DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES COULD SOON BE RE STARTED.

After the announcement by the President of South Africa last night, the all clear for tennis coaching has at long last been given. The coaches are now into their third month without pay so it is great news that tennis can at least re-start if only in certain areas. Social tennis at club level is still banned.

However, there are a number of conditions attached to the re start. The coaches will only be able to coach a maximum of four children at a time and no parents will be allowed to attend any session. Also after the coaching has been completed the children must return home immediately and are not allowed to stay at the courts.

It will now be a case of getting our coaches to see which of our past pupils are able to attend and then a time table will have to be worked out so as to accommodate all those who wish to return to coaching.

Unfortunately we are in the middle of a very cold period with Johannesburg experiencing some of the lowest temperatures recorded so it will be interesting to see who is brave enough to return in this weather!

Tournaments are still banned so there will be no extra tennis for the kids to participate in for the foreseeable future. These are not expected to return until September.

It is a start and good that  the Government has agreed that tennis is a non-contact sport and with certain conditions laid down, we can start to have the pupils back onto the court getting exercise and enjoying this wonderful game in the very near future.