December in Pictures | 2020

We re-opened at the beginning of December ready for the festive season after the November lockdown

The courts got a festive makeover

50+ was our first session back on the outdoor courts

Squad players Olivia and Eloise got into the festive spirit

Players wrapped up warm for sessions on the outdoor courts

UCoach coaching courses were (briefly) resumed

Coach Nari conducting a private lesson with Jasmin, Shauna and Anya

We welcomed coach Sam to the team

Hampshire went into tier 4 lockdown on Boxing Day but our younger players made use of our outdoor courts for their daily exercise with their parents

Outdoor private lessons are still permitted in tier 4

Keep up-to-date with everything happening at the club on our website www.totallytennis.co.uk and our social media via our Facebook and Instagram

2020 in Review

Happy New Year from all the team at Totally Tennis. The coaching team are looking forward to welcoming everyone back on court, once it’s safe to do so, to get 2021 off to a fit and healthy start.

There’s no doubt 2020 was a challenging year but there were still some highlights to look back on. Performance player and assistant coach Isla and junior performance player Hayden kicked off the year with titles in tournaments, we ran mini performance taster sessions at Chineham Shopping centre in collaboration with Hampshire Court and the first TT Tour of the year at the indoor centre.

February saw the first UCoach coach education course take place, junior squad players brought friends and siblings to their sessions in the ‘Bring a Buddy’ week and our popular tennis camps took place in February half term.

It was still business as usual at the beginning of March, performance player Aaron represented Hampshire & IOW in the County Cup, Liam and Isla were awarded funding at the annual Basingstoke Sports Awards and Queen Mary’s College (QMC) players resumed their outdoor training sessions at the club. Coach Dom ran the tennis for Hampshire Court’s BBC Sport Relief event, Head coach James ran an adult doubles charity tournament and Liam was runner-up in the Edgbaston British Tour event.

We were then closed for the foreseeable future as the Coronavirus pandemic hit in the UK. We launched the lockdown series ‘At Home with The Hignett’, self-isolation training videos designed to inspire players to keep active and motivated at home with tennis related exercises. Our coaches tried all the lockdown challenges.

Mid-May saw us re-open with Covid-19 safety restrictions in place. Our smaller sessions practiced social distancing on the outdoor courts and our online booking system was launched. Group coaching was permitted in June and we welcomed back our adult and junior players followed by coach education courses in July. Our canine friends at Your Dogs Walk enjoyed our used tennis balls. Good weather and good news in August as our junior tennis camps were back as well as our adult courses.

Adult morning sessions returned in September along with the new junior squad term, the DSA (Down Syndrome Association) weekend sessions and lots more coach education courses. We held our annual but ‘socially distanced’ World’s Biggest Coffee morning in aid of Macmillan Cancer. In October, we waved goodbye to Head coach James but not before he completed the virtual London Marathon in aid of Pancreatic Cancer UK. Our outdoor courts at Stratton Park benefitted from a makeover, we welcomed coach Nari and our adult teams were back competing in the local tennis league. October half term tennis camps went ahead as planned and Liam competed in the Loughborough British Tour.

The second national lockdown was announced in November and the centre was yet again forced to close. Two new coaches, Ben and Sam joined the team and Totally Tennis featured on the BBC Breakfast show with Mike Bushell. We re-opened in December just in time for the festive season, it was chilly but outdoor sessions were permitted but the euphoria was short lived as Hampshire was placed in tier 4 on Boxing Day and we were, yet again, forced to close.

Fast forward to 2021 – The new squad term has been delayed from starting on 4th January and is now starting on week commencing Saturday 16th January. All parents are being asked, if they have not already done so, to re-enrol all players so we can confirm squad numbers and places.* Click HERE for all junior squad information.

Tennis Director Nigel Long said, “Thank you for your ongoing support. We hope to see you all back on court soon but until then stay home and stay safe.”

Happy New Year !

