Racquet Director’s Diary

ITC

The Indoor Tennis Centre will become very popular over the next few weeks. At the start of the year the Committee brought in a 60-minute maximum booking slot per Member for the ITC courts, in a hope to allow more Members the opportunity to use the courts. The Committee has reviewed this, based on Member feedback, and decided that from Monday 5th October the maximum booking time per Member per day will go back to 90 minutes. As a result, the league format over the winter months will remain at 15 games with the usual rules.

Please remember to check in for all courts and note that for ITC courts there is a 12-hour cancellation policy. The court surfaces were repainted in August ready for the autumn/winter. Therefore, it is important that Members keep to the rules of no drinks besides water on court and to only enter with clean shoes. The airhall over courts 12 to 14 is set to go up mid-October.

Universal Roehampton Club Challenger Trophy

On the back of the success of the Club Champs we are giving the membership another chance to enjoy some competitive tennis. The Universal Roehampton Club Challenger Trophy will see men, ladies and juniors over 14 compete for LTA rating points. The competition will involve singles and doubles and there will be multiple divisions decided by various standard guides regardless of gender and age. To find out more information please scan the QR codes that can be found on the posters around the Clubhouse from next week or contact the Tennis team.

Padel Courts Update

We are still on track to have the Padel courts built and playable for April 2021. The Club will have two Padel courts, both floodlit and one of the courts will be under a canopy. The racquets team are planning a full coaching, social and competitive Padel programme for when they are open for play.

Covid-19 Guidelines

When participating in any tennis activity indoors or outdoors, participants must not mingle in groups of more than six before and after the activity, while maintaining social distance with those from another household at all times. Attendees must avoid social interaction with anyone outside the group they are with, even if they see other people they know during their visit.

The Government has confirmed that organised activity for larger groups, including coached sessions, club nights and competitions is permitted with a limit of six, provided the activity is in accordance with the COVID-19 secure guidelines published by the LTA for venues, coaches, players and competitions. The Government has made it clear that organised larger group tennis activity is only permitted where this is the case.

Junior Coaching Programme

The junior coaching programme has now restarted with nearly 300 juniors coming for tuition throughout the week. This term all juniors enrolled received a free Roehampton Club tennis T-shirt. If your child is on the programme and is yet to receive a t-shirt please contact Nik Snapes, Tennis Manager on 0208 480 4231

Pay and Play

If you are looking to improve your doubles tactics and positioning ready for your league matches or just want general doubles practice and advice, the pay and play sessions are perfect for you. These sessions have now restarted on Mondays and Fridays on courts 7 and 8, 10 – 11.30am. If you are interested, please book at Reception.

Club Social Sessions

• With the closure of the grass courts, Club Night will now take place in the ITC and smash courts on Wednesday evenings.
• 18-35’s social tennis will continue on courts 12 to 14 at 7.30pm on Mondays.
• Ladies’ morning on Thursdays will be in the ITC, 9.30– 11am.
• Vets match-play will take place on 12 to 14 every Thursday, 1.30 – 3pm.
• Club afternoon on Saturdays 3 – 4.30pm will take place on courts 12 to 14.
  Please continue to sign up for these sessions each week at Reception and follow the guidelines below.

Pre-Attendance Symptom Check

• All coaches and participants in your sessions should undergo a pre-attendance self-assessment for any COVID-19 symptoms using the information on the NHS website before leaving home.
• No-one should leave home to participate in tennis if they, or someone they live with, has symptoms of COVID -19, currently recognised as any of:
  – A high temperature
  – A new, continuous cough
  – A loss of, or change to, their sense of smell or taste
• Should an individual have demonstrated any such symptoms, they must follow NHS and PHE guidance on self-isolation.

All Social Club Sessions

• Players should turn up just before the session start time.
• Please go straight to the courts and avoid social gatherings before and after the session.
• Please use the on-court hand sanitiser when entering and leaving the courts.
• Players are advised to limit their interactions with anyone outside of the group they are attending the venue with (e.g. players on another court or in a different coaching group)
• Players should continue to maintain social distancing from those that they do not live with or are in a support bubble with.
• If you are in a clinically vulnerable group (e.g. over 70) you can play tennis but should be especially careful and diligent about social distancing and hand hygiene.

Dan Lott | dan.lott@roehamptonclub.co.uk