Action at the doubles! How the easing of lockdown restrictions are seeing Boston Tennis Club members returning to the courts

Tennis continues to be one of the more accessible sports available during the coronavirus pandemic.

While the COVID-19 outbreak has had its impact at Boston Tennis Club, an easing of restrictions is allowing members to gradually return to playing sport in the manner to which they were previously accustomed.

The Sleaford Road club re-opened on May 15, adhering to Lawn Tennis Association guidelines.

“It was quite restricted in the early days, but I went down there and spoke to members and they were so pleased to get back to playing tennis,” explained club chairman Chris Cook.

“By its very nature tennis is a sport where social distancing can be maintained.

“What we found was that members who generally play doubles were coming to play singles because they missed playing.”

Initially, singles matches could be played against an opponent from another household and coaches could hold one-to-one sessions.

Doubles had to be played amongst four people from the same household.

However, recent easing of the restrictions means that doubles can now be played against players from other households, allowing members to return to the social side of club life.

Changes have also been made to coaching guidelines, allowing groups of up to six to meet, as long as they maintain social distancing.

“It has moved forward,” Mr Cook continued.

“We hope with the passage of time it will be further eased, but every move we make is under the guidance of the LTA, and we follow LTA guidance to the letter.

While on-court action may be relatively similar to before, Boston Tennis Club is by no means back to normal.

The indoor centre and clubhouse bar room facilities remain shut, while summertime recruitment drives - which help bring in new members - are on hold.

Ways Boston Tennis Club attempt to introduce the public to the sport include in-school coaching and open days, both of which cannot take place at present.

And Mr Cook believes the cancellation of this year’s Wimbledon championships will also have a knock-on effect.

“We can attract members purely from Wimbledon,” he added.

“It creates interest nationally while open days in the summer, we haven’t been able to do that as that can be classed as a mass gathering.

“Things are going well but we are still restricted. The clubhouse shut for purposes of providing food and drink.

“We are hoping we might be able to ease restrictions so people could have food and drink on the patio outside the building.

“It’s very positive in many respects but it’s not easy because we have had some loss of income. For example, the indoor centre being closed, meaning we’re not receiving income from court hire.

“We are experiencing financial challenges but we are trying to source money from different sources.”

The clubs enjoys a strong membership of approximately 750, from veterans to juniors. However, numbers are currently down, again an effect of the pandemic.

“Members are understanding,” Mr Cook said.

“We haven’t quite had all the membership return, understandably some members are concerned still, and we completely understand that. It’ the same as what’s happening in society and it’s a natural feeling.

“The lockdown came at a time when membership renewals would generally happen, and some didn’t. We understand that once again.

“In terms of membership we are slightly down, but hoping and anticipating that, within time, full membership will return.”

There may not be the in-school coaching and open days, but Boston Tennis Club continue to welcome anyone interested in taking up the sport or learning more about what the venue can offer.

“It’s fresh air and it’s exercise in fresh air,” said Mr Cook, sure that once life can return to some form of normality, people will be more keen than ever to make the most of their free time.

“It’s got to be good for everybody’s wellbeing, not only physical health but mental health as well.

“We are open to new members, so we would encourage anyone who wants to join us to join online.

“We are a sports facility who are open and a sport that, by its very nature, we can maintain social distancing.

“If anyone wants to maintain fitness a tennis court is a good place to do that.”

Safety first has been the motto at the club since the beginning of the pandemic, with Boston Tennis Club officials acting swiftly in a bid to protect members.

“We re-opened on Friday, May 15 and it was a return to restricted play,” Mr Cook told The Standard.

“We were guided by the LTA, who put guidance out.

“I formed a COVID-19 task group, a sub-group of the main committee and we drafted a COVID-19 policy, which is available on our website.

“That was all about guiding members through it, to ensure everybody was safe.

“Since then we have had a COVID meeting and amended our policy to meet the requirements of the LTA.

“We held an extraordinary committee meeting virtually to approve that version.”

Members have also attempted to maintain the social aspects of club life away from the centre, meeting online and taking part in a video which was edited to show those taking part knocking the ball from household to household in a show of solidarity with one another.

For further information about Boston Tennis Club, visit https://clubspark.lta.org.uk/BostonTennisClub