We Are Back

We are back!.... This week has seen the easing of the lockdown rules which has enabled us to re-start table tennis at the Lawns. We are open on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings with restricted numbers [based on the size of our hall]. It is important to book ahead with Barbara when you plan to come along.

We have had a successful week with a selection of league and non-league players attending. Most have already had their first and second vaccines and everybody has been abiding by the rules, including social distancing. Players have been enthusiastic, however, many of us are finding it hard work as we are very rusty after such a long spell away from playing.

Let’s hope that there are no further setbacks or lockdowns so that we can continue to enjoy our table tennis and get life back towards normality.

Below is part of an email from Table Tennis England laying out their advice for table tennis to start from week council 17th May.

From 17th May

  • For organised indoor sport and physical activity, there is no limit on group numbers so long as people adhere to capacity restrictions on indoor facilities. The maximum occupancy of each indoor facility should be limited by providing a minimum of 9.29 sq m space (100 sq ft) per person. We now suggest a court size of a minimum of 8mX4m to help maintain social distancing requirements.
  • Facilities: All sports facilities can open. This includes facilities which can be used for sport but are primarily used for leisure.
  • Changing rooms: Changing rooms can open, but participants should be encouraged to avoid or minimise use where possible.
  • Travel: You can leave your home to exercise and take part in informal and organised sport and physical activity. Car sharing will be permitted in Step 3 for sport and physical activity.
  • Hospitality: Clubhouses and facilities that serve food and drink can open. In Step 3, both indoor and outdoor hospitality will be permitted.
  • Local leagues, local competitions and 1* events that include adults are able to re-start, if abiding by the guidelines set out in the Ready to Return Official Guidance document for adult activity and advising players of the recommendations of returning to competitive play. The Junior National Cup will also take place in this window under strict Covid protocols.
  • No doubles.

Below is our rules for us to start as from Tuesday 18th May at The Lawns

West Somerset Table Tennis Covid Rules
Players should not attend if unwell for whatever reason.  Please do not leave any of your items lying around – they are to be with you at all times
Remember to socially distance at all times
Have you washed your hands – please wash hands frequently
Only the disabled toilet to be used by Ladies or Gents.
Please use fire doors to go outside or to leave the building.  Beware steps are steep so take care when using them.
A chair will allocated to you for the evening.  Under that chair you will put your bag and coats on the back of it.
These chairs will be placed 2m apart.
As the hall only has chairs with a cloth base you will cover the base with a plastic bag and towel which you are to bring with you
Please bring correct money
Organiser to make register of players for that day - this will be kept for 21 days for contact tracing purposes.

 

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Players to clean hands thoroughly with hand gel and clean own bat surfaces before commencing play. If player touches face during play they should re-gel their hands. No hand shaking or contact at end of matches. Please re-gell your hands when you finish your game
A different colour ball to be used for each table - white table 1 and orange table 2. If ball goes into other playing area, it must be returned by hitting it with a bat only, no touching with hands or feet.
Playing will be the best of 3 games unless decided differently on the night.  No Doubles .  Do not change ends at the end of each game. Ball to be cleaned by player before leaving table and ‘new’ player(s) commence playing. 
Players should not just walk behind other table/players when changing tables but wait until a 2 m distance can be maintained (e.g. at end of a match), 
If anyone is ‘sitting out’ of a game, they should sit 2 m apart
At end of evening, clean tables, edges and balls, empty bins and close and clean all doors and windows. 

 

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The hall will be opening Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday fro 7pm.  Tel: 07791656441 or email me – weststta@aol.com
 
Barb Parker – Secretary WSTTA
 I look forward to seeing you - and tea, coffee and biscuits are now allowed Clap
 
Author: via West Somerset Table Tennis League
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