Social Tennis

Our Ethos

PLTC prides itself on providing tennis for everyone. Our social tennis sessions are the heart of the club, allowing all to play with those who we'd not normally play in a friendly and supportive environment.


Days and times

 

  • Wednesdays 9am - 12pm (improvers / social players)
  • Wednesdays 7pm – 10pm (team players/coach approved/Captains invitation only)
  • Sundays 9.30am - 11.30am (beginners / improvers) and 2pm – 5pm (improvers / social players)

 

What to expect

 

  • All sessions are played as doubles, where you'll normally get to play two or three sets per session
  • Depending on attendance, you will rotate both partners and courts
    The bar will be open for you to enjoy - many people stay to enjoy a drink as well as the tennis!

 

We encourage all members that feel comfortable playing at the standard played at our social sessions to take part, enjoy themselves and meet new friends. We've put together some guidance and the process that is used to ensure social sessions are managed fairly. Overall a great opportunity to improve your gameplay.

Guide to Social Tennis

Guidance

To ensure everyone enjoys and gets the most out of Social Tennis, we encourage players to follow a set of guidelines:

 

  • Play with anyone requested and be supportive to everyone on and off court.
  • Play with new people (especially new people to social!) whenever possible.
  • Try to have evenly balanced pairs within the fours. The mix of male/female/age is irrelevant.
  • Try to ensure all players play at least one set during social with players of the same ability.
  • Take responsibility for you own tag and ensuring it is retrieved at the end of your set and placed on  the available players ledge for selection
  • If you want to sit out, do not put your name on the board. It is inappropriate and disrespectful to decide to “sit out” when someone is in the process of selecting players for a set. So, if your name is on the board and you are selected, play... and with a smile!
  • Adjust your play dependent on your opposition. There is still the opportunity to practice different shots and enjoy tennis without distressing your opponents (e.g. If your first serve appears unreturnable by your opponent, start practicing your second serve).

 

How it works

Making yourself available for selection

 

  1. Place your tag at the back of the queue on the available players ledge if you wish to play. The front of the queue is the right-hand side of the available players ledge (look for the arrow).

 

Selection of fours

 

  1. Once a court is available, and the returning players have retrieved their tags, the person at the front of the queue (the selector) will choose three other players based on the guidance above from the next six tags on the available players ledge, placing the tags on the appropriate court hooks.
  2. If tags are not retrieved from the court hooks by returning players, the selector should place their tags on the unavailable players hooks. The selector should notify the selected players and collect balls from the basket (if not already on court).
  3. Go and play!

 

Players returning from a finished set

 

  1. Players should return to the clubhouse, retrieve their tag and make the following decision:

 

  • If they wish to play again, put their tag on the available players ledge at the back of the queue.
  • If they would not like to be selected, move your tag to the unavailable players hooks or remove it completely.

 

Tag board layout

FAQs

  • I feel that my tennis is too weak to attend social. What should I do?

    Attend a social session as a spectator initially to see the standard and decide whether you feel that you would like to attend as a player. We also encourage you to speak to a member of the coaching staff who can guide you on the appropriate level for play at social sessions or can offer you lessons if you feel that you would like to improve before attending.


    You can also speak to a member of the Committee who could put you in touch with other members to setup fixed 2’s and 4’s with others of a similar standard, to help build your confidence and game so that you feel comfortable playing at social sessions.

  • There are not many people at social and it’s taking a long time to get 6 people to make a choice from. What should we do?

    In order to ensure you get to play varied tennis with as many different people as possible, we would like you to mix up your sets as much as possible, so perhaps consider the following:

    • Put your tags on the shelf and return to your court and continue to play, but ensure you keep an eye on other courts finishing so that further 4’s can be set-up
    • Mix your 4 up so that you are playing with a different partner to the last set

  • Can I attend social and not play tennis?

    Absolutely. The social tennis sessions are as much about socialising with other members as they are about playing tennis and this is an important part of being a member of the club.


    Please do come down, join in and above all else, have fun!

  • If I’m at the front of the queue and feel a better, more balanced four can happen without me, can I let people jump the queue?

    We’d rather avoid this but suspect this may happen on the rare occasions when attendance at social is low. If that is the case, and you feel you would like to offer this to the other players, then discuss this with them and agree for them to go before you.

  • What happens if there is a dispute regarding setting up and playing during a social session?

    We would expect members to be sensible, courteous and work together to find a solution to any disputes, however each session will have a nominated person (social tennis organiser) who will seek to ensure the ethos and guidance are maintained and will deal with any issues that arise.


    Members will be notified of who the social tennis organiser will be for each session via the WhatsApp group ahead of the session.

  • I didn’t retrieve my tag and it was put on the unavailable players hooks, but I wanted to play. Can I put my tag into the queue where it should be?

    No. You are responsible for retrieving your tag and putting it onto the available players ledge when you leave the court, and ensuring you are available for selection. If you want to play, your tag should always be put at the back of the queue.

  • Where will tags be sorted?

    Once you have your tag, you will be responsible for keeping it safe and for making sure you bring it to social sessions when you attend.

  • What happens if I forget my tag?

    Anyone forgetting their tag will still be able to play but will have to use a generic tag and therefore may miss out on games as they will not be easily identifiable to other players.

  • Where will I find my tag if I leave it at the club at the end of a social session?

    Any tags left at the end of social will be collected and placed in a box inside the clubhouse. You can collect your tag at any point from the box.

  • Will new balls be provided for the sessions?

    All social sessions will be played with new balls (or balls only previously used for team matches) which will be provided by the social tennis organiser for that session.


    These will be provided in a basket for the session and all balls should be returned to the basket at the end of your session, not onto the drying rack inside the club. Balls should never be left on court.