Further to my email last week and following on from last nights virtual committee meeting, I am delighted to say that the club will be re-opening on Monday 29th March. Please follow the link below which provides an update from the LTA in regards to what play is permitted from this date:

www.lta.org.uk/globalassets/news/2021/summary-grid—permitted-tennis-activity.pdf

Whilst we are all of course delighted to have a date back for playing, it is vitally important that we all continue to take sensible measures when playing at the club.

Below is an updated list of conditions that must be followed at all times to ensure safe play:

• Social play for both singles and doubles is permitted with effect from Monday 29th March 2021 and must follow the Rule of 6.
• Please do not visit the club at any point before this date. Only members of the committee undertaking maintenance work in preparation for the club re-opening are allowed on the premises.
• Coaching is permitted with effect from Monday 29th March 2021 for individual, adult and junior sessions. Adult coaching must not exceed 12 adults per court and junior coaching must be restricted to a maximum group size of 15.
• All play is subject to any travel restrictions into or out of the area that may be in place. Please ensure there are no restrictions in place that would prevent you travelling to the club.
• Playing at the club can only be done by booking a court through Clubspark. Further information on booking courts will be covered later in this email along with membership.
• On arrival please only enter by the patio or grass area where social distancing of 2 metres can be maintained.
• When leaving please leave by the passageway between the building and the courts. Please do not stand at any time in the passageway, this will ensure we can have a safe flow around the club.
• We would ask members to use the NHS covid-19 test and trace app by checking in on the QR code displayed on the clubhouse window.
• Please finish playing 5 minutes before your actual finish time to ensure there is no cross over between bookings. If playing on clay, please also consider that time will be needed for you to sweep the courts. 
• Please do not enter any court until it is clear and available to be used.

• Social distancing – nothing has changed in this respect. Continue to observe a minimum distance of 2 metres and please leave the club promptly after you have finished playing.
• Please make sure you have washed/sanitised your hands before you arrive at the club and after play. Please also consider wearing a glove when sweeping the clay courts or at least sanitising your hands immediately after sweeping.
• Please notify the committee through info@oadbytennis.co.uk and/or contact a committee member immediately if you have a positive coronavirus test following play at the club.
• Follow government guidelines/rules on the government website when you show any symptoms of covid-19 or if you test positive for covid-19.  
• The club house will remain closed apart from access to the toilets, which has to be used strictly with one person only entering the changing rooms at any time. There will be a cone placed in the reception area, so if you do enter the changing rooms can you please block off the entrance using the cone as an indicator that the changing rooms are in use. Once you have finished, please place the cone back out of the way of the door. Showers must not be used for the time being. 
• We will continue for the time being to restrict play to members only.

I would again stress that these conditions must be followed at all times. It is all of our responsibilities to make the club as safe as possible but if anyone does have any particular concerns then please do let me know.

MEMBERSHIP
2021 Membership Form

As part of the meeting we also discussed this years membership, which has been particularly difficult to administer with us being in lockdown during the renewal period.

We have now calculated the annual fees, which will of course reflect all of the time that the club has not been available for play. Gary will email all of the details out in the next couple of days and will provide you with all the information you need in regards to booking courts and allocations. I would ask everyone to keep an eye out for this email and respond with membership renewals as soon as possible.

OTHER MATTERS

Whilst last nights meeting was mainly about the re-opening of the club, members of the committee also gave some updates on other things that have been going on during lockdown.

I am pleased to say the post pad protectors have been ordered and hopefully should be in place by the time you are all back on court. Paul has also treated all of the moss patches on the court, which is now dying down and we are starting to see a difference. I am going to meet Paul at the weekend to help with further cleaning of the courts and to fix some of the fencing at the back of courts 1-3 which needs some attention.

You will also notice further signage has been put up at the club to help with the one way system. Thanks again to Paul and Derek for organising this and to Mike Minski for helping with the design work for the signs.

In regards to the proposed fencing that was discussed at the AGM, we have now received quotations for this and are looking over these for consideration. These will of course be shared with all members before any decision is made to proceed, however we do need to give this serious thought from a financial point of view as the clubs income will be reduced considerably this year due to the reduction in membership fees.

In regards to team tennis we are waiting for further information from the competitions committee as to how/when leagues might possibly run this year. Niall (Seniors) & George (Juniors) are waiting for an update and will inform everyone that wants to get involved with playing team tennis once we know more.

