This page provides up to date information as to how the coronavirus (Covid-19) and the latest government advice around it, relates to tennis activities in Britain and all those involved in delivering them, with separate guidelines in place for each of England, Scotland and Wales.
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England
Return to Play Guidance (updated 16 August)
The move to Step 4 on 19 July saw the removal of a large number of restrictions, with no set restrictions on how many people can take part in sport and physical activity.
The following simple overarching guidance of key considerations for tennis venues, coaches, officials and players is a summary of relevant Government guidance. An accompanying set of FAQs contain information on specific questions, whilst Sport England have also published separate FAQs.
Step 4 Guidance
The country moved to Step 4 of the Government roadmap from 19 July, meaning that most legal restrictions have been lifted. There are no longer any restrictions on how many people can take part in tennis activity, indoors or outdoors.
The Government has published guidance for the public and sports providers on how to organise and participate safely in sporting activity.
Tennis remains a naturally socially distant sport and relatively low risk activity. However, undertaking the following key considerations can help to ensure the safety of participants when attending tennis venues for officials, coaches and volunteers, reducing the risk of spreading COVID-19.
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Participants
Tennis is a naturally socially distant sport, but players should take the following steps to reduce the risk of transmission when attending and participating in tennis activity.
1. Check for COVID-19 symptoms. Before attending any tennis activity, players (like officials, volunteers and coaches) should self-assess for symptoms of COVID-19. These are:
- a high temperature
- a new, continuous cough
- a loss of, or change to, your sense of smell or taste
If you have one or more of these symptoms you should not attend any sporting activity, even if your symptoms are mild, and get a PCR test (a test that is sent to a lab) to check if you have COVID-19 as soon as possible. You should stay at home and self-isolate until you get your test result – only leave your home to have a test - following NHS guidance on testing and self-isolation.
If someone you live with has symptoms of COVID-19, or has tested positive for COVID-19, you will not need to self-isolate if any of the following apply:
- you're fully vaccinated – this means 14 days have passed since your final dose of a COVID-19 vaccine given by the NHS
- you're under 18 years, 6 months old
- you're taking part or have taken part in a COVID-19 vaccine trial
- you're not able to get vaccinated for medical reasons
2. Follow your provider’s safety measures. The venue you are attending, coach or provider may put in place safety measures, which could include asking you to ‘check in’ using the NHS app to scan their QR code, supporting NHS Test and Trace. Whilst this is no longer a legal requirement for venues or participants, it can support NHS Test and Trace and reduce risk of transmission of the virus.
3. Take part safely. As a socially distant sport, the risk of transmission of COVID-19 whilst participating is low. However, participants should continue to:
- Follow good hygiene practices, to reduce the risk of transmission in sport environments. Also consider the wishes of other participants (i.e. if they do not wish to shake hands after a match).
- Avoid sharing water bottles or other refreshment containers. Where possible, you should take your own drink, in a labelled or highly distinguishable container.
Face coverings are no longer required by law, but the government expects and recommends that people should continue to wear them in crowded and enclosed settings, to protect themselves and others.
Venues
In line with Government guidance, we recommend tennis venues undertake the following priority actions.
- Complete a health and safety risk assessment that includes risks from COVID-19. This should take into account any reasonable adjustments needed for staff and customers with disabilities, and should be shared with any staff. More information is available in the Government’s guidance and HSE guidance. There is additional advice for event organisers in the Events and Attractions guidance.
- Turn people with COVID-19 symptoms away. Staff members, customers and participants should self-isolate if they have symptoms of COVID-19 (or in some cases if someone they live with has - see above). They must also self-isolate if they have been told to self-isolate by NHS Test and Trace. If you know that a worker is self-isolating, you must not ask or make them come to work. It is an offence to do this.
- Provide adequate ventilation. Venues should make sure there is a supply of fresh air to enclosed spaces where there are people present. This can be natural ventilation through windows, doors and vents, mechanical ventilation using fans and ducts, or a combination of both. More information is available in the HSE guidance on ventilation and air conditioning during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Clean more often. Venues should increase how often they clean surfaces, especially those that are touched a lot. Staff and customers should be encouraged to use hand sanitiser and clean their hands frequently.
- Enable people to check in at your venue. It is no longer a legal requirement to collect contact details, however doing so will help to support NHS Test and Trace to reduce the spread of the virus. Venues can enable people to check in by providing an NHS QR code poster, though you do not have to ask customers to check in or turn them away if they refuse. If you display an NHS QR code, you should also have a system to collect (and securely store) names and contact details for those who ask to check in but do not have the app.
- Communicate and train. Keep all your workers, contractors and visitors up-to-date on how you’re using and updating safety measures.
Further detailed considerations for venues are outlined on the Government website.
Coaches and Officials
Whilst tennis is a naturally socially distant sport and the risk from taking part in activity is low, coaches and officials should consider the following actions when organising tennis coaching or competitions, to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission.
