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.
Playing Tennis During Coronavirus Outbreak
We know how important it is for people to be active, and the particular role tennis can have in the physical and mental wellbeing of those that play it. By its very nature, tennis is an activity whereby close person to person contact can be avoided, with the UK Government saying tennis is a good example of an activity that can be undertaken in a way compliant with social distancing restrictions.
England - Return to Play (Updated 10 August)
Please note the guidance document for tennis officials and competitions was updated on 10 August to include confirmation of the resumption of LTA approved competitions (Grade 2-5) from Tuesday 1 September, and that competitions can now take place indoors with immediate effect. All updates are indicated on the document.
Following guidance published by the Government for the phased return of sport and recreation, the LTA has developed an updated set of practical guidelines for venues, coaches, players and officials/competitions. Key additions and updates to the guidelines have been clearly marked on the pdfs, including what dates they apply from where applicable.
The main update to this guidance is that Government has confirmed that adult group coaching is now possible in larger groups for those coaches and venues that are COVID-19 secure, in line with published Government guidance on organising outdoor sport and physical activity events, and for providers of grassroots sport and gym/leisure facilities.
Groups of up to 15 children plus coach(es) are also possible for junior coaching, in line with guidance from Government on out of school settings. Guidance from Government also means that clubs and venues can host larger groups for outdoor sport and physical activity participation events such as club nights and competitions, as long as they ensure they are COVID-19 secure.
These guidelines apply to tennis on outdoor and (from 25 July) indoor courts, as well as padel, and outline adaptations and considerations so that tennis and associated activity can be enjoyed in a way that is in line with Government advice and helps to prevent the spread of COVID-19. They include measures to maintain hygiene and minimise unnecessary interactions with others.
These guidelines apply to England only, and have been produced to help venues, coaches, players and officials operate in line with the Government guidance. The full guidelines can be downloaded below – please ensure you read the relevant guidelines in full:
Players are asked to be patient with venues and coaches as they take the necessary time to safely implement the guidelines in a way appropriate for their own circumstances.
Indoor courts and bubble courts, and other indoor facilities such as gyms were able to open from Saturday 25 July – subject to specific guidance detailed on the Government website.
If you have any questions please refer to our FAQs.
North of England Local Restrictions (updated 7 August 2020)
An outbreak of coronavirus (COVID-19) has been identified in parts of Greater Manchester, Lancashire, and West Yorkshire. The government and relevant local authorities are acting together to control the spread of the virus and have implemented specific rules to follow when meeting people who you do not live with - please note the restrictions also apply to Preston as from midnight on Friday 7 August.
Tennis venues, coaches and players in the affected areas should read the rules in full, and specifically be aware that:
- People in all affected areas of Greater Manchester, Lancashire and West Yorkshire should not socialise with people you do not live with in indoor public venues – such as pubs, restaurants, cafes, shops, places of worship, community centres, leisure and entertainment venues, or visitor attraction. This therefore means you should not socialise indoors with people you do not live with in any venue clubhouse or bar
- In Bradford and in Blackburn with Darwen, indoor gyms and indoor sports courts and facilities must remain closed by law
Further information on the areas affected and the rules in place can be read on the Gov.uk website.
Leicester local lockdown update (Updated 4 August 2020)
The Government has put specific restrictions in place for the Leicester local lockdown, which are reviewed every fortnight – further information on these and the updated area affected can be read on the Gov.uk website with specific further advice on meeting people outside your household and undertaking exercise now published here. Following the latest review, some of the measures have been eased. The LTA remains in dialogue with Government and local authorities, and can provide the following current advice for those venues, coaches and players affected.
- The local lockdown measures do not currently require tennis venues to close, and so they can remain open and continue to operate (outdoor courts only - indoor courts and gyms should remain closed)
- Clubhouses and restaurants/bars for all venues in the affected area can now reopen from Monday 3 August in line with the national changes of 4 July
- Those who are shielding should refer to the advice on the Government website - further advice for those in Leicester is available here and for those in other affected areas of Leicestershire is available here
- As of Friday 31 July you can make non-essential journeys and travel either in and out of the area
- As the LTA relaxes guidance for venues, coaches and players in England more generally with Version 5 of the guidelines for tennis now published, those within the lockdown area should not make changes reflecting this and instead operate in line with the previous Version 3 of the guidelines introduced at the beginning of July (accessible here for venues, coaches and players)
Please be aware that this advice may change at short notice, and while tennis activity can currently continue further restrictions may yet be imposed.
Scotland - Return to Managed Play (updated 10 August)
Tennis activity can take place in Scotland on a restricted basis, with guidelines in place. This follows the Scottish Government’s confirmation of the route map from lockdown and subsequent updates from the First Minister as Scotland progresses with a staged approach to exiting from lockdown.
The LTA and Tennis Scotland have developed an updated set of practical guidelines for tennis venues, coaches and players to follow so that tennis can be played in Scotland in a way consistent with the route map for moving out of lockdown, where the local environment allows. The full guidelines can be downloaded below.
These Phase 3 guidelines were originally published on 10 July but please note the following subsequent updates to the document:
- The coach section of the guidance was updated on 31 July to reflect the further relaxing of measures by the Scottish Government and updated guidance from sportscotland - following discussions with the Scottish Government and sportscotland, the LTA and Tennis Scotland are delighted to confirm that from 3 August there will no longer be a limit on the number of sessions a coach is able to deliver in a day
- A new section of the document was added on 10 August to provide detailed guidance for officials and competition organisers to allow for the same resumption of tennis competitions in Scotland for both adults and juniors
Please click the link below for details of the changes to our guidance.
If you have any questions please refer to our FAQs.
Aberdeen local restrictions (5 August 2020)
The First Minister has announced local lockdown restricitons are being reimposed in the Aberdeen City Council area. Further information on the measures in place is avaialble via the links below:
Wales - Return to Play (updated 7 August 2020)
Folowing the statement made by the First Minster on Friday 31 July which will see tennis open up further in the weeks ahead, Tennis Wales and the LTA have worked with the Welsh Government and Welsh Sports Association to publish updated detailed guidance for venues, coaches and players, so that tennis can be played safely in Wales, where the local environment allows.
Please note, these guidelines (Version 4.1) were updated on 7August to include further guidance around key changes, including;
- The return of indoor tennis from 10 August
- Clubhouse facilities being able to reopen
- Children under 11 no longer needing to social distance when playing tennis outdoors
Venues, coaches and players are all encouraged to read the updated guidance carefully, and take any necessary time to implement them.
Resources remain available for tennis venues and coaches to help with opening up, including Clubspark webinars for online court booking and Covid-19 risk assessment templates.
This is further positive news for tennis in Wales, both Tennis Wales and the LTA look forward to continuing to work with all involved in the sport to open it up to more people.
Find a court
Please be aware that not all courts may be open. Venues will need to make an assessment based on whether they can facilitate safe play at their venue. Where they chose to remain closed please respect this decision.
In addition, some courts may take time to be unlocked and prepared for use following the closure during the lockdown period.
Click the button below to find your nearest tennis court.
Find a court
Venue Resources
Resources for venues in England, Scotland and Wales can be downloaded from the LTA Venue Support Resource Library - including infographics, posters and a risk assessment template.
FAQs
For answers to frequently asked questions for players, venues and coaches around the guidelines for a return to restricted play, please visit the LTA Help Centre:
National Tennis Centre
The National Tennis Centre reopened on Friday 15 May for Great Britain's elite players to return to training on a controlled basis.
Read more here.
Further information
The following pages also provide up to date, more detailed and specific advice, and answers to questions, relating to: