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

• A member of this Club has read and agreed to adhere to the Club Rules and Etiquette

• A member of this Club agrees to treat the Club premises with respect, for the enjoyment of all

• A member of this Club recognizes the need for the existing By-Laws and policies to be fairly applied

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Integrity

• Members agree to uphold the highest standards in protecting the good reputation of the Club

• Members agree to treat one another in an open, honest, and equitable manner

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Accountability

• 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

• Members have rights and privileges granted by their membership. At the same time, membership must be exercised within existing regulations

• 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;

• No undergarments alone of any kind, however, sleeveless tennis sports attire is permitted for all players;

• No blue denim clothing, including but not limited to jeans, pants, shorts, skirts, shirts, and jackets;

• No cargo-style pants or shorts; and

• 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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