In the current tier 4 restrictions outdoor court bookings are permitted as are individual lessons. Telephone 01256 358816 or email tt@totallytennis.co.uk for further information and to book. Keep up-to-date with everything happening at the club on our website www.totallytennis.co.uk and our social media via our Facebook and Instagram

*For those who had already signed up to the junior squad term that was due to start on 4th January we will refund you the two weeks you have already paid for. Pay by direct debit? Instructions have been paused to make up for November’s lockdown and will be reduced for March by two weeks. 

Tier 2 Tennis | Totally Tennis

Totally Tennis are pleased to announce that post lockdown we have reopened for all adult and junior coaching sessions as well as indoor and outdoor court bookings. As Basingstoke and Deane is in Tier 2 post lockdown (from 2nd December) the following guidelines apply:

Indoor Court Bookings are for singles play only OR doubles for members of the same household – book an indoor court HERE

Outdoor Courts can be booked as normal – click HERE to book an outdoor court

Adult group coaching can only take place outdoors – click HERE for more information about all our adult sessions

​Junior Sessions are taking place as normal and can take place indoors – click HERE for more information about our junior sessions.

Individual Lessons can take place on the indoor courts – click HERE for more information about individual lessons

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All courts are bookable via the Court Booking section on our website. Payments can only be made online.  Please ensure you read our T&C’s and our Covid guidance below. Court Bookings are bookable for 60 minutes – Court time 55 Minutes and 5 Minutes to leave.

​The pavilion and toilet facilities are accessible during our opening hours.  Hand sanitiser is available at the entry and exits and we ask customers to use a one way system.  Face coverings should be worn on entry. Equipment is now be available to hire from the club and will be sprayed with antibacterial spray.​

Please do not arrive too early for your court booking. This is to minimise the amount of players congregating on or around the courts. Please leave on time to allow safe access and departure from courts and to respect the 2 meter distancing rules.

To avoid gathering of people in or around the tennis courts, Spectators are discouraged. This does not apply to a parent/guardian/carer, (non participant). This should be limited to one per player and social distancing should be strictly followed at all times.

​Bring hand sanitiser with you. Bring a full water bottle and do not share food or drink with others and remember to take all rubbish away with you.

Players do not now need to use their own marked tennis balls. However, if you choose to use shared balls then extra care must be taken to ensure you do not touch your face during play, and you should clean you’re hands before play and immediately after.

​IMPORTANT: Do not leave your home to play tennis if Government advice means you should stay at home because you or someone you live with has or has had symptoms of COVID-19, or you are in the most vulnerable category and have been advised to shield from the coronavirus.

​For more information visit the Covid-19 section of our website www.totallytennis.co.uk/covid-19 and the LTA website www.lta.org.uk/globalassets/news/2020/lta-guidance-for-tennis-players—covid-19.pdf

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October Half Term 2020

Are you looking for healthy, socially distanced activity for your children in the October half term school holiday? Somewhere they will have lots of fun and learn a new sport? Totally Tennis has just the answer, our junior Tennis camps are the perfect to keep children active whilst having lots of fun, learning a new sport and making new friends.

The sessions will take place whatever the weather at the Indoor Centre in the War Memorial Park, Basingstoke. Camps will be running from Monday 26th to Thursday 29th October for players aged 5 to 14 years. Sessions are from 9:30am – 10:30am (players aged 5 – 8 years) and 11:00am – 12:30am (players 8 – 14 years). Sessions are bookable for 1, 2 and 3 days or a full week (4 days).

Tennis camps are great fun and include lots of games and mini-competitions for both new and experienced players. It’s a safe environment with OFSTED accreditation and fully qualified, licensed and experienced Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) coaches.

For more information and to book visit online visit clubspark.lta.org.uk/TotallyTennisBasingstoke/Coaching/Camps or telephone 01256 358816.

