POLICIES
COURT BOOKING POLICIES
PRIME TIME HOURS
8 - 12 pm and 5 - 7 pm
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All members must reserve courts in advance
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Prime time hours are 8-12 pm and 5 -7 pm
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A member may be named in no more than three prime time bookings at any one time. Bookings outside of prime time hours are not counted against your limit
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Members MUST cancel court if no longer required in advance of the hour. If members "no-show" their court more than 3 times, their on-line booking privileges will be revoked for one week
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All playing members must be recorded in the on-line booking system. Any last minute player substitutions must be amended at the club house or on-line
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Adult members have priority on clay courts. Juniors have priority to book court 5. Juniors may play on clay courts with an adult, or if otherwise permitted by Club Manager
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Court 8 is reserved for lessons, and availability of court 8 will be open for member booking only on the same day of play
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NOISE POLICY
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Members of this Club acknowledge they are playing in a residential neighbourhood where loud noise is disruptive to its neighbours. Members will maintain respectful noise volumes at all times.
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The Club will remain open until 10:00pm. Last call to purchase beer and wine will be at 9:30pm. The Club will close early when it is raining or if no members are using the Club’s facilities. Members will respect the Club’s closing hours.
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Exception: The Club has the discretion to extend its hours for special events such as the annual Social. The Club expects that these special events will take place no more than once or twice a season. Biweekly or weekly events including Club BBQs will end by the closing time of 10:00pm with last call remaining at 9:30pm.
SOCIAL MEDIA POLICY
Social media, the RLTC website, as well as all communication to members and the general public, is the responsibility of the Board of Directors and Club Management.
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All content must be accurate and should be in keeping with RLTC's role as a community tennis club. Social media and website content should be related to tennis and club sponsors but can, at times, support global or local causes as long as they are not political in nature. It is preferred this be done with a tennis-related emphasis. For example, reposting content from Tennis Canada, the National Capital Tennis Association, Ontario Tennis Association or related to professional
players' support for these causes, but this is not necessary all of the time. Content that supports global or local causes must be approved by the Board President or a member delegated by the President.
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All social media and website content must be free of racist, homophobic, sexist or other inappropriate and harmful language or images.
MEMBER POLICIES
RESPONSIBILITY CODE
The purpose of this Responsibility Code is to strengthen relationships among RLTC members, employees, and elected officers. The code sets out the basic principles, standards, and behaviour expected from all.
Respect
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A member of this Club has read and agreed to adhere to the Club Rules and Etiquette
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A member of this Club agrees to treat the Club premises with respect, for the enjoyment of all
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A member of this Club recognizes the need for the existing By-Laws and policies to be fairly applied
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Integrity
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Members agree to uphold the highest standards in protecting the good reputation of the Club
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Members agree to treat one another in an open, honest, and equitable manner
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Accountability
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Elected officials of the Club are charged to enforce By-Laws and policies of the Club in good faith and are accountable to the Annual General Meeting
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Members have rights and privileges granted by their membership. At the same time, membership must be exercised within existing regulations
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Employees are committed to serving members and to resolving member concerns in a diligent and fair manner, and must account for their actions to the Board
COURT BOOKING
All courts are booked using our on-line Jegysoft booking software . Please review our on-line booking procedures.
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RLTC Staff follow the guidelines below when booking courts for members. Please respect their decisions, should there be any issues, please speak to management.
GUESTS OF A MEMBER
A member may invite up to three guests to play at the Club at any one time. An individual guest may play up to 3 times per year at the Club. Guests are welcome to participate in all Club activities (e. g., round robins, lessons) subject to the payment of the $15 daily guest fee ($7.50 for Juniors), plus HST, and any additional activity fee. The name of each guest must be recorded in the on-line booking system prior to play.
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DRESS CODE
1. Members are required to wear tennis sporting attire that allows for a high degree of movement and reflects a level of decorum that is in keeping with the Club’s traditions and the Code of Conduct principles of respect, integrity, and accountability.
