BU Tennis Club FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
Q: Who can join the club?
A: Students, Alumni, Faculty, Staff, and Administrators of Bloomsburg University. Guests (people not affilated with BU) are also welcome to play.
Q: How do I join?
A: Just show up to play. Be sure to e-mail Mary Thomas met56169@huskies.bloomu.edu so you can be added to the e-mail list.
Q: When does the tennis club play?
A: We play at least 3 times a week, every week, all year long, even during summer and winter. The schedule is posted on http://orgs.bloomu.edu/tennisclub
Q: How many people show show up to play? - Usually about 8-12 people. Although we have had as many as 28 show up.
Q: Is it OK if I only play once a week?
A: Play as often or as little as you like.
Q: Where do I go to play?
A: When it's warm we play outside on courts 10-13 on upper campus. When the BU Tennis Teams use all courts for matches, we play at the Bloomsburg Town Park. When it gets colder, (from early November to the end of spring break), we play at the Student Recreation Center. Look at the schedule to see where we will be playing.
Q: How many people are in the club?
A: About 50 people.
Q: I have a friend (or relative) who's not a student, can they play?
A: Yes, guests are welcome to play too.
Q: I'm a beginner, can I play?
A: Yes, the club is for everyone - from beginners to advanced players. We don't have tennis classes, but we give helpful ideas to help out newer players.
Q: I'm a tournament-level player, will this be a challenge for me?
A: We have players of all skills levels. Through the club, you can meet a lot of players who will challenge you.
Q: Do I have to bring my own racquet and balls?
A: You'll need your own racquet.
Many people bring balls, it's best to bring tennis balls in case others forget.
Q: I can't play at any of the times that are scheduled. What do I do?
A: You can still join the club, then you can get an e-mail distribution list of other members and ask for players to meet you at times that are convenient for you.
Q: How much are dues?
A: To be determined.
Q. How due I pay my dues? To be determined.
Q: Are there additional costs besides dues?
A: Yes, you'll need to purchase a tennis racquet. Also, no black-soled tennis shoes are allowed on the outdoor courts (because they leave permanent marks on the courts), so if you only have black-soled shoes, you need to buy new tennis shoes. Finally, if you're not a student, you may need to pay additional fees to use indoor courts in the winter. (See below).
Q. Are there rankings for players?
A.
In past years, we used a tennis
ladder for rankings, but currently that ranking system is not active.
Q: What happens to the tennis club during the winter (when the nets are taken down on the upper campus courts)?
A: We'll play at the Student Recreation Center. Memberships for the Student Recreation Center are available to all current students, faculty, staff, alumni, guest, and the dependents of family members of faculty and staff who are above the age of 16. More info is here: https://campusrec.bloomu.edu/
Q: Where is the Student Rec Center? Here's a map.
Q: The strings on my racquet broke, where can I get my racquet restrung?
A: Contact either Coach Coyne, or contact the West Branch Tennis club (570) 326-2828 in Williamsport.
Q: Who are the club's officers?
A. President - Mary Thomas
Vice -President - James Garringer
Treasurer –Open
Secretary -Open
PR Officer - Open
Faculty
Advisor - Tim Rumbough.
Q: When are officers elected?
A: We'll elect our new
officers at the end of every spring semester.
Q: Who can be an officer?
A: Only full-time BU students, according to the BU Club Sports Manual.
Q: Will the club do anything else besides play tennis?
A: That's up to the officers and members each semester. Some possible activities off of the courts include: business meetings (to discuss dues, officers, special events, etc), fundraisers, service projects, and social events.
Q: Can I help recruit other members?
A: You sure can! Print out 20 copies of this flyer and post them everywhere! including dorms, bus stops, hallways, classrooms, etc.
Q: Where else can tennis be played around Bloomsburg?
A: 1) Bloomsburg Town Park, 2) Light Street Park (1 mile north of I-80 on 487 AKA Lightstreet Rd.), 3) Indoor tennis courts at the West Branch Tennis club in Williamsport (about 50 minutes from BU).
Q: What if it rains or is too cold and we're scheduled for the outdoor courts?
A: Check the schedule to see if a rain location is announced. If there is rain, chances are that no one will be at the outdoor courts. If it has finished raining and the courts are wet, we can dry the courts pretty quickly.
Q. What if too many people show up to play and there are not enough courts available?
A. This sometimes happens when we play at the REC center in the winter. We have games to accomodate 5 or 6 players on a court (not at the same time.) There are also some fun tennis games that we can play.
Q. Where can I buy a racquet?
A.
You can buy a cheap racquet at Walmart - or if you're a serious player, you can go to the West Branch Tennis club and try out a variety of demo racquets before buying one. You can also buy online at places such as tennis-warehouse.com.