SYTC COVID19 GUIDANCE
REQUIREMENTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
DATE: MAY 7, 2020
REQUIREMENTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
DATE: MAY 7, 2020
The SYTC Board of Directors is committed to ensuring that tennis play at SYTC during the COVID19 pandemic be as safe as possible for players and the general public while complying with government-mandated restrictions and guidance. We want our members and guests to enjoy their playing experience, but we also recognize that some aspects of on-court play as well as the more social aspects of the club will need to be put on the back burner until the pandemic recedes, restrictions are modified or lifted, and a return to more “normal” club operations is allowable.
The Board established the following interim requirements and recommendations to meet that objective and to encourage all members to respect each other’s health and welfare. We certainly hope to be able to relax these requirements and recommendations as the season progresses.
1. GOVERNING POLICY: “COME-PLAY-GO” TO MINIMIZE TIME ON SITE
● ALL PLAYERS – FULL SEASON MEMBERS, WEEKLY MEMBERS, GUESTS, COURT RENTERS, VISITING TEAMS, YOUTH PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS, CLINIC PARTICIPANTS, PLAYERS RECEIVING LESSONS, AND ANY OTHERS - ARE REQUIRED TO SIGN THE SYTC WAIVER OF LIABILITY PRIOR TO THE FIRST TIME THEY PLAY. Only players who have signed the SYTC waiver of liability will be permitted on courts and SYTC
property. Members are encouraged to sign the SYTC waiver of liability electronically by accessing the Members Only section of the club website
by computer or smartphone.
● DO NOT COME TO SYTC IF YOU ARE SICK , COUGHING, SNEEZING, OR SUSPECT OR KNOW YOU HAVE COVID19 OR HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO COVID19.
● We request that you make every effort to schedule court time in advance rather than just walking in to play. This will help staff to know daily usage
in advance and schedule court assignments appropriately. See Section 4 below for reservation procedures.
● Please try to arrive just prior to scheduled court time. Please park on SYTC property in the SYTC parking lot whenever possible, otherwise use
the overflow parking area inside the fence adjacent to Court 5.
● Please enter through main entrance gate at the clubhouse and exit through overflow parking gate.
● Wearing a face mask or face covering is required until arrival on assigned court and when departing after play.
● Please maintain a minimum of 6 feet social distancing at all times on SYTC property.
● SYTC staff will provide court assignments. Please wait with appropriate social distancing – at least 6 feet - outside entrance gate or wait in the
overflow parking area adjacent to Court 5 until SYTC staff signals you to your assigned court.
● We will attempt to accommodate member preferences to play on specific courts, but our first priority will be to keep a vacant court adjacent to or
between courts in use whenever possible.
● Please leave club as soon as practicable after play ends.
● Please do not congregate in groups of 3 or more at any time on SYTC property before or after play.
● SYTC will do all it can to acquire and provide disinfecting wipes and hand sanitizer. However, as a backup please bring disinfecting wipes and/or
hand sanitizer for personal use.
2. CLUBHOUSE/PATIO REQUIREMENTS
● Patio may not be used except to enter clubhouse to use lavatories and read COVID19 notices posted on bulletin boards.
● Reservation sheets and event sign-up sheets will be held in Manager’s office rather than posted on the bulletin board. See item 4 below for procedures
concerning reservations.
● Face masks/coverings are required when entering and leaving patio and when using lavatories. If lavatory use can wait until you return home,
please do wait!
● Please use disinfecting wipes to disinfect all surfaces you have touched.
● Please leave clubhouse and exit patio immediately after using lavatory.
● Refrigerator will be used only for club-provided ice packs to treat injuries sustained at SYTC. The club will not be storing water, other liquids or food items. Personal food/liquid items may not be stored in the refrigerator.
● Shower will be disabled.
● Water fountain will be disabled.
● Water sprayer for shoes will be disabled.
● TV monitor will not be installed.
3. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SYTC’S ORGANIZED DOUBLES PROGRAMS
● For the Stephen Brown League, Women’s Tuesday/Friday Round Robin, Men’s MWF Afternoon doubles, and Sunday Morning Mixed Doubles, all of which customarily use 3 or more courts, please consider the possibility of staggering your court times to make use of readily available court time at 10:30 AM or later. This will help minimize play on adjacent courts and keep longer distances between players.
4. RESERVATIONS AND EVENT SIGN-UPS
● We strongly encourage advance reservations and event sign-ups.Reservations/sign-ups should be made by sending a text message to Manager
Steve Francis at (774)836-6218. PLEASE DO NOT CALL THE SYTC PHONE NUMBER TO MAKE RESERVATIONS. Steve will confirm your
reservation/sign-up by return text. If you don’t do texting, please leave a voice-message for Steve at (774)836-6218. Reservation and sign-up sheets will
not be posted on the bulletin boards for write-ins.
