Tennis Section Rules
The following rules for tennis members have been prepared by the Tennis Committee and approved by the Thistleworth Club Executive Committee. They apply to all tennis members and should be strictly observed. Each member is empowered to enforce any rule should they feel it is being breached. Alternatively offenders should be reported to the Tennis Committee.
1. MEMBERSHIP STRUCTURE
There are 4 categories of membership:
Senior Members
Intermediate Members
Student Members
Junior Members
2. GENERAL RULES
Visitors may be invited up to a maximum of 4 times in any one season. Members inviting visitors are responsible for collecting the visitor fee of £3 and handing it to a Tennis Committee Member or the bar staff at the earliest opportunity.
Senior and Intermediate members may only invite visitors, juniors may not invite guests.
Junior members must either use their own tennis balls or those provided by the club – these are marked with black spots. Numbered balls are for use by Senior, Intermediate and Student members only.
Keys to the courts, changing rooms and ball cupboard are available at a cost of £2 each for existing members, new members will be issued with keys free of charge.
3. COURT PRIORITIES
League matches against other clubs take priority over all other events.
Senior Club tournament matches take priority over all events except league matches.
Where court priority is being applied those players currently on the court should be allowed to complete the set that is in progress.
COACHING
Scheduled coaching sessions take priority over all other sessions on courts 5 to 7.
Coaching sessions must only take place on courts 5 to 7.
Individual coaching sessions must use court 7 only. When individual coaching sessions are taking place court 6 is designated as the dedicated junior court.
Group coaching sessions must use no more than 3 courts and must not take place after 6:30pm.
CLUB SESSIONS
During all club sessions if a set reaches six all, the set must either be stopped or finished by playing a tiebreak.
Wherever possible doubles must be played during all club sessions.
Fixed sets of four or two players may only be played outside of club sessions. A fixed set still in progress at the start of a club session may continue to completion.
During all club sessions players must only play 1 set if others are waiting to play, and then mix in with those waiting.
Senior club sessions:
Tuesday 7:00pm until dusk
Thursday 7:00pm until dusk
Saturday 1:00pm to 5:00pm
Sunday 10:00am to 1:00pm
During these sessions seniors have priority over all courts except court 7, which is reserved for junior members. Intermediates may use any spare courts.
Intermediate club sessions:
Monday 7pm until dusk
Sunday 3:00pm to 6:00pm (3 courts only)
On Monday evenings Intermediates have priority over all courts except court 7, which is reserved for junior members, and 1 court, which should be made available for senior members. On Sundays Intermediates have priority over 3 courts.
Associate Gillete members have the same court priority status as Intermediate members.
Wednesday evenings are free are both seniors and intermediates to play pre-arranged fixed fours. There is no requirement to mix-in. Doubles matches should take priority over singles matches.
Juniors club sessions:
Friday 4:00pm to 8:00pm
During this session juniors have priority over all courts except court 1 which should be reserved for Senior or Intermediate tennis. Priority should be shared for this court.
Non club sessions
Outside of the above club sessions the following court priorities apply:
Senior members have priority over all other members except court 7, which is reserved for junior members.
Intermediate members have priority over Student and Junior members except court 7, which is reserved for junior members.
Student members have priority over juniors except court 7, which is reserved for junior members.
4. FLOODLIGHTS
Floodlight token are available from behind the bar. It is advisable to purchase these in advance as it cannot be guaranteed that the bar will be open.
The floodlights must not be used after 10:00pm Mon - Sat, and 6pm Sun.
The booking system comes into play from dust onwards. Until this time summer rules apply. Members must ensure courts are not booked prior to dusk.
The booking sheets (in the gents changing room) must be used to reserve a court, this is on a first come first serve basis. Every club member has the same priority (inc. juniors).
Courts must not be booked more that 13 days in advance.
Each member can book a maximum of 1 hour per court per day.
5. DRESS
Recognisable tennis clothing and proper tennis shoes should be worn at all times.
Training shoes with heavily ridged soles are not allowed as these will damage the court surface.
Shirts must be worn at all times whilst on the club premises.
6. COURT BEHAVIOUR
On completion of a match all four balls must be replaced in the ball net and return to the hooks provided, ready for the next players, if no one is waiting to play they should be returned to the ball cupboard in the gents changing room. Tennis balls must not be left on court after play.
If a ball is knocked out of the club grounds it is must be reclaimed on completion of the set in progress.
The nets must be lowered at close of play. This will avoid undue damage to the court surface and net posts.
The last person to play must lock the courts.
Members are not permitted to borrow club balls or other equipment for use outside the Club.
Tins of drink and food are not allowed onto the courts. Glasses or cups used for water must be returned to the clubhouse.
7. SUBSCRIPTIONS
Subscriptions are due in March of each year. A discount is offered to members who pay their subscriptions before the end of April.
Members who have not paid their subscriptions by the end of April should not use the facilities of the club until their account is settled.
Cheques must be payable to the "Thistleworth Club" and passed to the Membership Secretary.