Nearly five months after the cessation of activities due to the Coronavirus pandemic, Cippenham Table Tennis Club is making plans to re-start operations. However, it will not be “back to normal”. In fact, for a period of time at least, it will be anything but normal. The government allowed indoor sports clubs to re-open on 25th July but there are strict guidelines that must be adhered to. Table Tennis England has adopted a five-stage process for getting back to full activities. Please see the latest announcements from Table Tennis England here:

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https://tabletennisengland.co.uk/news/archived/coronavirus-update/

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Competitive play is not allowed, nor is doubles play. It is not yet possible to revert to the usual formula of open practice sessions on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Because of the need to control the number of people present at any one time, we have decided that, for the present and until further notice, we have to operate in an entirely different manner. To start with, from 11th August, we will open the Club once a week on Tuesday evenings. There will be two time slots, 7:30 to 8:30 and 8:45 to 9:45, when eight tables will be made available for sixteen players, strictly two players per table. Booking will be online only and pre-paid via an app on the Club’s website. Further details will follow. All the tables, which will be cleaned prior to each use (i.e. twice per evening), will be screened off from one another and provided with hand sanitisers. Two balls will be allocated to each table for each session, one for each player to serve with. These balls must be returned after use and will then be “quarantined” for a week. There will be no sharing of equipment and players must provide their own bats.

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Players that book the session from 7:30 to 8:30 will not be allowed to enter the Club’s premises (you can remain in the car park!) until 7:25 and must leave the premises immediately after 8:30. Those that book the session from 8:45 to 9:45 will not be allowed to enter the Club’s premises until 8:40 and must leave the premises immediately after 9:45. Upon arrival, all players will have their temperature checked. When inside the Club’s premises face coverings must be worn except whilst in the playing hall.

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There will be a flat fee of £2.50 per player, i.e. £5.00 per table and bookings must be made for two players at one table. Both players must be current members of Cippenham Table Tennis Club with their annual subscriptions for season 2019-20 fully paid up. No new memberships are currently being taken.

If Tuesday evenings prove popular, we will also consider replicating this on Thursday evenings. At the moment we have no idea how much enthusiasm there will be for a return to play under these restrictions.

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The Club has set up a Facebook group for members wishing to find another member to partner with. This can be access here:

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https://www.facebook.com/groups/614059269246991/about

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We are mindful that this is an ever-changing scenario regarding Covid-19 and the above restrictions may be amended at any time and with little notice. We will continue to follow the advice from the government and Table Tennis England.

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It goes without saying that if you or any of your household members have Covid-19 symptoms, then you must stay away from the Club until you are certain that you and they do not or no longer have the virus. The most important consideration is the health of all our members and volunteers.

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Please read the Club's Covid-19 Codes of Conduct / Principle of Return (linked here)

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Please also read the Club's Covid-19 Risk Assessment and Method Statement