Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to join?

The joining fee for club members is £25 and for team members £60. The team pays more as they play more, and generally get more indoor court time which is more expensive.

What does the cost include?

Costs include all court fees, tennis balls and coaching for the academic year. This fee also covers insurance for each person done through the University of Bristol Union. For team players this also covers transport to and from away matches

How do I try out for the team?

Try outs for the team generally happen during FRESH sport, this year being held on Sunday 9th October. However if we have been contacted by individuals beforehand who have an acceptable rating we will invite them to some pre-season training. If you are trying out for another team first or cannot make it to the introductory day, please contact either Dev Chowdhury or Hetty Knox who are the respective team captains.

Will playing on the team impact my studies?

No, as long as you can balance time correctly. As you can see from the team roster, there are a variety of subjects and most people manage. Some however struggle to get the balance right, and the grades can start to drop. Normally this can be put down to too much socialising rather than too much tennis!

Where can I get extra individual lessons from?

As it is only group lessons that are provided for all standards, individual lessons need to be arranged independently by you. Often some of the team have coaching qualifications, which is their part time job at university, so we recommend either contacting them (by e-mailing Hetty Knox at @bristol.ac.uk) or by contacting Coombe Dingle tennis club reception to be put in contact with a coach on 01179626718.

Where can I get extra group lessons from?

Any extra group lessons will again be done separately from the university, and can be arranged through Coombe Dingle by contacting reception on 01179626718

I want to play with my friends outside of the scheduled times, what should I do?

Anyone whether they are a member or non-member can play on the Coombe Dingle tennis courts for a fee. Contact Coombe Dingle reception to book a court and be advised on the current fees.

I have broken a string, where can I get my racket re-strung?

Coombe Dingle offers a re-stringing service for a reasonable price.

Will playing in the team stop me from playing other sports?

All sports matches are played at the same time, which is a Wednesday afternoon, no matter if it's for the university or a fun intramural match. So generally if you play for any university team, this will prevent you from playing for other teams. However lots of the team play fun intramural games when there are no matches on, or play 5 aside football in the evenings.

If I can't make all the training sessions, can I still play in the team?

If it's a one off, then that's ok, but all sessions are generally compulsory and attendance is noted when making the team selection

I'm living far away from Coombe Dingle, How can I get there?

Coombe Dingle is located near the Stoke Bishop halls of residence – around a 10-minute walk. If you live closer to the centre you can cycle or take the number 41 bus which stops right outside Coombe Dingle. Some members drive and the majority of those who do offer lifts. The address is: 
Coombe Dingle Sports Complex, Coombe Lane, Bristol BS9 2BJ, UK