2. Members should adhere to the following clothing protocols while on the courts:
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No clothing displaying offensive slogans;
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No undergarments alone of any kind, however, sleeveless tennis sports attire is permitted for all players;
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No blue denim clothing, including but not limited to jeans, pants, shorts, skirts, shirts, and jackets;
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No cargo-style pants or shorts; and
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No cut-off clothing.
3. Members must wear flat-soled tennis shoes. Other types such as basketball shoes, joggers, track shoes, and cross-trainers with large treads are strictly prohibited, as they have a detrimental effect on the clay court surface. Players leaving the clay courts must wipe their shoes to prevent transfer of clay onto the hard courts or onto the deck where it could cause a potential slipping hazard.
4. Members and their guests who are in violation of these guidelines may be asked to change their clothing or to consequently leave the courts. Members are required to inform their guests of the Club’s dress code in advance of playing at the Club for the first time.
5. If you have any questions about whether certain articles of clothing are acceptable, please seek the advice of the Club Manager or of a Club Attendant. They will answer any questions or concerns with discretion while adhering to the Code of Conduct.
COURT ENTRY AND EXIT
When preparing to enter the court, please wait quietly at the gate until the players on the courts nearest the gate have finished a point. Then, quickly go to your assigned court, ensuring that you are not moving behind a court where a point is in play. Wait until the point is over then move quickly along the fence line to your own court. Make sure you completely close the gate so balls cannot roll out.
Use the main clay court gate to access clay court for courts #1, 2 and 3. If possible, use the back gate to enter Court #4. Use the main hard court entry for courts #6, 7, and 8. Use the back entry for court #5 when possible.
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PLAYING ETIQUETTE
Serving:
The rules of tennis call for “play to be continuous”. The server should be sure his or her opponent is ready before serving; while the receiver must be prepared to play to the pace of the server. The server should always have two balls available before serving to avoid delays between first and second serves.
It is the responsibility of person serving to call out the score in advance of serving.
If your opponent has served a fault, quickly clear a ball that is interfering with play but otherwise do not go after it. Wait until the point is over to return balls to the server. If an extraordinary delay is created between first and second serves replay the first serve.
When your opponent is serving and the point is over, if there are any balls on your side of the net, pick them up quickly and return them directly to the server.
Scoring and calling lines:
Players must respect the decision of their opponent when the call is on their side of the net and you must always give your opponent the benefit of the doubt . The rules provide that a ball is “in” unless it is clearly seen as “out”. If a ball has touched even a portion of the line, it is good. If you are in doubt as to how to call a ball because you have not seen it clearly, you may ask your opponent to help you on the call. If you do so, you must accept your opponent’s call. Never play a "let" because you are unsure of the call.
Do not offer calls on your opponent’s side unless asked for assistance by him or her.
A ball is in play until it strikes the ground or fence outside the court. The ball must be allowed to bounce before calling it out or hitting, catching or otherwise touching it. If you touch it without a bounce, the point belongs to your opponent.
Never ask a person not directly involved in your match for assistance on lines calls. You may seek the advice of the Club Pro regarding the ‘rules’ of tennis but not for assistance with interpreting the facts of any given situation on your court.
​Changing ends after every odd numbered game of each set (1 – 3 – 5, etc.) is consistent with the rules of the game and helps balance the effects of sun and wind.
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Ball interference:
If a ball rolls onto your court from an adjacent court and you are rallying (not yet playing a match) – stop rallying and return the ball immediately to one of the people on the next court. If the players from whose court the ball came are in mid-point, wait until they finish or gently roll their ball along the fence behind them. If the ball is from a court farther away, wait until play on any intervening court is stopped.
If a ball rolls onto your court from an adjacent court and you are in the middle of a point – you may call "let" and stop the point immediately, if the ball disturbs you or your opponent. A let requires you to restart the point. You may also chose to return the ball after your point is over.
If your ball rolls onto an adjacent court, stop rallying, wait until the players on other court are not in the middle of a point, then tell them that the ball is from your court and ask for its return.
Noise:
Do not talk or shout to a player while a point is in play. And do not talk to players involved in a match on another court until their match is over.
Please keep your voice low while on the clubhouse veranda and grounds so as not to disturb players on the courts.
