Following Sunday’s announcement from Prime Minister Boris Johnson, the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) has given the go-ahead for outdoor tennis courts to re-open in England, but with strict guidelines.
This news comes after England Golf allowed courses to open once again today as per the new Government guidance on Covid-19 on outside exercise, with basketball courts and bowling greens also allowed to open once more.
The LTA has issued strict guidelines for tennis venues, coaches and players to abide by.
Within these guides, it states that indoor and ‘bubble’ courts should remain closed and that players should was their hands for 20 seconds before leaving their home for the court.
However, it says that one-to-one coaching sessions can resume and that, where facilities allow, the booking of a court should be done in advance and paid online.
No more than two people are allowed on the same court (unless they are from the same household) and venues should ensure that hand sanitisers or wipes are available to sue at the entrance and exit points, with signage on guidelines required to be displayed clearly.
Players are advised to bring their own equipment with the distribution communal racquets and balls to be avoided as much as possible, while coaching equipment should be also be limited and wiped down after use.
The LTA says club committee members should oversee the implementing and maintenance of safety measures, adding that venues ought to take time to ensure they can re-open safely rather than rushing.
All activity, it said, should be consistent with government advice regarding health, travel, hygiene and social distancing.
A spokesperson for the LTA said: “We know how important it is for people to be active, and the particular role tennis can have in the physical and mental wellbeing of those that play it.
“By its very nature, tennis is an activity whereby close person to person contact can be avoided, with the Government saying tennis is a good example of an activity that can be undertaken in a way compliant with social distancing restrictions.
“Based on our discussions with Government and following the adjustment of lockdown restrictions, the LTA has developed a set of practical guidelines for venues, coaches and players to follow so that tennis can be played in England during lockdown, where the local environment allows.”
For the full set of rules, regulation and guidance from the LTA for coaches, players and venues, click here.
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