5. RECOMMENDATIONS WHILE ON SYTC PROPERTY AND WHILE PLAYING
● Follow all government-mandated COVID19-related practices, including vigorous hand-washing at home before and after play and use of hand sanitizers.
● Each player should consider providing tennis balls marked with an identifiable initial for his/her own service games. Every player should take great care NOT to pick up another player’s tennis balls at any time, but rather to retrieve and strike the balls back to the server only with a racket.
● SYTC recommends wearing a thin glove on your non-racket hand to minimize skin contact with balls.
● Please consider not changing sides every two games; remain on the same side of court throughout the match or for a minimum of one set. When changing sides, opponents should do so on opposite sides of the net to minimize close contact.
● Please NO spitting on court.
● Please minimize/eliminate touching of net posts and net cord.
● We recommend that you consult with your opponent(s) concerning ball usage and preferences for changing sides before arrival at SYTC to ensure on-site agreement.
6. COURTSIDE CONDITIONS
● Scorekeepers and benches will be unavailable.
● Bring a personal chair if you desire to sit between games, and take the chair with you when leaving the club after play.
● Keep tennis bags/personal equipment separated by at least 6 feet. SYTC will provide two equipment hooks spaced widely apart on the fences on each side of each court for players to hang bags off the ground.
● Please bring and use disinfecting wipes to wipe down personal equipment after play.
● Please be sure to bring and keep your own liquids and edibles in your personal equipment. Refrigerator and water fountain will not be available.
● SYTC staff will sweep court surfaces and brush lines daily at opening and, if feasible, when requested by players during the day. Sweepers
and brushes will not be available courtside.
7. SYTC CLEANING PROTOCOL
● Club staff will disinfect lavatories and entry gate prior to club opening, as needed during the day, and at club closing.
● SYTC will identify “high touch” areas and disinfect frequently (e.g., lavatory door handles, toilet lids, seats, flush handles, hot and cold water faucets, gates.)
8. COMPLIANCE BY MEMBERS AND GUESTS
● The Board has great faith that all members and guests will respect and comply with our COVID19 requirements and recommendations. In the
event that evidence of significant or repeated non-compliance by a member and/or his/her guests comes to the Board’s attention, the Board will issue a COVID19 Compliance Reminder to the member. If non-compliance continues, the Board will issue a one-month suspension of membership privileges with no pro rata dues rebate. A third instance of non-compliance will result in suspension of membership for the remainder of the season with forfeiture of all dues.
The SYTC Board of Directors is committed to ensuring that tennis play at SYTC during the COVID19 pandemic be as safe as possible for players and the general public while complying with government-mandated restrictions and guidance. We want our members and guests to enjoy their playing experience, but we also recognize that some aspects of on-court play as well as the more social aspects of the club will need to be put on the back burner until the pandemic recedes, restrictions are modified or lifted, and a return to more “normal” club operations is allowable.
The Board established the following interim requirements and recommendations to meet that objective and to encourage all members to respect each other’s health and welfare. We certainly hope to be able to relax these requirements and recommendations as the season progresses.
1. GOVERNING POLICY: “COME-PLAY-GO” TO MINIMIZE TIME ON SITE
● ALL PLAYERS – FULL SEASON MEMBERS, WEEKLY MEMBERS, GUESTS, COURT RENTERS, VISITING TEAMS, YOUTH PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS, CLINIC PARTICIPANTS, PLAYERS RECEIVING LESSONS, AND ANY OTHERS - ARE REQUIRED TO SIGN THE SYTC WAIVER OF LIABILITY PRIOR TO THE FIRST TIME THEY PLAY. Only players who have signed the SYTC waiver of liability will be permitted on courts and SYTC
property. Members are encouraged to sign the SYTC waiver of liability electronically by accessing the Members Only section of the club website
by computer or smartphone.
● DO NOT COME TO SYTC IF YOU ARE SICK , COUGHING, SNEEZING, OR SUSPECT OR KNOW YOU HAVE COVID19 OR HAVE BEEN EXPOSED TO COVID19.
● We request that you make every effort to schedule court time in advance rather than just walking in to play. This will help staff to know daily usage
in advance and schedule court assignments appropriately. See Section 4 below for reservation procedures.
● Please try to arrive just prior to scheduled court time. Please park on SYTC property in the SYTC parking lot whenever possible, otherwise use
the overflow parking area inside the fence adjacent to Court 5.
● Please enter through main entrance gate at the clubhouse and exit through overflow parking gate.
● Wearing a face mask or face covering is required until arrival on assigned court and when departing after play.
● Please maintain a minimum of 6 feet social distancing at all times on SYTC property.
● SYTC staff will provide court assignments. Please wait with appropriate social distancing – at least 6 feet - outside entrance gate or wait in the
overflow parking area adjacent to Court 5 until SYTC staff signals you to your assigned court.
