Tennis centre refurb serves up a return to the old normal
For Sunderland tennis coach Graham Fowler and many others in his position, the next few months will be crucial.
With many sports clubs reopening following a third national lockdown, there’s still a degree of uncertainty regardingmemberships,restrictions and the overall experience.
Fowler, who works as tennismanagerattheSunderland Tennis Centre, is looking forward to seeing members back on court and insists all health and safety measures will be met following months of preparation. Yet even at the best of times, away from the summer months during the lead-up to Wimbledon, tennis faces participation challenges when competing with other sports, particularlyfootball,intheUK.
The last 12 months have provided even more obstacles, with clubs across the country now looking to pick up the pieces.
"The biggest challenge is that people have been away from tennis on and off for over a year and I don’t think many clubsrealisewhatisgoingtoreturn when they reopen,” says Fowler.
“People who had say 200, 300,400membershavenoidea what’s going to return after 12 months away from the sport, althoughwedidopenlittlebits and pieces in between.
"Our outdoor courts reopenedonthe29thofMarchbut indoors they are set to open on the 12th of April. Adults aren’t allowed to play indoors until the end of May.
"The only way adults can play indoors before the 21st of May is if they are having a oneto-one private lesson or if you are playing tennis with somebody in your household bubble.”
While members have been away, the outdoor courts at Sunderland Tennis Centre have been rejuvenated with newsurfaces,whiletherehave been social media campaigns about the upcoming restart.
And as we approach the summer months when interest in tennis usually peaks, plans to promote and supply the sport will be key.
"Our big opening is the 12th of April, which will be around the school Easter holidays as well,” adds Fowler.
"That’swhenourfullcoaching programme starts and the junior squads can restart. I’ve had a lot of emails and messages saying that people are looking forward to it and the kids can’t wait to get back.
"The LTA (Lawn Tennis Association)havegotabigschools initiative to try and generate a lotofinterestwithschoolsover thissummer.I’vebeenintouch with lots of schools about tryingtogetmoreyoungstersinto tennis.”
We have been in this position before, though, and after the first lockdown in March 2020, tennis clubs were some ofthefirstsportingfacilitiesallowed to reopen, even if there were restrictions.
"Initially when we first opened,theonlythingthatwas allowed was one-to-one singles, doubles wasn’t allowed,” recalls Fowler.
"Wehadtoorderbrandnew signagetoremindpeopleofsocial distancing, people had to use their own tennis balls so I would bring two tennis balls, the other person would bring two balls. You would put initials on them and I would only touch my tennis balls by hand.
"We had to provide hand sanitiserandwashingstations too.Afterawhilethetennisball rule changed but indoors we had to take away all the tables andchairs,therewerenospectatorsallowedorseatingareas, certaintournamentswerecancelled.
"We also had to lose two indoor tennis courts, we went from eight courts to six so it would be nice to get back to eight tennis courts.”
Tennis may be seen as an individual sport, yet the social aspect, especially for older members, has been a big loss.
"I know adult members from the outdoor club who have really struggled,” admits Fowler. "Particularly in this lockdown, the January to March. "I think this has definitely been the worst one with the weather, not being able to getoutsideandalltheshopsbeingclosed.Peoplehavefoundit really hard.
"I’ve had phone calls from some of our members saying ‘I really need tennis to get me up’ because they don’t realise how mentally they struggle.
"There are people who I never thought would say to me ‘I’m really struggling with my mental health’, and there’s a lot of people like that.
"We have quite a healthy membership of over-65 players and some of them are living on their own, maybe their partners have passed away, and they can’t wait to get back mainly for the social side.”
From a financial standpoint, Sunderland Tennis Centre, like other clubs, have
frozenmemberships,whilenational and international tournamentsforprofessionalshave been cancelled. Luckily, those typesofeventsaresettoreturn in February 2022, when it’s hoped travel restrictions have been eased. Even so, as with many businesses over the last year, the pandemic has come at a cost.
“Financially we’ve lost thousands,really,ontheinternational events,” says Fowler.
“It’salsoallthecourthiring, thecateringandtheadd-onsas well that we’ve lost.
“As well as international and national we do loads of regional events and county championships,lotsofdisability tennis as well but all of that has stopped.
“I think they are keen to get back and the deaf tennis are keen to get back as well.”
And with safety measures inplace,includingonlinebooking,aone-waysystemandsanitiserstations,Fowlerhopesthe clubcanstarttakingstepsback to normality.
He adds: "The courts in all these areas will have never been so nice. Lots of clubs have had their ground staff in and the courts are in a perfect condition. It’s brilliant exercise, brillant fresh air and let's hopefully get back to normal.”