Tennis in the Pandemic
There have been reports from the clubs that the controversy over the current State mandate for face coverings has found its way into USTA League play.
A reminder -- the clubs can not suspend, for USTA matches, their own rules or the rules required by law for tennis clubs. Regardless of your opinion on this issue...
- ...If clubs fail to implement the mask mandate, they risk having their entire facility shut down.
- ...as is true of other businesses, the task of enforcement falls on ordinary front-desk workers who had no role in the creation of this mandate. (One club has already increased their staff presence for league check-ins -- this may result in increased court fees.)
- ...if you are not allowed into the club for whatever reason, you will forfeit your court. Per USTA/TACK/club rules, court fees for forfeitures on-site are payable by the captain of the team involved.
- ...clubs are providing courts to TACK in good faith, and if problems continue, they may decide to withdraw from USTA league play altogether. (This has already happened once.) If we lose venues, we will have no choice but to cancel the league.
As in a lot of areas of life, you need to decide which is more important to you -- tennis play for you and your fellow team members, or taking a political stand. If the latter, not a problem, but
make that decision before you arrive at your match venue,
and inform your captain so that s/he knows to remove you from rosters.
TACK has no interest in this issue except for the continuation of the play of the sport we love.
We thank all of you who reflect that! Let's play!