Covid 19 – Use of Nets – Esher Cricket Club

Policy on use of nets at Esher Cricket Club accounting for ECB and British Government guidance during the Covid-19 outbreak.

This policy is in effect from 20 May 2020 until further notice.

It is intended to give members the maximum amount of use of the outdoor net facility at Esher CC whilst complying with the current restrictions in place.

The current ECB guidance, which should be adhered to at all times, can be found here

There are three nets available for use. The net nearest to the green hut (Net 1), the net furthest from the green hut (Net 4) and use of the artificial wicket using the cage (The Cage). No other hard ball cricket activity is allowed on the ground. Appendix 1 details the layout of the ground whilst the nets are open.

Nets can be booked in 1 hour sessions between 10am and 7pm on Saturdays, Sundays. On weekdays they can be booked between 2pm and 7pm increasing to 12-7pm during half-term (w/c 25 May) and during the school summer holidays from w/c 6 July.

The following procedures must be complied with in respect of net usage

Use of the nets are only available for current members being those who have registered and paid their subscription for the 2020 cricket season.
As always, health and safety of participants is paramount – please ensure that those using the nets minimise the risk of injury by wearing pads, helmets etc.
Only two people are allowed to use each net unless using them exclusively with members of the same household.
All net bookings must be requested by an adult (over 18) in advance via https://eshercc.simplybook.it/v2/. The health guidance on the booking app must be complied with at all times. Net bookings are only confirmed when you receive a confirmation e-mail, please be patient as each booking will be authorised manually.
Each net session is for 60 minutes, practice should stop after 50 minutes to ensure that the net is vacated before the end of the 60 minute session. This is an ECB requirement.
Each member can only book a net session if you do not have a current booking in place. Accordingly, you can only have one outstanding booked net session at any point in time. If not all net sessions are booked this requirement is relaxed in the 12 hours prior to the session.
At the time of booking you must state the names of those participating. All participants must be members. Guests are not allowed.
Try not to arrive in the nets too early, aim to arrive at the start of the slot to help with social distancing, leave immediately your session has finished.
The car park is closed and should not be used. You should park on the club verge. Access to the ground is only via the side gate next to the main gate.
You should arrive changed into the clothes you are going to wear during the net session.
Prior to arrival you should wash your hands thoroughly and use hand sanitiser if possible.
Toilet facilities will not be available at the club as the clubhouse will be closed, locked and not available for general use
A first-aid kit will be available on site (between nets 1 and 4).
You should bring your own drinks with you. They will not be available at the Club
On arrival you must report to the Marshal who will register your attendance. Please respect and be courteous to the Marshal, some may be volunteers who are giving their time so that we can open the nets.
You then proceed directly to your designated net leaving kit to the side of each net as detailed in appendix 1
You must bring all your own kit including balls. The club is unable to provide any equipment.
‘Spring’ or plastic stumps will be provided at the batsmen’s end only which should only be moved with feet (not hands). Stumps should not be used at the bowlers’ end. If desired, members may wish to bring wipes or other materials to sanitise the stumps before the start and end of the session.
Kit should be placed at the side of each net
The bowling machines are not to be used except where used by a professional coach in Net 1 (the bowling machine cannot be moved to Lane 4 or The Cage). Only the designated coach should touch the bowling machine during the session. It is the responsibility of the parent / responsible adult in attendance to ensure that the coach has wiped clean the bowling machine and any balls that they use with suitable alcohol based wipes (to be provided by the coach) before each session and to the satisfaction of the coach’s client.
During the net and at all times you must keep at least 2M apart
When batting the ball should be knocked back with the bat. The batter must not pick up the ball even if wearing gloves.
No parent, sibling, or other helper is permitted to be in the net or any adjacent net
In the case where participants are under the age of 16 it is a requirement that a parent or a member of the players household must be on site and sit in the area designated parental viewing area detailed in in Appendix 1.
At the conclusion of the net you must leave the ground immediately leaving it free for those who follow.
It is the responsibility of parents to ensure any Young Cricketer has safe passage home. The club cannot be responsible for this. Public transport to and from the Club should be avoided if possible.
If members are looking to arrange 1-2-1 coaching, they should first book a net (Net 1 may be the most suitable due to availability of the bowling machine) and then make arrangements with a coach. As per current practice, 1-2-1s are private arrangements between the parent/member and coach for which the club has no responsibility.
The club reserve the right to cancel sessions at short or no notice, in the case of inclement weather or the non-attendance of the designated Marshal.
Non-attendance at a booked net session will be frowned upon as this deprives another member the facilities.
Do not attend if you or anyone in your household has any symptoms or if anyone in your household is in isolation. In case of suspected Covid-19 illness after attendance at a nets session, this should be reported to the Club Welfare Officer to enable appropriate tracing and thus limit spread of the virus.

Failure to abide by the above may result in future net booking requests being declined