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Before trying a search, see if your query is covered by our Frequently Asked Questions:
1. When can I play ?
2. What categories of member are there ?
3. What should I wear ?
4. What about etiquette ?
5. What balls do I use ?
6. Are floodlights included ?
7. Can I play league ?
8. Are there any tournaments ?
9. Can I have a drink now ?
10. How do I lock up ?
11. Where else can I find information ?
12. Do I need to do anything for the club?
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Frequently Asked Questions
1. When can I play ?
The Membership year begins 1st April and ends 31st March and includes both summer and winter 'tennis seasons'. The times of play may change between summer (1st April - 30th September) and winter (1st October - 31st March). A large booking sheet is displayed on the notice board, which shows when the courts can be booked and when they are reserved for particular activities such as Club Play and League matches (see Court Usage). Bookings can be made a week in advance for no longer than 1.5 hours at any one time.
2. What categories of member are there ?
Improvers (6 months membership)
Members who join the club as an Improver, may not have played Tennis for many years or perhaps never before. They join the coaching course, which is run two or three times a year on Thursday evenings from 7.00 - 8.00 p.m. Afterwards you can play on for the rest of the evening to practice those skills you have just learnt. The course consists of 10 lessons over a period of at least 10 weeks. After the course, the Club Coach will make an informal assessment to see if you have reached a sufficient standard to be able to successfully join in on Full Club Play evenings (please don't be daunted by this prospect - the tennis at Club Play is more 'social' than competitive in standard). If you aren't quite ready for Club Play you can still play on club coaching evenings, Saturday and Sunday afternoons and book courts for the remainder of your six month membership. You would be welcome to join the next coaching course (for a further fee). If you have reached Club Play level, you may upgrade your membership to Full for the remainder of the financial year by payment of the appropriate fee (depending on how many months of the year are left) and pay the Full membership rate from the next financial year forward.
Full Members
You are eligible to join in all the activities of the club which include: Tournaments, League, Club Play, and Mens and Ladies Match Practice. Club Play times are shown on the booking sheets.
Junior Membership (Under 16)
We have a full timetable of squads, which is organised by the Club Coach. Please check the notice boards for the times available. Juniors are not permitted to play unsupervised, as in the event of an accident the child would not be covered by the Club's insurance.
Additional coaching
You can have additional coaching either individually or as a group. You can organise this yourself by contacting the Coach directly.
3. What should I wear ?
The dress code is not strict but we do ask that members keep to recognised and suitable standards of sporting attire. In order to protect the surface of the all-weather court our main concern is footwear. These must be rubber soled (not black) without cleats, spikes, raised heals or ribbing.
4. What about etiquette ?
We are a very friendly club and not strict about etiquette but we find we can best keep that friendly atmosphere if people are considerate of others. So:
Never walk behind or go on to another court whilst a point is in play. If a ball from an adjoining court strays onto your court, wait until play has stopped on that court before you return it. Similarly, do not retrieve one of your balls that has gone onto another court if play is in progress on that court.
The server should call the score after every point and after every game. All tennis at the club is self-umpiring. If there is a dispute, for example about a line call, a common solution is to play the point again. If a ball from another court may have interfered with play on your court, it is better to immediately take the point again than argue whether or not it affected the outcome of that point. The aim is to make each game enjoyable for everyone on court if at all possible.
Always ensure that the server is kept supplied with balls and be ready to play when the server is ready
Do not practice returns on long serves or hit the ball aggressively when a point is not in play
Be accommodating of each player's needs in 'warm ups'. Don't have a lengthy warm up if there will be people waiting for you to finish your game before they can play.
Club Play sessionsThe 'peg' system for selecting sets may be in operation - if you are not sure how this works ask another member for advice. Play one set in the selected four and then come off and allow the next set to start their game. On busy evenings you may find you have to wait a short time between sets but the break gives you valuable socialising and drinking time!! If there are only a few people at club play and you decide that it is not worth using the peg system, please ensure that you mix in so that everybody gets a game and the same people don't always play together.
5. What balls do I use ?
The club provides balls for club play and matches. When you have finished the set please make sure you have left the three balls on court for use by the next players. If no one is waiting to play, or at the end of the evening, bring the balls in and put them back into their container. If no one is left to lock the balls away please either give them to the person on bar duty, or if the bar isn't open, put them in one of the drawers in the kitchen. Balls for use when organising your own games can be purchased from the bar.
6. Are floodlights included ?
Astonishingly yes! The switches are just inside the clubhouse door besides the bar. Although the use of the floodlights is included in your membership please do not abuse this by leaving them on on when it is unlikely that there will be no further play on the court that evening.
7. Can I play league ?
We have teams in the Avon men's and ladies', summer, winter and veterans leagues. Selection is basically on ability and availability. If you would like to be part of the league teams speak to the mens or ladies captain who will arrange for you to attend match practice on a Monday (ladies) or Tuesday (men). ...more
8. Are there any tournaments ?
We have club championships each year in men's and ladies' singles and doubles, and mixed doubles. Details can be found on the notice board once these have been arranged for the year or check the club diary online. There is also the First Saturday Tournament which is aimed at players with a more 'social' standard of tennis.
9. Can I have a drink now ?
About 20 members are holders of bar keys (another list on the notice board) and when the bar is not officially staffed a polite request to one of these should do the trick. We also occasionally organise social events, the highlight of which is the mulled wine and mince pies that follow the Annual General Meeting held in December. ...more
10. How do I lock up ?
Over the years we have had numerous break-ins so security is stressed at all times. A committee member will be happy to go through with you the procedure for entering and leaving the club. It is important that on leaving the Club House you make sure the bar is locked up, the garden door closed and the kitchen door locked before setting the alarm and locking the main entrance door behind you. As you walk down towards the gate, ensure the changing room and disabled toilet doors are all locked.
11. Where else can I find information ?
You've guessed it - the notice board. Apart from all the other lists mentioned here you will find a membership list. This we hope will enable you to contact your fellow members to arrange that all important game of tennis you are desperate to play!!!!
12. Do I need to do anything for the club?
Throughout the year the Committee looks for volunteers to maintain the garden as well as other tasks the Committee need help with - please volunteer. It is hoped that all members are able to give a hand to keep the club running. We would like members to come to the December AGM and are always glad of new volunteers for the Committee.
Last updated 14/3/08