WCTC COVID-19 Update including One-on-One Singles, One-One Coaching and interim arrangements for Club Membership Fees
Your Club Committee have been looking into the issues relating to the legal obligations around providing some restricted tennis including ( singles) for those who choose to play or practice at Weston Creek Tennis Club, and one-on-one coaching provided by the Canberra School of Tennis.
At this stage nobody knows, or can even guess when we will be able to enjoy our social doubles activity again. Though it looks like those of us who are not too mobile and cannot really play singles, or are being coached in groups(children), might be in for a long wait.
A restricted option which is legal has been developed; it allows for some limited tennis activity during the period of the ACT Government’s COVID-19 arrangements.
We have now been advised in writing that: The ACT Government has considered guidelines for continuity of certain sports, including tennis, in the ACT during COVID-19. Within the tennis context and complying with limitations on physical density (one person per 4m2), physical distancing (1.5m), adherence to the maximum gathering size (2 persons) and hygiene measures to lower the risk of virus transmission, has agreed that restricted tennis activity may proceed.
As outlined in our One-on-One Guidelines (below) the Club will implement a court supervision process for one-on-one singles and coaching commencing on Friday 10 April at 10am. Bookings and court supervision will be led by Graeme Rossiter, the Club Vice President. This is in line with ACT Government advice indicating the application of discretion by the Weston Creek Tennis Club to proceed with restricted tennis noting the need to continually undertake risk assessment in order to ensure legality ie , adherence to the maximum gathering size (2), and compliance with social distancing requirements and good hygiene practice.
The ACT Government also advised that participants who are aged over 70, aged over 65 with pre-existing condition or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged over 50 with pre-existing conditions are advised to stay home wherever possible for their own protection.
Following ACT Government advice on tennis including recommendations on one-on-one coaching, our approach provides members with a legal choice to play(exercise), albeit limited. This approach is in line with the National and ACT Government policy on exercise, that:
- “All indoor and outdoor public gathering, excluding household members, have been reduced to a maximum of two people with the exception of exercise in compliance with public gathering requirements”.
Would you please make yourself aware of the following information below on: 1) Membership; 2) Club Coaching; and 3) the Weston Creek Tennis Club One-on-One Guidelines for singles play.
This approach will provide some level of choice to those players wishing to undertake restricted play as part of their exercise program.
The Club Committee has two major obligations;
- To provide tennis facilities on behalf of the ACT Government, and
- To comply with the legal requirements associated with the current pandemic.
- Your Committee is as keen as ever for normal tennis to resume when it is legal to do so.
Stewart Back
President
Weston Creek Tennis Club
8 April 2020
Membership
A limited number of courts (but not the Clubhouse) will reopen soon for one on one play (singles or coaching or practice wall) for members of Weston Creek Tennis Club only.
Current Members include:
- those members who have renewed for the 2020-2021 membership year; and
- those members who were current for the 2019-2020 membership year and who renew their membership on or before 30th April 2020.
It does not include those players who have registered for book a court but who are not members of Weston Creek Tennis Club;
Please note the Club will treat all 2019/20 members with consideration as restrictions due to the present coronavirus evolve – ie extending the cut off for renewal.
Brian Chauncy
Membership Secretary
Weston Creek Tennis Club
8 April 2020
Coaching
The Canberra School of Tennis (CSOT) will offer restricted one-on-one coaching for club members at the Weston Creek Tennis Club during the allotted supervised times outlined in the One-on-One Weston Creek Tennis Club Guidelines (see below). The one-on-one coaching will follow the strict COVID-19 hygiene and common sense protocols as advised by Tennis ACT and ACT Government and these will be clearly communicated to all potential hitters and parents.
Please contact Mark Walton the Club Coach on Mob: 040848619 or via email: [email protected] or via the CSOT Website : www.csot.com.au.
Mark Walton
Head Coach
Weston Creek Tennis Club
8 April 2020
One-on-One Play Guidelines
As from Friday 10 April 2020 Members Only ‘One-on-One’ play is permitted in accordance with the following strict guidelines:
- One-on-one play (2 people only) is permitted for recreational exercise only (including hitting against the wall).
- Players must maintain physical density (one person per 4m2) and strict physical separation of 1.5 meters at all times.
- For those adult members in ‘households’ with children that are members/family members (2 children per session only still applies) and at the discretion of the supervisor when allocating a court to the ‘household’, the following applies: strictly one-on-one play at all times; the strict 4m2 squared rule applies, the strict 1.5m separation applies. All other parts of the guideline must be strictly adhered to.
- Play will only be permitted on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday between the hours of 10am and 3pm. Sessions will ideally be 1 hour in duration with a maximum of 1.5 hours subject to overview by the Court Supervisor on the day, taking into account the number of bookings the Vice President, Graeme Rossiter receives on the day (see #9 below).
- Only 6 of the 12 courts will be available for play. The nets on the adjacent courts will be removed to ensure play is only permitted on alternate courts.
- Members are responsible for their own balls and must take them away with them at the end of play.
- The Clubhouse will not be open so please make sure you attend to personal toiletry activities at home, or in an emergency, at the nearby shops or McDonalds.
- The supervisor will: unlock one entrance gate only; let players in and out of the courts; and will supervise the physical separation between players. Players will not touch the gate at any time.
- Members must book by contacting Graeme Rossiter on Mob: 0431 930 710 or Home: 6288 2477 before playing and will be on a ‘first come first serve’ basis.
- The Vice President or his nominee will be in attendance at the courts whilst they are open in order to supervise play continually.
- Players must: have their own supply of alcohol wipes or sanitiser; wipe their hands and club equipment before and after play; and before and after entering or leaving via the entrance gate. No alcohol wipes or sanitiser means no play.
- Please note that members over 70, aged over 65 with pre-existing condition or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged over 50 with pre-existing conditions are advised to stay at home wherever possible for their own protection.
- No casual booking via Book-a-Court will be accepted.
- Ongoing risk assessment of these guidelines will be undertaken.
Stewart Back
President
Weston Creek Tennis Club
8 April 2020