COVID-19: Return To Restricted Play (update 8/09/20)

COVID-19: Return To Restricted Play (update 8/09/20)

All our courts are now open and bookable via the Court Booking section on our website www.totallytennis.co.uk Payments can only be made online. Please ensure you read our T&C’s and our Covid guidance below.

The pavilion and toilet facilities are available during our opening hours. Hand sanitiser is available at the entrance and exits and we ask customers to use a one way system. Face coverings should be worn on entry.

Equipment is now available to hire from the club and will be sprayed with antibacterial spray.

Court Bookings are bookable for 60 minutes – court time 55 minutes and 5 minutes to leave. Please do not arrive too early for your court booking. This is to minimise the amount of players congregating on or around the courts. Please leave on time to allow safe access and departure from courts and to respect the 2 meter distancing rules. To avoid gathering of people in or around the tennis courts, spectators are discouraged. This does not apply to a parent/guardian/carer (non participant). This should be limited to one per player and social distancing should be strictly followed at all times.

Bring hand sanitiser with you. Bring a full water bottle and do not share food or drink with others and remember to take all your rubbish away with you.

Players no longer need to use their own marked tennis balls. However, if you choose to use shared balls then extra care must be taken to ensure you do not touch your face during play and you should clean your hands before play and immediately after.

We hope you enjoy getting back on court!

IMPORTANT: Do not leave your home to play tennis if Government advice means you should stay at home because you or someone you live with has or has had symptoms of COVID-19, or you are in the most vulnerable category and have been advised to shield from the coronavirus.

COACHING SESSIONS

We are following the LTA Guidelines as below:Groups of up to 15 children plus coach(es) are permitted for junior coaching, in line with guidance from the Government on out of school settings. Guidance from Government also means that clubs and venues can host larger groups for outdoor sport and physical activity participation events such as club nights and competitions, as long as they ensure they are COVID-19 secure.

These guidelines apply to tennis on outdoor and (from 25 July) indoor courts, as well as padel, and outline adaptations and considerations so that tennis and associated activity can be enjoyed in a way that is in line with Government advice and helps to prevent the spread of COVID-19. They include measures to maintain hygiene and minimise unnecessary interactions with others.

Junior players will be asked to sanitise their hands before, during and after each session.

For further LTA guidance regarding returning to play please visit www.lta.org.uk/globalassets/news/2020/lta-guidance-for-tennis-players—covid-19.pdf

Read more about the COVID-19 comeback at the club and what sessions are now available by visiting www.totallytennis.co.uk

August in Pictures

Performance player Isla Hignett passed her LTA Level 1 qualification with UCoach at Totally Tennis

Summer holiday tennis camps were great fun

Mini performance player Jasmine enjoyed the tennis camps

Performance player and coach Liam Hignett was part of the Hampshire & IOW LTA’s “Return To Tennis’ county training session

Tennis Director and UCoach tutor Nigel put the latest LTA Level 3 coaching candidates through their paces at their play test at the indoor centre

Our summer tennis camps finished at the end of the month just before schools go back and tennis squads resume for the Autumn term

In the world of professional tennis the US Open started on 31st August (will run until 13th September) but this year the players will be playing to empty stands as the tournament is going ahead without fans.

Photo used with courtesy of www.usopen.org/

WELCOME BACK TO OUR TENNIS SQUADS

Totally Tennis junior squads are back! The new fifteen week term will start from 3rd September for players in Mini Development and Development squads.

Under 10’s – Mini Development Squads (Termly)

Pirates (Red Mini Tennis)

Monday, Tuesday and Friday 4:30 – 5:30pm, Sat 9:00 – 10:00am

This session is for beginners aged 4 – 6 years. Players will play using mini tennis nets and sponge balls and the focus is on helping players to develop fundamental movement skills and improve their agility, balance and coordination. They will also learn the basic techniques & tactics of tennis.

