Tennis - Roche Caïman tennis courts back to business under strict guidelines and regulations |26 May 2020
Following lockdown on all local sports activities and venues due to the COVID-19 pandemic, normal activities resumed at the Roche Caïman tennis courts yesterday under strict rules and guidelines set by the local sports authority and the department of health.
It was in March that all local sports activities were suspended until further notice as part of the safety precautions against the COVID-19, including the shutting down of all the National Sports Council (NSC)-administered venues.
Following sanitisation procedures during the weekend, the tennis facilities were made available to the public yesterday and according to the Seychelles Tennis Association (STA) which administers the venue, it will be accessible from Monday to Friday, between 9am and 7pm.
Among the new regulations to be observed by users, only four players will be allowed per court for social distancing, while all players will be requested to leave the facility by 7.15pm the latest.
Prior to accessing the venue, players should contact coach Nicolaus Leringa on 2766328 between 10am and 4pm to make court bookings.
As for the tennis school, it will operate from 3pm to 5pm (on three courts) and as from 5.30pm only one court will be used.
It has also been agreed that only five players would be allowed per court for tennis school coaching.
There will also be strict security control in terms of access to the venue with all junior and senior players, as well as all individuals accompanying the children needing to produce identification documents for cross-check at the main gate and during screening or registration at the clubhouse.
Players will be welcomed at the registration desk/screening station by a coach or an executive committee member for registration and will sanitise their hands before entering and upon leaving the tennis courts.
Players coming to play from 5pm to 7pm will need to register on their own. Coaches Nicolaus Leringa and Marcus Maria will show them the registration desk. They too will be advised to sanitise their hands before heading to the courts and upon leaving.
A daily report will be submitted by the STA to the National Sports Council (NSC) and the health centre for documentation.
All players are advised to bring their own equipment, including tennis racquet, towel and water bottle, while the STA will help with racquets which will be disinfected after each session.
Other tennis equipment, including balls and net, will be disinfected by the coaches or the health officers.
The STA executive committee would like to take this opportunity to welcome back all tennis lovers and enthusiasts.
Roland Duval