- Undertake a risk assessment - This should take into account any reasonable adjustments needed for staff and customers with disabilities, and should be shared with any staff. More information is available in the Government’s guidance and HSE guidance. There is additional advice for event organisers in the Events and Attractions guidance.
- Provide communications and guidance to participants in advance of attendance - including undertaking a self-assessment for symptoms of COVID, and that they should not take part if they need to self-isolate.
- Enable participants to check in – whilst it is not a legal requirement to collect participants’ contact details for NHS Test and Trace, and you do not have to ask participants to check in or turn them away if they refuse, the Government advises displaying an NHS QR code for those who wish to check in.
- Encourage participants to practice good hygiene – including avoiding shared water bottles. Depending on personal choice, different players may wish to continue with some changes, such as not shaking hands after participating. First aiders, physios or other medical personnel should continue to ensure good hygiene standards when treating participants.
- Avoid shared equipment – shared equipment should be avoided where possible and practical, and cleaned between uses where required.
- Encourage use of face coverings where appropriate – whilst no longer required by law, but the Government expects and recommends that people should continue to wear them in crowded and enclosed settings.
Large sporting events expecting a significant number of spectators should consult the Government’s guidance for events and attractions.
Scotland (updated 6 August)
Beyond Level 0 Guidance
The First Minister has confirmed that all of Scotland will move to 'Beyond Level 0' from 9 August 2021.
These changes signal the end of most restrictions for sport and physical activity, and the move will see most legal restrictions lifted, including those on physical distancing and the size of social gatherings - however, please be aware some baseline measures are being retained to mitigate ongoing risks of transmission. This includes:
- Good hand hygiene and surface cleaning
- Continued promotion of good ventilation
- Requirement for face coverings in certain settings (e.g., public transport, retail)
- Continued compliance with Test and Protect, including self-isolation when necessary
Tennis Scotland and the LTA have updated the summary grid (version 15) of permitted tennis activity by levels of protections to include 'Beyond Level 0' as well as adding a short summary of the mitigating measures that have been retained to the full Tennis Scotland/LTA guidance document for tennis venues, coaches and players in Scotland (version 11). Within both of these documents, details of restrictions applicable under each of the Levels of Protection 0-4 have been retained, so they can be referred to should any areas go back to operating under them.
Guidance Document & Summary Grid
The summary grid and guidance document outline the mitigating measures retained under 'Beyond Level 0' as well as what tennis activity is permitted in Scotland under each of the Levels of Protection. Tennis venues, coaches, officials and players should be aware that the details provided may change at short notice.
You can view and download the latest summary grid and full guidance document via the links below:
Please be aware that the Scottish Government may update or change Levels and restrictions at any time, including local areas subject to them. Venue COVID officers should therefore regularly check the Scottish Government website:
Wales (updated 6 August)
UPDATE: Wales moves to Alert Level 0 on Saturday 7 August
Following Welsh Government confirmation today we are delighted to confirm that Wales will move to Alert Level 0 from 6am on Saturday 7 August. This means that the vast majority of Covid-19 legislation moves to guidance. Tennis Wales and the LTA will provide full Covid-19 guidance early next week for the tennis community after we have attended the Covid-19 briefing with the Welsh Sports Association, Sport Wales and the Welsh Government.
However to support venues, volunteers and coaches here is a summary of the key changes and remaining requirements that come into effect from 7 August:
- Tennis events and activities indoors and outdoors no longer have legal restrictions on the number of people who can participate or gather together.
- You must retain and keep up to date a Covid-19 risk assessment as a facility that welcomes the general public including your members or you provide tennis or other sport activities/coaching. The risk assessment must be specific to your venue or programme and take reasonable measures (actions) to help reduce the spread of Covid-19. Examples of reasonable measures include:
- Reducing room capacity in areas of high footfall or reducing group size in certain locations and activities.
- Maintaining social distancing at pinch points in venues – entrances, queues, pay points etc.
- Ensuring hand gel is available at entrance and exit or after sharing equipment.
- Maintaining adequate ventilation and air flow indoors.
- Maintaining enhanced cleaning routines in high touch point areas.
- Face coverings continue to be legally required (unless a person is exempt) in most public indoor spaces including tennis clubhouses and indoor tennis centres when not participating in physical activity.
- There is a sport and leisure sector commitment in Wales to maintain contact details of those attending facilities and activities for 21 days to support the efforts of the Test, Trace Protect programme in Wales. Please continue to utilise NHS App QR code check-in, online booking systems for activity or your own paper based data capture process
- You must self-isolate for 10 days and take a PCR test if you develop Covid-19 symptoms.
- People who have received two doses (second dose at least 14 days ago) of a Covid-19 vaccine no longer are expected to self-isolate if they are a close contact of an infected person.
Further information on Alert Level 0 including FAQs are available here from Welsh Government.
Channel Islands
The latest guidelines for players, venues, coaches and officials in the Channel Islands can be found via the links below:
Further information is also available from the Guernsey Sports Commission and Jersey Sport.