COVID-19: GUIDANCE FOR PLAYERS
(Updated guidance in effect from Monday 1 June)

NEW AND UPDATED GUIDANCE HIGHLIGHTED IN RED

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. 

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 (or use an alcohol gel if washing hands is not possible)

 
COURT BOOKINGS

• Courts must be booked in advance online via the court booking page
• Court bookings will be in 50 or 80 minute slots to leave a 10 minute buffer between sessions
• Ensure you stick to the times you have booked to allow time for you to leave before the next players arrive

 
EQUIPMENT

• Take hand sanitizer with you
• 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
• Only take 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
• Bring a full water bottle, and do not share food or drink with others
• Bring your own tennis balls that are clearly marked (e.g. with your initials)
• 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
• Arrive as close as possible to when you need to be there
• Use alcohol gel after touching any court gates, fences, benches, etc, and avoid doing so where possible
• 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
• Ensure you leave the court before the end of your allotted time so that it is empty for the next players
• Arrive changed and ready to play. Do not use the changing area
• Do not congregate after playing. No extra-curricular or social activity should take place

 
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

 
MAINTAIN SOCIAL DISTANCING

• 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 & FACILITIES

• Use your own clearly marked tennis balls
• 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
• Avoid using other equipment such as courtside benches or net handles where possible
• Be aware that onsite toilet facilities are not open

 
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

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 six, but should be off court and limited to one per player where possible, with social distancing strictly observed while watching the sessions