At Sandwich Lawn Tennis Club (the Club), we aim to achieve a pleasant and respectful environment both on and off the court, so that all members can use and enjoy the Club’s facilities to the full. The highest level of sportsmanship, courtesy, respect for others, and fair play is expected. The following are expectations to which all Club members, guests/visitors, tennis professionals, and parents must adhere:

Respect will be shown toward all others regardless of a person's age, disability, gender reassignment status, marriage or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, sex, sexual orientation, religion, socio-economic status or any other background.

Respect will be shown for all Club property and facilities, including but not limited to the Club house, courts, nets, teaching equipment, court grooming equipment, furnishings, supplies, and appliances.

Inappropriate language and/or aggressive behaviour or any form of bullying will not be tolerated and may result in immediate loss of court privileges, removal from the premises and further sanctions described below.

Any statement or behaviour that is reasonable for someone to interpret as a threat to use physical force that would or could cause injury will not be tolerated and may result in immediate loss of court privileges, removal from the premises and further sanctions described below.

Harassment will not be tolerated. Harassment is unwanted comment or conduct which has the purpose or effect of violating an individual’s dignity or creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment. The focus is on the perception of the complainant and not on the intent of the perpetrator. Any incidents of this or a similar nature will be treated seriously, and may result in immediate loss of court privileges, removal from the premises, and further sanctions described below.

Anyone who has concerns that they or someone else is being harassed, discriminated against or has been a victim of discriminatory language or behaviour should inform the Management Committee (the Committee) by email to committee@sandwichtennis.net. All concerns will be handled in the strictest confidence.

Members will at all times observe the current Club Regulations: Playing Rules, Personal conduct code and any other Club Regulations and policies from time to time in force.

Anyone who fails to follow these regulations, as judged by a majority of the Committee, may lose their good standing at the Club and be sanctioned. The Committee will, at its discretion, determine the appropriate sanction(s), which may include but is/are not limited to:

(a) Corrective action (warning) set out in writing

(b) Suspension of playing privileges either total or partial, eg. suspension from attending Club sessions.

(c) Suspension of membership, either for a prescribed period or permanently on such terms as the Committee shall determine and with no refund of fees. The process by which a member may be permanently suspended/excluded from the Club will be carried out in accordance with the Club Constitution, which is available on the Club website, www.sandwichtennis.net.

Any sanction imposed on a Club member may be appealed, in writing, to any member of the Committee.

The Committee’s decision in matters of discipline or policy is final, save only that in the case of a decision to permanently suspend membership/exclude a member from the Club the following applies:-

If the member appeals against the Committee’s decision, the matter will be put to the Club’s members in a general meeting and decided by a majority vote of members then present and voting.

Guests

Any member may introduce a guest to the club, provided that the person to be introduced has never had an application for membership of the Club declined, and nor has such person ever been expelled from the Club. Each guest's details must be registered on the club website before or on the day of play by completing the form here.

Members are responsible for ensuring that guest fees are paid directly to the Club by bank transfer or cash; the current guest fee payable is £5 per visit per guest. A guest can visit a maximum of four times a year.

Members are responsible for ensuring that their guests follow the Personal Conduct code and any other Club Regulations and policies in force from time to time.

In the case of non-members, failure to abide by this Personal Conduct code may result in a requirement to vacate the premises and prohibition from returning either for a prescribed period or permanently, on such terms as the Committee shall determine.

Notification of any request directed at a guest to vacate the premises or prohibition of attendance at the Club will be made to the member who has introduced the guest. It is the member’s responsibility to inform the guest and to ensure that this request is adhered to. Failure to do so could result in sanctions being taken against the member, which may include, but is/are not limited to, the sanctions set out at (a)-(c) in the Club’s Personal Conduct Code.