● We will attempt to accommodate member preferences to play on specific courts, but our first priority will be to keep a vacant court adjacent to or
between courts in use whenever possible.
● Please leave club as soon as practicable after play ends.
● Please do not congregate in groups of 3 or more at any time on SYTC property before or after play.
● SYTC will do all it can to acquire and provide disinfecting wipes and hand sanitizer. However, as a backup please bring disinfecting wipes and/or
hand sanitizer for personal use.
2. CLUBHOUSE/PATIO REQUIREMENTS
● Patio may not be used except to enter clubhouse to use lavatories and read COVID19 notices posted on bulletin boards.
● Reservation sheets and event sign-up sheets will be held in Manager’s office rather than posted on the bulletin board. See item 4 below for procedures
concerning reservations.
● Face masks/coverings are required when entering and leaving patio and when using lavatories. If lavatory use can wait until you return home,
please do wait!
● Please use disinfecting wipes to disinfect all surfaces you have touched.
● Please leave clubhouse and exit patio immediately after using lavatory.
● Refrigerator will be used only for club-provided ice packs to treat injuries sustained at SYTC. The club will not be storing water, other liquids or food items. Personal food/liquid items may not be stored in the refrigerator.
● Shower will be disabled.
● Water fountain will be disabled.
● Water sprayer for shoes will be disabled.
● TV monitor will not be installed.
3. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SYTC’S ORGANIZED DOUBLES PROGRAMS
● For the Stephen Brown League, Women’s Tuesday/Friday Round Robin, Men’s MWF Afternoon doubles, and Sunday Morning Mixed Doubles, all of which customarily use 3 or more courts, please consider the possibility of staggering your court times to make use of readily available court time at 10:30 AM or later. This will help minimize play on adjacent courts and keep longer distances between players.
4. RESERVATIONS AND EVENT SIGN-UPS
● We strongly encourage advance reservations and event sign-ups.Reservations/sign-ups should be made by sending a text message to Manager
Steve Francis at (774)836-6218. PLEASE DO NOT CALL THE SYTC PHONE NUMBER TO MAKE RESERVATIONS. Steve will confirm your
reservation/sign-up by return text. If you don’t do texting, please leave a voice-message for Steve at (774)836-6218. Reservation and sign-up sheets will
not be posted on the bulletin boards for write-ins.
5. RECOMMENDATIONS WHILE ON SYTC PROPERTY AND WHILE PLAYING
● Follow all government-mandated COVID19-related practices, including vigorous hand-washing at home before and after play and use of hand sanitizers.
● Each player should consider providing tennis balls marked with an identifiable initial for his/her own service games. Every player should take great care NOT to pick up another player’s tennis balls at any time, but rather to retrieve and strike the balls back to the server only with a racket.
● SYTC recommends wearing a thin glove on your non-racket hand to minimize skin contact with balls.
● Please consider not changing sides every two games; remain on the same side of court throughout the match or for a minimum of one set. When changing sides, opponents should do so on opposite sides of the net to minimize close contact.
● Please NO spitting on court.
● Please minimize/eliminate touching of net posts and net cord.
● We recommend that you consult with your opponent(s) concerning ball usage and preferences for changing sides before arrival at SYTC to ensure on-site agreement.
6. COURTSIDE CONDITIONS
● Scorekeepers and benches will be unavailable.
● Bring a personal chair if you desire to sit between games, and take the chair with you when leaving the club after play.
● Keep tennis bags/personal equipment separated by at least 6 feet. SYTC will provide two equipment hooks spaced widely apart on the fences on each side of each court for players to hang bags off the ground.
● Please bring and use disinfecting wipes to wipe down personal equipment after play.
● Please be sure to bring and keep your own liquids and edibles in your personal equipment. Refrigerator and water fountain will not be available.
● SYTC staff will sweep court surfaces and brush lines daily at opening and, if feasible, when requested by players during the day. Sweepers
and brushes will not be available courtside.
7. SYTC CLEANING PROTOCOL
● Club staff will disinfect lavatories and entry gate prior to club opening, as needed during the day, and at club closing.
● SYTC will identify “high touch” areas and disinfect frequently (e.g., lavatory door handles, toilet lids, seats, flush handles, hot and cold water faucets, gates.)
8. COMPLIANCE BY MEMBERS AND GUESTS
● The Board has great faith that all members and guests will respect and comply with our COVID19 requirements and recommendations. In the
event that evidence of significant or repeated non-compliance by a member and/or his/her guests comes to the Board’s attention, the Board will issue a COVID19 Compliance Reminder to the member. If non-compliance continues, the Board will issue a one-month suspension of membership privileges with no pro rata dues rebate. A third instance of non-compliance will result in suspension of membership for the remainder of the season with forfeiture of all dues.