By Greg Ellison

(May 28, 2020) Since the tennis and pickleball courts in Ocean Pines reopened two weeks ago with covid-19-related health safety guidelines in place, flocks of players have resumed action at the Manklin Meadows Racquet Sports Complex.

tennis pro Terry Underkoffler said the turnout for tennis, platform tennis and pickleball has been strong since activities re-launched on May 14 following Gov. Larry Hogan’s initial easing of covid-19 restrictions.

“We’ve had some good numbers,” he said.

Prior to Maryland permitting racquet sports to resume, the United States Tennis Association issued guidelines for re-opening shuttered facilities and health-safety recommendations for players.

“Keeping healthy guidelines,” he said. “We put into place the facility recommendations that they wanted.”

Further guidance was provided for Ocean Pines racquet sports members.

“We sent out to our membership … what our expectations were for keeping each other safe,” he said.

Pandemic-related measures include portable hand washing stations and ample supplies of hand sanitizer.

“Each player brings a can of balls with their name on it,” he said. “You handle your own tennis balls.”

Creative means have been employed to minimize surface contact with bouncing balls.

“They send balls back with their feet or with their racquets,” he said. “Lots of players have been wearing gloves … on their serving hand.”

Other common-sense recommendations include switching court positions counterclockwise.

“You’re always going in the same motion and you don’t pass each other as you switch sides,” he said.

While Maryland is not requiring the use of facemasks for outdoor tennis and pickleball, players are encouraged to respect their cohorts’ sentiments.

“Delaware requires masks for outdoor tennis facilities [but] in Maryland it’s more of a courtesy,” he said. “We ask as part of our guidelines to keep each other feeling safe in this process [and] if someone requests it honor it.”

Although individual sentiments vary, accommodations should be made if opinions differ.

“If one person wants to wear masks, and they feel safer doing that, than if you’re playing doubles the other three should,” he said. “Be the bigger person.”

Recognizing the immense popularity of pickleball among Ocean Pines residents, Underkoffler said two courts remain closed to limit crowding.

“Sometimes our pickleball courts are filled with players,” he said. “We have lowered the nets to prevent play in our middle court to promote proper spacing.”

Other temporary changes include closing off the lounge area where players typically congregate before and after matches.

“Come to play and, when you’re done, you should leave,” he said. “Don’t hang out.”

Underkoffler also said a robust methodology for contact tracing has been undertaken.

“We’re keeping track of who’s playing on what court at what time,” he said. “All players are registering within their groups.”

With decades of experience coaching soccer before becoming an USTA certified instructor, Underkoffler said one ramification of pandemic restrictions could be attracting new interest in lifetime sports, such as tennis or golf, in lieu of team competition.

“I’ve been an athletic coach most of my adult life and I was a soccer coach much longer than I was a tennis professional,” he said. “It’s a unique opportunity for children especially, to start to learn a lifetime sport because it keeps them active.”

With timeframes yet unknown for resumption of team sports, Underkoffler suggests parents trying to channel their children’s youthful exuberance should introduce them to potential lifetime athletic activities.

“It’s great for footwork, endurance, stamina [and] for individual decision making,” he said. “It’s a perfect time to encourage your child, ‘we need to get you out there moving [and] learn to play tennis [or] golf.”

For more information or questions about racquet sports restrictions, call 410-641-5255.