Full term payment £120  (Monthly Direct Debit – £32 per month + £10 admin fee)

Please click your chosen day to book Monday, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday

Indians (Red Mini Tennis)

Monday, Tuesday and Friday 4:30 – 5:30pm, Sat 9:00 – 10:00am 

This session is for improvers aged 6 – 8 years, or those progressing from Pirates. In this squad players will play over the mini tennis nets with sponge balls. The children will continue to improve both their movement and co-ordination skills and further improve their techniques and understanding of the tactics of tennis.

Full term payment £120  (Monthly Direct Debit – £32 per month + £10 admin fee)

Please click your chosen day to book Monday, Tuesday, Friday and Saturday

Dodgers (Orange Mini Tennis)

Monday, Tuesday and Friday 5:30 – 6:30pm

This session is for players aged 8 – 9 years or those moving up from Indians. Players will play on a ¾ sized tennis court with low compression orange tennis balls. Sessions will further enhance techniques to help players transition to a bigger sized court. 

Full term payment £120  (Monthly Direct Debit – £32 per month + £10 admin fee)

Please click your chosen day to book Monday, Tuesday and Friday

Giants (Green Mini Tennis)

Monday, Tuesday and Friday 5:30 – 6:30pm

This session is for players aged 9 – 10 years and for those players that have moved up from Dodgers. Players will learn on a full sized tennis court with a slightly slower and lower bouncing ball than a full yellow ball. Players in this squad will continue to develop their technique and implement tactics during points play. 

Full term payment £120  (Monthly Direct Debit – £32 per month + £10 admin fee) 

Please click your chosen day to book Monday, Tuesday and Friday

Over 10’s – Development Squads 

C Squad

Wednesday 4:30 – 6:00pm and Saturday 11:00am – 12:30pm 

C Squad is for juniors players aged 11+ and for those players moving up from Giants. Players will work on both techniques and tactics which will help them with their transition from Green to Yellow ball. They will also learn about different ball characteristics and game situations. 

Full term payment £150  (Monthly Direct Debit – £40 per month + £10 admin fee) 

Please select your chosen day Wednesday and Saturday

B Squad

Wednesday 4:30 – 6:00pm and Saturday 11:00am – 12:30pm

This session is for intermediate players aged 12+ and for those moving up from C Squad. Players will receive technical and tactical coaching to help them improve in both singles and doubles. There will be a mixture of drills and match play during the session.

Full term payment £150  (Monthly Direct Debit – £40 per month + £10 admin fee) 

Please select your chosen day Wednesday and Saturday

A Squad

Wednesday 4:30 – 6:00pm and Saturday 11:00am – 12:30pm 

This squad is a progression from B Squad for individuals 12+ who demonstrate consistency in confident technical and tactical ability. Players will practice drills to understand key match play situations as well as put into practice what they have learnt.

Full term payment £150  (Monthly Direct Debit – £40 per month + £10 admin fee) 

Please select your chosen day Wednesday and Saturday

The squad programme is designed for children aged 4 upwards, starting with mini tennis nets and sponge balls and working up to full-sized courts and yellow balls, every child is allocated an appropriate squad to join usually guided by age. Click HERE to see all the junior squad information. If you have not already signed up your child/children, ask about the new squad payment plan to spread the cost of the sessions.

July in Pictures | 2020

UCoach coach training courses were back on court this month – here’s the Level 1 candidates being put through their paces with tutors Nigel and Liz

Practice makes perfect – junior squad player Jasmine is on court practising between her lessons at every opportunity with her dad Jermaine

Our indoor courts reopened on 25th July

Our used tennis balls are now being enjoyed by out furry friends at Your Dogs Walk Basingstoke

Jamie Murray gathered Britain’s best women’s and men’s players to compete in the Battle of the Brits Team Tennis competition at the NTC that started on 27th July

 

 

 

Lockdown Further Ignites Jasmine’s Love of Tennis

One young Totally Tennis junior players has used the last few months to focus on improving her tennis skills. Eight-year-old Jasmine Paul, who attends St Marys Junior School, didn’t let the enforced lockdown and closure of tennis courts stop her keeping fit and practising at home.

