The Tennis Advantage Clubs Blog

[May 5, 2020]

We are preparing to reopen safely and have adopted the following guidelines.   They are based on the USTA Guidelines for facilities and programming, which were developed by the USTA in conjunction with its Medical Advisory Group and its industry partners.  In addition, the USTA has published guidelines for players.  We have distributed those guidelines to our customers via email and shall have them available in hard copy at our front desks. We look forward to reopening soon and to careful progress in the months ahead toward normal operation.

Activity Organization

• Customers and staff should wear masks at all times unless playing.
• Activity shall be in line with the Federal Government’s advised social distancing measures (defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as keeping 6 feet apart), including when arriving at and departing from a court.
• Activity shall be limited to open time court rental for singles or doubles play, one on one coaching, small groups and private lessons.
• The front desk shall record every player in the club, their time and partners, to allow for tracing.
• Stagger booking times to create less traffic for arrivals and departures.
• All payments shall be by credit card on file with the club, and done on line when practical.
• No social gatherings shall be allowed in conjunction with programs and play other than appropriate conversation while waiting to play (with masks and distancing).
• Staff and customers shall be kept informed with signage and as guidelines change.
• Players should arrive no more than 10 minutes ahead of play and shall be assigned a place to wait that allows for distancing.  They should bring their own towels and water.
• Parent/Guardians shall provide the club written permission for any junior to participate.

A Clean and Safe Environment

• Staff shall be screened for a temperature prior to working each day.
• All surfaces ( counters, tabletops, doorknobs, bathroom fixtures, and toilets )  shall be cleaned several times a day wearing disposable gloves.
• Chairs shall be organized to enable distancing while waiting and shall be continually cleaned.
• The revolving doors and any railings shall be continuously cleaned and in the case of the revolving doors, shoulders should be used to push them ( slowly please) rather than hands.
• Disinfectant soap, hand sanitizers or wipes shall be handy at all main contact points.
• Regularly remind and encourage everyone, particularly juniors, of the need to wash hands often and adopt the other principles of good hygiene.
• Display signage about handwashing and hygiene techniques at strategic points such as sinks, drinking, and waiting areas, and the courts.
• Players should come dressed to play and access to the locker rooms shall be limited to use of the bathrooms and the sinks. Also, each club shall control such access to avoid overcrowding that would prevent proper distancing.

 Encouraging Distancing and Player Education                            

• People should stay at least 6 feet apart
• Players should avoid changing ends. If changing, stay 6 feet apart.
• Staff should avoid close contact with players. Plexiglass shields shall be installed at the front desk.
• Only one parent/guardian should accompany children to the facility when possible.
• All customers shall be provided in advance of arrival where feasible, and at the front desk, the USTA Guidelines on “ Preparing to Play – Player Tips and Recommendations “  for tips on how to protect against infections.

Coaching

• Under normal conditions small group ( 4 or 3 people) lessons are organized with players separated by far more than 6 feet. They would come closer during breaks. Now the pro shall ensure that social distancing is maintained at all times. Groups will take place only where social distancing is possible and will be limited to a size where that is also the case. For juniors under the age of 12 and beginners, the size limit is 4.  An exception is where all participants are family members or are otherwise in one home.
• Live ball drills and game-based play is recommended.  No lines of players standing close to each other.  Minimize the use of many balls.
• Players should not handle the coaching equipment and the coach should pick up the balls.
• Players should use their racquet/foot to push balls back and/or hit them to their opponent to avoid using hands and touching the balls.

Tennis Balls

• Practice caution with tennis balls.
• Restrict balls to a particular court.
• Replace the court’s balls if someone suspected of having the virus has used them.
• Individuals playing singles or doubles should use new balls or the same balls they used previously.  Date the balls with a marker.
• For serving purposes the balls should be personalized to each server so only that person serves with those particular balls.

Tennis Equipment

• Until further notice, the pro shop will be closed.  Balls will be available for purchase from the reception desk.
• Tennis equipment should be touched only by the pro/coach and should be cleaned frequently using alcohol-based disinfectants.  Players should bring their own towels.
• Ball machines are a great option for lessons as it minimizes the touching of balls, which would include pick up with tubes or hoppers.

April 23, 2020

To: Members and customers of Advantage Tennis Clubs and Programs

From: Skip Hartman, Gordon Kent, Steve O’Keefe, Milos Vojvodic, Mark Keye and Paul Fontana

Below is a statement reviewing our status as well as our refund / credit policy for those of you who have prepaid for membership, court time, or programs.

We look forward to seeing everyone back on the courts soon!

ADVANTAGE TENNIS CLUBS AND PROGRAMS REFUND POLICY – 4/21/20

On March 17 at 7 pm Advantage Tennis Clubs and Programs were required to close to the public by the government in order to reduce the impact of the Corona Virus. This included Manhattan Plaza Racquet Club, New York Tennis Club Indoors, Roosevelt Island Racquet Club, QuickStart Tennis, Junior Development Programs, and Adult Lesson and Play. This closure was not foreseen in 2019, nor in the year-end decision making in December thru February when decisions were made regarding staff bonuses, partner distributions, and capital improvements. Such decisions assumed business would continue uninterrupted in 2020.  In our 50 year history we have always provided for the risks related to bubbles (snow, wind, vandalism, and mechanical failure) and never had to deal with an interruption of more than 14 days (usually 5 -7 days). A prolonged closure due to a pandemic was not considered, nor was business interruption insurance available to us designed to cover such a risk.

A consequence of this shutdown is that our customers, operations staff and senior management now must deal with a difficult cash crunch.  We have substantially cut senior staff, who remain working, salaries, and furloughed 90% of other staff including some senior managers. At this time government relief is focused on reemployment and does not yet provide intermediate or long term funding that can be used for refunds. This could change. Presently the SBA Disaster Loan Program that would address this need is administratively overwhelmed and stalled.  This crunch limits our ability to provide immediate cash refunds for unearned tuition, season time contracts, and prepaid memberships.

It is in this context that we have established the following refund guidelines:

1. Memberships – All memberships are frozen from March 18 until we are allowed to reopen. The membership year will be extended by the period we are closed plus one month. Fully prepaid memberships will be adjusted based on this when the renewal membership fee is due. Monthly dues will not be charged for the closure period and one additional month after the club reopens.  If a member wishes to resign due to injury or permanent relocation from the New York City area, as before the pandemic, they will receive a prorated cash refund. Any other membership cash refunds would be based on financial hardship of the member, requiring application by the member to the club or program manager, and would be determined in the sole discretion of management.
2. Season Time Contracts  – The clubs will issue to each contract a monetary credit for unused time due to the shutdown and/or the pandemic, which may be applied to any future season court reservation by the group. If the group provides us with an individual allocation of the credit, then the individuals may apply the credit to court time charges after the club reopens for up to one year. Note this does not apply to the pro fee portion of a group or private lesson cost. The injury, relocation and hardship provisions indicated above under memberships shall also apply.
3. Tennis Program Tuition and Camp Tuition – Customers of programs in progress prior to the shutdown will receive a monetary credit for unused services that were covered by the payment. That credit may be applied to future programs offered at Advantage Tennis Clubs and Programs. With regard to 2020 summer camp deposits, they shall be refunded should the camps be canceled or their content substantially changed. A decision to cancel and/or change content has not yet been made. The injury, relocation and hardship provisions indicated above under memberships shall also apply.

Kind regards,

Advantage Tennis Clubs Management Team