Always control your temper – do not throw your racquet or equipment; do not smash a ball in frustration.
Etiquette While Leaving the Courts:
When you have finished playing, always thank your opponent(s), and your partner in doubles. In match play, shake hands with your opponent(s).
Wait until players on the court between you and the gate are finished a point before crossing their court. Then, move quickly along the fence line to the exit, ensuring to completely close the gate behind you.
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Please clean the clay off your shoes before entering the clubhouse!
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PERMANENT RELOCATION OF A MEMBER
If a member permanently relocates more than 100 km from the Ottawa area after paying the annual fee, the following partial reimbursement of the annual membership fee is available if the member provides written notification to the Club Manager no less than thirty days prior to the effective date of resignation:
Resignation by June 15 – reimbursement of 50% of membership fee
Resignation by July 15 – reimbursement of 25% of membership fee
​ No reimbursement after July 15.
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Tournament Policy
Code of Conduct
All players, their supporters, and officials have a duty to encourage and maintain the highest standards of sportsmanship, courtesy and fair play, and are under an obligation to avoid all conduct, acts or practices, which are perceived to be detrimental to the integrity of the Game.
1. Fair Play
Players shall call all balls, double bounces, and foul shots, fairly and honestly and adhere to the Code for playing without a chair umpire. At the discretion of the Designated Tournament Official, a player may be coded for flagrantly incorrect line calls. If a player is blatantly egregious in his/her line calls, they may be defaulted from the match and cited to Conduct Contrary to the Integrity of the Game.
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2. Abuse of Balls
Players shall not violently, dangerously or with anger hit, kick or throw a tennis ball while on the grounds of the tournament site except in the reasonable pursuit of a point during a match (including warm-up). For purposes of this rule, abuse of balls is defined as intentionally or recklessly hitting a ball out of the enclosure of the court, hitting a ball dangerously within the court or hitting a ball with disregard of the consequences.
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3. Abuse of Equipment
Players, and their supporters, shall not violently, dangerously or with anger hit, kick or throw a racquet or other equipment within the precincts of the tournament site. For the purposes of this rule, abuse of racquets or equipment is defined as intentionally, dangerously and violently destroying or damaging racquets or equipment or intentionally or violently hitting the net, court, umpire’s chair or other fixture out of anger or frustration.
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4. Physical Abuse
Players, and their supporters, shall not at any time physically abuse any official, opponent, spectator or other person within the precincts of the tournament site. For purposes of this rule, physical abuse refers to the unauthorized touching of another person.
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5. Verbal Abuse
Players, and their supporters, shall not at any time verbally abuse any official, opponent, spectator or other person within the precincts of the tournament site. Verbal abuse is defined as any statement directed at another person that implies dishonesty or is derogatory, insulting or otherwise abusive.
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6. Audible Obscenity
Players, and their supporters, shall not use audible obscenities while on-site. An audible obscenity is defined as the use of words commonly known and understood to be profane and uttered clearly and loudly enough to be heard.
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7. Visible Obscenity
Players, and their supporters, shall not make obscene gestures while on-site. A visible obscenity is defined as the making of a sign with one’s hands and/or racquet or balls that commonly have an obscene meaning.
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8. Unreasonable Delays Continuous Play / Delay of Game.
Following the expiration of the warm-up period, play shall be continuous. A player shall not unreasonably delay a match for any cause.
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9. Unsportsmanlike Conduct
Players, and their supporters, shall at all times conduct themselves in a sportsmanlike manner and give due regard to the authority of officials and the rights of opponents, spectators and others. Unsportsmanlike conduct is defined as any misconduct that is clearly abusive or detrimental to the success of a Tournament, and/or the sport.
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Code Violation
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FIRST OFFENSE --> WARNING
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SECOND OFFENSE --> POINT PENALTY
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THIRD AND EACH SUBSEQUENT OFFENSE --> GAME PENALTY
However, at any time during the game, the Referee or a Tournament Official shall determine whether each offense shall constitute a default. In the case of a serious violation of the Code of Conduct, a player may be subject to an immediate default without going through the individual steps.
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