COVID-19 Wanless Opening FAQs
City of Toronto Protocol-Related
Why do I have to sign a “Member Waiver and Declaration” prior to play this season?
The Club has asked each member who wishes to use the courts this season to sign a “Member Waiver and Declaration” in order to acknowledge the risks associated with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Why do I have to bring my own can of balls and identify them as mine?
One of the concerns or unknowns surrounding COVID-19 potential spread centers around the possible ‘contamination’ of balls so for player, staff and community safety, City of Toronto protocols require that players do not share balls but rather come to play with their respective set of balls clearly marked as such. Balls should be picked up using the player’s foot and/or racquet and sent back over the net or from one court to another in such a manner.
Have the Monitors been trained on the new City protocols?
Yes. All 5 returning Monitors on staff this season have been fully trained on the new City protocols; have to complete specific paperwork prior to each of their shifts, have been provided and have to wear Personal Protective Equipment (masks and gloves); have to keep track and manage paper / electronic records of member play for contact tracing; etc.
Are the monitors being provided with PPE?
Yes. All Monitors receive a mask and gloves before each of their shifts.
How is Wanless ensuring contact tracing of players using the courts?
Monitors are responsible to check and validate that players going on court are identified as players having booked said court in GameTime, have completed the Member Waiver and Declaration form, and have answered the pre-play COVID-19 questionnaire. All Monitors sign-off on each of these tasks throughout their respective shifts.
Clubhouse
Is the Clubhouse open?
No. The Clubhouse is not open at this time for members. Only the Clubhouse Monitors and the Instructors have access to the Clubhouse.
Can I use the washroom in the clubhouse?
No. The washroom in the clubhouse is not available for use by members at the current time.
Can I fill my water bottle at the water cooler in the clubhouse?
No. Please fill your water bottle at your house before coming to Wanless to play. The Clubhouse remains closed to members at this time.
Can I rent a ball machine?
No. We have not yet developed a protocol disinfecting the ball machines between use by different members, nor do we have enough carts and tubes to ensure our members safety. As the season progresses, we will revisit this policy.
Playing Tennis
Who is currently able to use the Wanless tennis facility?
During Club hours, Wanless is currently only open to members; no guests, no non-members. Public hours remain as is.
Can we play doubles within the same household?
No. At this time City protocols limit tennis clubs to singles play only.
Can we pull the curtains between courts to avoid having balls go from one court to another?
No. To avoid undue contact of individuals pulling the curtains open and closed, the curtains can only be pulled by an Instructor providing a private lesson on Court #1.
Why can I only play for 55 minutes rather than an hour?
We have limited the time of play to 55 minutes to allow for the Court Monitors to go in between play and sanitize the courts as per City of Toronto protocols.
Why do I have to wait at the East or West gate before coming onto the court to play?
We have asked players to wait at the East gate (for access to courts #1, 2, or 3) and West gate (for access to courts #4 or 5) so that the Court Monitor is able to ask the pre-play COVID-19 screening questions, validate and confirm the identity of the players going on court to fulfill the contact tracing requirements set out by the City of Toronto protocols, and be the ones to handle the gate doors.
I am a non-member – am I able to play at Wanless this season?
No. At this time Wanless is restricted only to member play to facilitate contact tracing protocols established by City of Toronto.
Can I bring a guest to play?
No. At this time Wanless is restricted only to member play to facilitate contact tracing protocols established by City of Toronto.
Programs
Can I play in the Ladder this season?
Yes. You can now register to play for the Adults Singles Ladder which will start as of June 15. Adult Doubles Ladder is not available at this time as per City of Toronto protocols.
Why did you change the rules of play of the Ladder from 14 games to 12 games?
Because of the 55-minute play restriction we have instituted to ensure the Court Monitors can sanitize the courts in between play, we have reduced the number of games from 14 to 12 for this season; with each game won being worth a single point.
Can I sign-up for tennis lessons / programs at this time?
Yes. You can sign-up for private lessons at this time. Please check out the private lessons page.
When the Instructors are giving private lessons, how do they ensure they are adhering to City of Toronto protocols with respect to their teaching equipment?
Each Instructor has been provided with their own teaching equipment materials including basket of balls, tubes, cones, etc. They are the only ones accessing them. Additionally, each Instructor has been trained and is fully versed with the City of Toronto protocols as part of the opening of the Club.
Why do I need to bring my own cans of balls if I want to practice my serve during a lesson?
We ask that you bring your own 2 cans of balls when practicing your servce during a private lesson so that you are the only one handling and touching those balls. The instructor will send you back the balls using their racquet.
Will you be holding summer camps for kids?
No. At this time all programs are suspended as per City of Toronto protocols.
Will you run House Leagues this season?
No. At this time all programs are suspended as per City of Toronto protocols.
Will there be any Team play this season?
No. At this time all programs are suspended as per City of Toronto protocols.
Will there be any Tournaments this season?
No. At this time all programs are suspended as per City of Toronto protocols.
