A message from Sonning Common & District Tennis Club
Good news!
Following the latest Government relaxation of restrictions due to the Covid 19 virus, and advice from the LTA, our tennis courts are open again albeit players must observe certain rules and social distancing when playing.
From the 1st June, tennis balls no longer need to be marked and that doubles can now be played with players from different households, a maximum of 4 persons are allowed per court.
It is imperative that you continue to maintain hand hygiene and social distancing.
If you wish to use the courts please read the latest advice below issued by the LTA.
Initially we are restricting access so that anyone wishing to play that is under 18 must be accompanied by an adult.
Our tennis club is ideal for beginners and young families and is perfect for getting outdoors, keeping fit and having fun. Our two hard courts are in excellent condition and suitable for anyone who wants to simply play tennis with their friends or family, you can just turn up and play in a casual and informal environment. There is no club house, we do not have any competitions, there is no dress code, we just want people to enjoy themselves playing tennis.
We are on your doorstep, off Horsepond Road next to Bishopswood Day Nursery, between Gallowstree Common and Peppard crossroads.
For £30 for a whole household you can play tennis any time you like up to the end of March next year
Interested?
Want to find out more about our club?
Then please email info@sonningcommontennisclub.org
In summary the key points that apply to our club are as follows:
BEFORE LEAVING HOME & AFTER YOU RETURN
Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before leaving home to go to the court and upon return (or use an alcohol gel if washing hands is not possible)
PERSONAL EQUIPMENT
Take hand sanitiser (alcohol gel) with you
Only take the minimum amount of equipment with you that you need to play
Clean and wipe down your equipment, including racquets, ball tins and water bottles before and after use
Do not share food or drink with others
Ensure you take all your belongings with you at the end of the session and do not leave anything on court
TRAVELLING TO AND FROM THE COURT
Avoid using public transport
Avoid touching court gates, fences, benches, etc. if you can
Any person locking or unlocking the padlock and touching the gate must use a hand sanitiser immediately before and afterwards
Members should only enter the courts if a court is free for use and previous players have left
If you need to wait, then do so away from the courts and clear of the gates
TENNIS ACTIVITY
Both singles play and doubles play is now permitted with people from outside of 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
Coached sessions should be limited to groups of no more than 4 people, including the coach
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)
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
For coached sessions, pay careful attention to the instructions of the coach
HYGIENE
Hand hygiene is imperative – use alcohol gel to clean your hands after touching a shared surface
If you need to sneeze or cough, do so into a tissue or upper sleeve
Avoid touching your face
EQUIPMENT & FACILITIES
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)
Players should still avoid using their hands to pick up tennis balls from other courts where possible – use your racquet/foot to return them
Avoid using other equipment such as courtside benches, net handles or court sweepers where possible
SUPERVISION
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 of four per court, social distancing must be strictly observed while watching the sessions and the use of benches is not allowed.
IMPORTANT: Do not leave your home 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.
In accordance with our regulations there is no procedure to reserve the courts and players can play for as long as they like, however if both courts are in use, and other members arrive, we would ask members to advise the people waiting as to how long they expect to play so people can decide to wait or return later. If the courts are busy we would ask members to be reasonable about how long they want to play.