HEAD Liverpool Tennis League 2021 to go ahead

2021 Guidelines

After consultation with Clubs the committee have come up with the following guidelines for this season, taking in to account the unpredictability of the current situation and the need to maintain a safe environment for play.

We are sure the matches will be played in a competitive, but fair, way and we appreciate that not all players will want to partake or feel comfortable travelling.

There will be no charge to Clubs to participate for this season. 

League Format

There will be a full set of fixtures starting week commencing 10th May.

• The format of the matches will be as before, but we will adopt the new scoring system voted in at the last AGM - 2 points for a win and 1 point for a draw.
  
• We will relax the rules on team strengths and also allow players to play more than once in a week, if clubs are genuinely short of players, so that the matches can take place.
  
• There will be no promotion or relegation at the end of the season.
  
• If a club cannot fulfil a fixture they should let the opposition know in plenty of time, rather than on the afternoon of the fixture. If the opposition are happy to lend you player/s so that the match can take place, that is fine. Please also see note on accessing ‘reserve’ players below.
  
• Matches cancelled due to inclement weather do not have to be re-arranged, they can be put down as draw if both clubs are agreeable. ​
  

RECORDING RESULTS / CLUB INFORMATION

• We will be using the online LTA League Planner to input results and feel this is the perfect opportunity to test the system in a live situation. This will also act as our tracing system should someone come down with Covid within a few days of playing in a match.
• The home team should input the results within 24 hours and the away team have a further 48 hours to ‘verify’ these online. This can be done at the match venue on a laptop or smartphone.
• Remember, you will need to register all potential players with the LTA to obtain BTM Numbers if not already done. This process is free and simple to do. 
• There will be no handbook this year, all information will be available via the league website including fixture lists and contact details. A separate notice will be sent out about how you can keep your club contact details up to date. 

COVID Protocols

All matches must be played using the LTA COVID guidelines in place at the time of the match.

• Clubs would be expected to have carried out their own risk assessments of their premises and to have taken the necessary precautions - away team players must familiarise themselves with the home team club rules regarding COVID and adhere to them in a polite and courteous manner.
• Clubs would be expected to provide access to toilet facilities but not changing facilities.
• Players must adhere to the accepted COVID rules of 2 metre distance, sanitising hands plus wearing face coverings when relevant (e.g. on arrival or when inside a clubhouse to use toilets etc.)
• Sanitiser should be available on each court.
• First Aid equipment must be available on site.
• Players would be expected to arrive changed to play - this may delay the arrival of some players so we are relaxing the ‘on court by 6.30pm’ rule within reason (players should try to advise their team captain if they are delayed).
• No match teas will need to be provided.
• Although we can’t enforce this we would discourage spectators so that the amount of individual contact is reduced. 

RESERVE PLAYER LIST

• Any player not playing regularly for their club or not selected in a particular week can register by Whatsapp to the League Registration Secretary, David Simms, on 07900 955155.
  
• Any club who are without a full team at short notice for a match, particularly for their lowest team, can access these players by contacting David.
  
  We wish you all Happy Tennis for the season!
  
  ​Liverpool League Committee