Alex, along with the rest of the committee, has been working on updating the clubs constitution as advised at the AGM. Many thanks to Alex as this has been a very time consuming job but I am pleased to say we are making progress and I will keep you informed with the progress of this as we move along.

I hope that provides you with an update of where we are. We are now only a few weeks away and will be busy making sure that everything is ready for you when we are able to get back on court. It has been a tough year and your ongoing support of the club is really much appreciated, we look forward to seeing you all back soon!

Best wishes

Martin

Chairman

Following on from the announcement made by the government earlier this evening and advice provided by the LTA the club will be closed from Tuesday 5^th January 2021 for all tennis activities. This means that no members should use the courts or any facilities at any time until further notice and all court bookings will be cancelled. Please do not visit the club for any reason.

LTA Update: www.lta.org.uk/about-us/tennis-news/news-and-opinion/general-news/2020/march/coronavirus-covid-19—latest-advice/

I hoped after last year that I would never have to write another email with news like this. Please stay patient and let’s hope I am able to send a more positive message in a few weeks time.

In these most challenging of times please do stay safe and look after each other.

Best wishes

Martin

Chairman OGTC

Following confirmation today that Leicester and Leicestershire have both been placed in Tier 4 restrictions, please find a link below to an update provided by the LTA along with a summary grid which outlines what play is allowed at the club.

Link:  www.lta.org.uk/globalassets/news/2020/local-restrictions-grid—tennis-activity-by-tier.pdf?category=Playing_Tennis_COVID19_Guidance

Here is a brief summary of what is allowed along with our rules for safe play at the club:

RULES FOR SAFE PLAY AT OADBY GRANVILLE TENNIS CLUB

• Social play is now restricted to singles only (other than those from the same household/bubble) with effect from Thursday 31^st December 2020.

• Individual coaching sessions are allowed but travel restrictions into and out of the area apply (e.g. No one from tier 3 would be allowed to travel in to tier 4 for coaching)

• Group Adult coaching is no longer permitted with effect from Thursday 31st December 2020.  Junior coaching is allowed but must be restricted to a maximum group size of 15 and with a maximum of one parent/guardian being in attendance.

• All play is subject to travel restrictions into or out of the area.

• Playing at the club can only be done by booking a court through ClubSpark.

• All existing court bookings will stay in place up until the 11^th January 2020 on Clubspark but must only be used for singles play as defined above. Please cancel any court bookings no longer required and/or amend bookings to one hour if two hours are no longer required.

• On arrival please only enter by the patio or grass area where social distancing of 2 metres can be maintained.

• When leaving, please leave by the passageway between the building and the courts. Please do not stand at any time in the passageway, this will ensure we can have a safe flow around the club.

• We would ask members to use the NHS covid-19 test and trace app by checking in on the QR code displayed on the clubhouse window.

• From the 11^th January 2021 bookings will be available for 1 hour slots with each member having an allocation of 3 bookings per week. These will continue to run for 55 minutes to ensure there is no cross over between bookings. If playing on clay, please also consider time will be needed for you to sweep the courts.

• Social distancing – nothing has changed in this respect. Continue to observe a minimum distance of 2 meters and please leave the club promptly after you have finished playing.

• Please make sure you have washed/sanitised your hands before you arrive at the club and after play. Please also consider wearing a glove when sweeping the clay courts or at least sanitising your hands before and after sweeping.

• If you or any member of your household have shown any symptoms of Covid-19 or believe you may have been in contact with someone who has then please do not come to the club.

• Please notify the committee through info@oadbytennis.co.uk and/or contact a committee member immediately if you have a positive coronavirus test following play at the club.
• Follow government guidelines/ rules on the government website when you show any symptoms of covid-19 or if you test positive for covid-19.  Link: NHS Test and Trace: how it works – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

• The club house will remain closed apart from access to the toilets, which has to be used strictly with one person only entering the changing rooms at any time. There will be a cone placed in the reception area, if you do enter the changing rooms can you please block off the entrance using the cone as an indicator that the changing rooms are in use. Once you have finished, please place the cone back out of the way of the door.

• All play is restricted to members only.

I know for a lot of people this news will be upsetting as getting out, keeping fit and seeing our friends has really helped us during this horrible year and difficult time over the Christmas period. With infection rates dramatically increasing it is absolutely essential that we all play our part and follow the above rules as we all have a responsibility to help each other to keep each other safe. If anyone is unsure about any of the above or would like to raise any points in regards to this then please do contact me.

