Blackheath Squash Club - return to play Member Responsibilities

Message from Blackheath Squash Club Committee

England Squash have now issued their formal guidance to squash clubs on how to return to play from 12 April. As expected play is currently limited to solo practice, same household and support bubble full play and one-on-one socially distanced coaching.

Its great that we can now start to take our first steps back to playing squash and racketball but we are still in the midst of the pandemic and the Government and England Squash have safety requirements and guidance that clubs must follow.

The Club has been led by Government and England Squash requirements and putting the safety of our members first. The Club has made various changes to minimise risk to members but members themselves must take responsibility for behaving safely and complying with the Club's COVID guidelines. These guidelines are attached to this e-mail; they will be available on the Club's website at and will be put on the notice board in the corridor. All members who wish to resume play must take the time to familiarise themselves with these guidelines.

Members must read and understand their new responsibilities in relation to keeping the Club safe before attending the Club and adhere to these responsibilities at all times whilst at the Club. To make a court booking Members must have read the guidance and by making a booking are agreeing to abide by the guidelines.

The Committee will be making spot checks on compliance with the guidelines. First offences will result in a formal warning. Second offences will result in expulsion from the Club.

A summary of the key Member Responsibilities is given below.

- all bookings are to be made on-line using the MyCourts system
- members must add the names of their opponents (only same household/support bubble members currently allowed) to their bookings so the Club can comply with track and trace requirements
- members are not allowed to bring guests to the Club
- booking slots are for an hour, however members must only play for 40 minutes, use 5 minutes to clean the court and the remaining 15 minutes is to allow for air circulation and clearance between bookings. Members MUST NOT PLAY FOR LONGER THAN 40 MINUTES.
- changing rooms and showers are not to be used other than for access to the WCs, members must turn up ready to play and nothing is to be left in the changing rooms during play eg kit bags, bikes etc.
- before entering the club members must hand sanitise and after play members must sweep the courts using the court mops and wipe down touch points (door handles, mop handles etc) with the wet wipes provided
- members should turn on the court fans (switches in the corridor) during and after play to increase court ventilation
- social distancing is to be observed at all times and the Club recommends face masks are worn in the corridor, changing room and balcony areas. Masks are not to be worn during play.

If you would like one on one coaching please contact the Club Coach Ville at ville@theanimalfarm.co.uk

If you wish to play a member who is in your household support bubble please notify the Club's COVID Officer, Kevin Clark, at kevin.clark100@ntlworld.com. You may have already done this under previous arrangements but to keep our records up to date please do so again. Support bubbles are not the same as squash bubbles. Further information on support bubbles can be found at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/making-a-support-bubble-with-another-household