players are using it.
   
• For doubles, consider agreeing in advance which player will take the shot if a ball travels to the centre of the court.

Equipment

• Players DO NOT now need to use their own clearly marked tennis balls – however, if you choose to use shared balls then extra care must be taken to ensure you do not touch your face during play and you should clean your hands before play and immediately after finishing (use alcohol gel if required).
   
• Use your own equipment where possible.  Equipment such as rackets can be shared, but where this happens ensure thorough cleaning before and after use.  Players should not share items such as towels.
   
• Please bring hand sanitiser with you if possible – hand hygiene is still imperative
   
• Only bring the minimum amount of equipment with you that you need to play.  Clean and wipe down your equipment, including racquets and water bottles before and after use.
   
• Avoid using your hands to pick up tennis balls that aren’t yours – use your racquet/foot to hit/kick them to your opponent or return them to another court. 

Competition

• Please see separate email regarding LGLTC competitions which we will be kick-starting in the next few days. 
   
• Some formats of competition will be able to resume before others, and Local Tennis Leagues LTA Youth Box Leagues and internal singles and doubles box leagues/ladders can be played as long as they adhere to the guidelines in place.
   
• All LTA staged and LTA approved competitions (grade 1 to 6) up to at least Sunday 26 July 2020 have been cancelled.
   
• LTA approved competitions (Grade 6) such as Matchplays and Country & District Leagues may be able to resume earlier than 26 July based on Government advice.

 
Full LTA guidance can be found by clicking the button below. We would ask you to read this prior to visiting the club.

 LTA GUIDANCE 

Our priority continues to be for the membership to have access and at this time we will not be allowing visitors to play or use the facilities (this is being regularly reviewed). If you have not renewed your membership you can do this now by contacting the membership team – Tracey Dalmon and Anna Povey at [email protected] or message on Facebook. 
 
New members are welcome across all relevant categories.
 
Look out for an email in the next few days with details of LGLTC internal competitions.
 
Thanks for your continued support.
 
Executive Committee