George will email out to parents separately in regards to junior coaching but I would again remind all parents to follow the one way system and to correctly social distance as detailed above. We have witnessed a number of parents not following these rules and it is not acceptable to put other people’s health at risk by not doing so. Quite simply if these are not adhered to we will have no option but to cancel junior coaching.

Please be careful, stay safe and well.

Best wishes

Martin 

Following confirmation today that Leicester and Leicestershire have both been placed in tier 3 restrictions, please find a link below to an update provided by the LTA along with a summary grid which outlines what play is allowed at the club.

Link:  Coronavirus (COVID-19) – Latest advice | LTA

Here is a brief summary of what is allowed along with our rules for safe play at the club:

RULES FOR SAFE PLAY AT OADBY GRANVILLE TENNIS CLUB

• Social play for both singles and doubles is permitted with effect from Wednesday 2^nd December 2020 and must follow the Rule of 6.
• Coaching is permitted with effect from Wednesday 2^nd December 2020 for individual, adult and junior sessions. Adult coaching must not exceed 12 adults per court and junior coaching must be restricted to a maximum group size of 15.
• All play is subject to travel restrictions into or out of the area. No players from a tier 2 area will be allowed to travel to play at the club.
• Please follow this link for full government guidance in regards to travel: Local restriction tiers: what you need to know – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
• Playing at the club can only be done by booking a court through Clubspark.
• On arrival please only enter by the patio or grass area where social distancing of 2 metres can be maintained.
• When leaving please leave by the passageway between the building and the courts. Please do not stand at any time in the passageway, this will ensure we can have a safe flow around the club.
• We would ask members to use the NHS covid-19 test and trace app by checking in on the QR code displayed on the clubhouse window.
• Court bookings will now open at 7.30am rather than 12.01am. The booking system will be reactivated at 7.30am on Friday 27^th November 2020 for court bookings.
• Every member will have an allocation of 3 one hour bookings per week.
• Please finish playing 5 minutes before your actual finish time to ensure there is no cross over between bookings. If playing on clay, please also consider that time will be needed for you to sweep the courts. 

• Social distancing –  nothing has changed in this respect. Continue to observe a minimum distance of 2 meters and please leave the club promptly after you have finished playing.
• Please make sure you have washed/sanitised your hands before you arrive at the club and after play. Please also consider wearing a glove when sweeping the clay courts or at least sanitising your hands immediately after sweeping.
•  If you or any member of your household have shown any symptoms of Covid-19 or believe you may have been in contact with someone who has then please do not come to the club.
• Please notify the committee through info@oadbytennis.co.uk and/or contact a committee member immediately if you have a positive coronavirus test following play at the club.
• Follow government guidelines/ rules on the government website when you show any symptoms of covid-19 or if you test positive for covid-19.  Link: NHS Test and Trace: how it works – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
• The club house will remain closed apart from access to the toilets, which has to be used strictly with one person only entering the changing rooms at any time. There will be a cone placed in the reception area, so if you do enter the changing rooms can you please block off the entrance using the cone as an indicator that the changing rooms are in use. Once you have finished, please place the cone back out of the way of the door. Showers must not be used for the time being. 
• We will continue for the time being to restrict play to members only.

It has been a very difficult time for everyone and being able to get back playing tennis will be a relief for a lot of people. It is absolutely essential that we all play our part and follow the above rules. As always our priority is the health of our members and we all have a responsibility to help each other to keep each other safe. If anyone is unsure about any of the above or would like to raise any points in regards to this then please do contact me. 

We are currently working on a schedule as to when junior coaching will return. George will of course update everyone on this once a decision has been made.

It will be lovely to see you back at the club soon. Until then, please stay safe and well.

Best wishes

Martin

Chairman

Oadby (Granville) Tennis & Social Club

Further to my email earlier in the week, unfortunately I am writing to confirm that, following the new national restrictions that are due to come in to force , we will be closing the club to all members from Thursday 5th November until further notice. All court bookings after today have now been cancelled.

For absolute clarity this means there should be no play of any kind, not between households, singles play or any coaching. The club should not be visited for any purposes during the period for which it is closed. The only people permitted on the grounds are those on the committee or service providers to continue essential maintenance for the courts and club house.

A statement from the LTA regarding on the required closure of tennis clubs can be found via this link, together with a statement from the LTA’s Chief Executive, Scott Lloyd.
https://www.lta.org.uk/about-us/tennis-news/news-and-opinion/general-news/2020/march/coronavirus-covid-19—latest-advice/

Whilst this is of course very disappointing for all of us, we must abide by the law and continue to take all preventive measures to help stop the spread of Covid-19.

