Guidelines* for a safe return to tennis at RTC

(*According to Municipal and Ottawa Public Health and Recreation)

All NEW and EXISTING Members must review and sign the RTC Participant COVID-19 waivers.

If you wish to play tennis, make sure that you follow the below recommendations: 

It is estimated that the virus responsible for COVID-19 can be transmitted through the sharing and handling of tennis balls, gate handles, locks, benches, the net and possibly the court itself. Players are urged to take extra precautions before, during and after their time on the court

BEFORE YOU PLAY

  • Play ONLY with family members, persons living in your household or individuals considered to be low risk.
  • Do not play if you or your playing partner: 
    • Exhibit any coronavirus symptoms, such as a fever, cough, difficulty breathing, or other symptoms identified by health experts. 
    • Have been in contact with someone with COVID-19 or have traveled in the last 14 days. 
    • Are considered vulnerable or at risk (elderly individuals, immunosuppressed persons, individuals suffering from serious health problems, notably high blood pressure, pulmonary diseases, diabetes, obesity and asthma). 

PREPARING TO PLAY 

  • Wash your hands with disinfectant soap and water for at least 20 seconds before going to a tennis court. 
  • Bring hand sanitizer and wipes to clean high touch surfaces at the courts (i.e lock, gate, benches)
  • Clean your equipment, including your racquets and water bottles. 
  • Do not share equipment with your playing partner. 
  • If you cough or sneeze, do so in a tissue or in your sleeve. 
  • Wipe down gate, lock, benches and all other objects you touch.  If you touch something, make sure to wash your hands and disinfect the surface you have touched. 

WHILE PLAYING 

  • ONLY Singles play is ALLOWED until further notice in order to enforce a 2-metre distance with other players.
  • Avoid all physical contact, for example shaking hands, with other players. 
  • Avoid touching your face after holding a ball, racquet or when you hit the ball to another player. 
  • Stay on your side of the court. 
  • It is recommended to use two cans of balls with distinct identifying marks on your balls in order to be able to differentiate them and only handle the balls that are yours. for example, Player A can be instructed to only pick up balls by hand that are assigned to him and Player B only picks up balls by hand that are assigned to her when they are playing together. When returning balls to a partner, or if balls travel to another court, players could be instructed to return them using only their racquet – never their hands.
  • Use your racquet or your foot to pick up the balls or to send a ball to another player. 

AFTER PLAYING 

  • Leave the court immediately after you finish playing.
  • Disinfect high touch areas you have touched especially, the lock, gate and benches. 
  • Wash your hands with water and disinfectant soap or with hand sanitizer.