Jermaine, Jasmine’s father said;” Before lockdown we never trained in the garden but during lockdown Jasmine wanted to focus on her favourite sport ‘tennis’ more than others.”

The Dodgers squad player was one of the first back at the centre when permission was given by the government to re-open outdoor courts, she was training in the smaller squad sessions with tennis director Nigel Long and practising daily with her dad and younger sister Roxanna.

Jermaine added, “Jasmine is very motivated and often gets me up at 7am to hit the courts early. She sets her own alarm and wakes me up along with her sister to take her out to the courts or garden for a session first thing in the morning.”

Jasmine started playing tennis about 18 months ago and joined Totally Tennis after attending one of the club’s free open days which was her first real introduction to tennis. She loved the open day so much that her parents signed up her up for the weekly Dodgers squad sessions. She has also attended the club’s school holiday tennis camps and played in some competitions at the indoor centre.

Since lockdown, tennis has proved to the one sport she wanted to do in her daily exercise time, drawing from squad session activities she has enjoyed playing with her younger sister and father.

Alongside tennis Jasmine enjoys participating in a lot of other sports. She started gymnastics from the age of one which included ball co-ordination skills that has helped with her tennis, she also participates in swimming, athletics, and kickboxing. She plays in a FA U10 girls football team and competes in kickboxing competitions.

Jermaine said of his daughter’s dedication, “She always tells me and her younger sister, if you train hard you will become the best. It’s a very simple motto but one she has lived through all her sports and is now bringing this mindset into tennis.”

“Jasmine loves being on court. Her passion comes from the energy of the sport. Having competed in kickboxing tournaments for many years she has enjoyed the ownership of individual competition. She loves the pace and variety of movement along with the strategy in tennis. Similar to her martial arts and other sports. Tennis embodies all of the different sports that she has practiced over the last few years.“

Well done Jasmine! Keep up the motivation and hard work.

Photos kindly provided and used with permission of Jermaine Paul

Summer Tennis Camps | 2020

With the LTA announcing earlier this week that junior players can now be coached in larger of groups (15 players plus the coach) Totally Tennis is pleased to announce that our summer holiday tennis camps will be running from Monday 3rd to Thursday 27th August (Monday to Thursday every week.)

The sessions, for players aged 5-8 and 9-14 years, will focus on building and teaching tennis skills. Numbers are limited to allow our coaches to ensure that everyone plays with the relevant colour ball and with players of similar skill level.

Sessions for 5 – 8 years will run from 9.30am – 10.30am (1 hour)

Book here* – clubspark.lta.org.uk/TotallyTennisBasingstoke/Coaching/Camp?courseID=2fb0f081-96d0-409f-8e89-84e0296c010d

Sessions for 9 – 14 years will run from 11am to 12.30pm. (1 1/2 hours)

Book here* – clubspark.lta.org.uk/TotallyTennisBasingstoke/Coaching/Camp?courseID=8dc70202-fdef-4581-80f1-42b9e0f9653f

Sessions can be booked separately or as a full week offer, there is also a sibling discount available. We will be adhering to LTA and government guidelines throughout the sessions to ensure the safety of your children and our coaches.  Hand sanitiser will be used regularly through the session and coaches and players will maintain social distancing.

Visit our website www.totallytennis.co.uk for more information and to book* or telephone 01256 358816 or e-mail tt@totallytennis.co.uk

We look forward to seeing you on court and we hope you have a great summer!

*Payments is taken at the time of booking and there is a 24-hour cancellation period.   Due to the latest guidelines, we can only coach a maximum of 15 children per session so please book early to avoid disappointment.

Please take a look at our Covid-19 guidelines www.totallytennis.co.uk/covid-19 to familiarise yourself with the latest guidelines. Please do not attend if you or any of your family members are displaying any signs of Coronavirus.