Our health is without doubt the most important thing during these difficult times and so please be careful and stay safe. Please do stay positive and let’s hope to be back on the courts soon.

I will continue to provide further updates when available.

Take care.

Martin
Chairman
OGTC

Oadby Tennis Club Covid Risk Assessment 26 Oct 2020

Oadby (Granville)Tennis and Social Club

74th Annual General Meeting

Date : Wednesday 28th October 2020 at 7.00 p.m.

Venue : To be held by zoom

Agenda

1. Chairman’s Welcome
2. Apologies for absence
3. Acceptance of the Minutes of the 2019 AGM
4. Matters arising from the Minutes
5. Chairman’s Report
6. Committee Reports
7. Acceptance of Accounts for year ending 30 June 2020
8. Election of committee for 2020/201
9. Any other business

Oadby Club Tournament 2020, draws, fixtures, results etc…

If you would like enter this year’s club tournament, please submit this ENTRY FORM by 23 Aug.

As advised previously the tournament will run over a longer period with all matches up until the final having a ‘complete by’ date, which will be sent to you once the draw has been completed and for each round thereafter. As usual we will have a main draw and reverse draw.

The deadline for entries is Sunday 23rd August 2020. Matches will then commence the week commencing 31st August 2020. Finals will be played the weekend of the 26/27th September 2020.

Players will be responsible for arranging their own matches, booking courts and providing their own balls. Each match will be played as first to 8 games with a tie break coming in to effect at 7-7. Should this happen this will be a standard 7 point tie break.

I would ask everyone to carefully consider which events they would like to enter as we would like to get all of the matches played rather than having walk overs.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Many thanks

Martin
Chairman
OGTC

Further to yesterday’s announcement to release Oadby & Wigston from lockdown I am pleased to say that the club can now welcome back all members to play who live outside of the Borough with effect from Saturday 1st August.

As always, to ensure safe play for all of our members I would ask that everyone follows the Rules for Safe Play, which are listed at the bottom of this email. Whilst it is great for us all to be back on court it is imperative that we all do this in a safe manner and if you have any concerns over anything at the club then please do let me know.

From the beginning of the lockdown we have always followed LTA guidelines and we intend to do this moving forward as well. We are now in a position where we can begin to look at opening up the club house and possibly to re introduce mix ins but before this can happen as a club we must complete strict risk assessments to ensure that this can be done safely. We will endeavour to complete these over the next 1-2 weeks and I will update you as to our progress with this. Many thanks for your patience, it has been a very frustrating time for everyone but I am sure you will all appreciate the health and safety of our members is the number one priority.

RULES FOR SAFE PLAY AT OADBY GRANVILLE TENNIS CLUB

· Both singles and doubles play will now be allowed with players from different households.
· Booking slots – for the time being these will continue to be available for 1 hour slots with each member having an allocation of 3 bookings per week. These will continue to run for 55 minutes with your session finishing on time, ensuring there is no cross over between bookings. If playing on clay please also consider time will be needed for you to sweep the courts. We will monitor the length of booking slots and will possibly increase this back to 2 hours over the coming weeks if possible.
· Social distancing – nothing has changed in this respect. Continue to observe a minimum distance of 2 meters and please leave the club promptly after you have finished playing. This is certainly more important now as there will be a lot more people arriving/leaving the club.
· Hygiene – Please make sure you have washed/sanitised your hands before you arrive at the club and after play. Please also consider wearing a glove when sweeping the clay courts or at least sanitising your hands immediately after sweeping.
· Symptoms – all of the original guidelines still stand. If you or any member of your household have shown any symptoms of Covid-19 or believe you may have been in contact with someone who has then please do not come to the club.
· Club House – the club house will remain closed apart from access to the toilets, which has to be used strictly with one person only entering the changing rooms at any time. There will be a cone placed in the reception area, if you do enter the changing rooms can you please block off the entrance using the cone as an indicator that the changing rooms are in use. Once you have finished, please place the cone back out of the way of the door.
· Members Only – we will continue for the time being to restrict play to members only.

Lastly, just to mention that if you use your LTA log in to access Clubspark, this will not be available from 6am on Sunday until 11am on Monday. So if you are booking courts and want to use that log in, please do so before/after those time slots. The LTA website might also not be available during this time.

Best wishes and stay safe

Martin
Chairman
OGTC