Clubs ready to serve up kids tennis camp
Restrictions ease to allow for holiday coaching
Tennis courts across the region are expecting another surge in popularity after the latest loosening of restrictions.
The coronavirus outbreak led to courts being out of action back in March but tennis was one of the first sports to get the green light for a return at the end of May.
Clubs have received a further boost with news that doubles play is now permitted, while summer camps for kids are allowed to take place.
Ollie Paisley, the coach at both Kinnoull and Darnhall, has school holiday sessions available for children aged between five and 14 at both clubs.
“We can start opening up further and get more people involved in the coaching scene,” she said. “We can have beginners right through to those with stronger ability.
“Parents will have loved spending time with their children but it may also be good for them to give them a couple of hours of tennis now.
“The camps are a great way to introduce tennis and the club environment to the kids. They get to interact with a lot of different people and learn to love the game.
“We got the guidelines from Tennis Scotland on Friday and put the message out on Saturday morning. For a couple of the days we already have a lot booked in.
“We’re over the moon to be able to get back to some sort of normal.”
Ollie has been running singles box leagues for members at both Kinnoull and Darnhall since tennis returned amid the lockdown.
“We’ve had 55 participants, which has been awesome,” Ollie told the PA. “Clubs are often focused around doubles play so it’s been amazing to see people super keen for singles.
“When I first started the box league I remember saying I’d be delighted to even get 25 people involved. It’s juniors and adults from the age of 12 up to 70s.
“The courts have been heaving across both clubs and I think now being able to play doubles is huge.
“People are really looking forward to the social side of it.”
Ollie added: “Everything is slowly starting to open, including other activities and bars and restaurants. But people are still being cautious.
“Tennis was one of the initial sports to open up and I think people see it as being safe to play.
“They are confident that there is less risk there. It was a boost being one of the first sports back and now I hope many have the bug for it.
“Even without Wimbledon, hopefully those who have fallen in love with tennis want to keep going with it. Memberships at Darnhall and Kinnoull are pretty healthy just now.”
For the summer camps, parents are asked to drop their children off with hand sanitiser, a mask, clothing for all weather, a snack and a drink.
Darnhall dates and times are: July 20-24 from 9am-noon and August 3-7 from 9am-noon.
Kinnoull: July 27-31 from 9amnoon. Email ollie.paisley@hotmail. co.uk for information.