Policies and Guidelines
● Tennis and Pickleball Court Etiquette
● Guidelines for Types of Play
TOWN COURT USAGE POLICY
To balance the needs of tennis and pickleball players, the Parks and Recreation Committee has adopted a court usage policy that gives pickleball players priority on Court 1 and tennis players priority on Court 2, Monday through Friday. On Saturday and Sunday, pickleball players have priority on both courts in the morning, and tennis players have priority on both courts in the afternoon.
Court 2 may be used for pickleball whenever no tennis players are using it. Tennis players may reserve a court, so check the reservation system before setting up pickleball nets on Court 2. If tennis players arrive when you are playing, you must defer to them: vacate the court after you complete your current game, or in five minutes, whichever comes first.
GENERAL GUIDELINES
● Everyone is responsible for welcoming newcomers and visitors.
● If one of the four pickleball courts is free and safe to play on (i.e., dry), use it before using Court 2.
● Players arriving when the four pickleball courts are full should set up a rolling net on Court 2 if it is not being used for tennis.
● If you are using a court on Court 2 when a tennis player arrives, you must vacate the court within 10 minutes.
● Parks and Recreation classes, events, and PVPickleball League matches can schedule courts for priority use.
● Games are played to 11 points, win by 2.
● This is recreational play, not a competition: Don't always play the weaker player.
TENNIS AND PICKLEBALL COURT ETIQUETTE
It has come to our attention that some of our pickleball players don’t know or observe Tennis Court Etiquette. The tennis players have asked us to educate our pickleball community on these customs. Similarly, all players should observe standard Pickleball Court Etiquette.
Tennis Court Etiquette:
When tennis players are on Court 2, pickleball players should enter Court 1 through the double gates closest to the maintenance
workshop. Do not use the gates near Court 2.If a pickleball rolls onto a tennis court but is not a hazard, DO NOT follow it onto the tennis court. Wait until there is a break in THEIR play and say, “Ball, please.
If a pickleball rolls onto a tennis court and is a hazard, call "Ball On" to warn them.
If a tennis ball rolls onto your pickleball court, promptly return it.
Never enter a court during active play unless invited by word or gesture. If the players are resting, you may enter the court.
Give the tennis court a wide berth; players don't like to be crowded.
Pickleball Court Etiquette:
Do not enter the pickleball courts or cross a court while people are actively playing. Wait outside the gate until the point is over, and then enter and cross quickly.
If players are warming up, you may enter and cross quickly.
Do not stand or stow your gear on the courts. Hang your bag on the perimeter fences and wait outside the courts near the baseball diamond. It is OK to bring water bottles onto the courts.
Please observe these etiquette guidelines on the tennis and pickleball courts. Our foremost concern is the safety of all players.
GUIDELINES FOR TYPES OF PLAY
The following guidelines address the needs of different pickleball players:
· Drop-in Play is for players who want to show up and join a game.
· Pre-arranged Group Play is for groups of two or more players who want to play together.
· Drill/Private Game Court is for players who arrange games or practice during scheduled drop-in times.
· League Play includes scheduled matches with other clubs.
DROP-IN PLAY POLICIES
● You are encouraged to play at or near your level most of the time.
● Courts are open for all ages and skill levels on a first-come, first-served basis.
● To join a game, you "paddle in" by putting your paddle near the net stanchion of that game.
● When the current game ends, players will relinquish the court to those waiting, thus:
o 4 paddles on the court: all four players leave the court, and the next foursome takes the court.
o 3 paddles on the court: one player from the winning team stays, and the three players join to become a foursome.
o 2 paddles on the court: the winning team stays, and the two players join to become a foursome.
o 1 paddle on the court: one player from the losing team leaves, and the player joins to become a foursome.
Note: Any player may volunteer to leave a court after a game if there are players wanting to paddle in.
● Once you start a game, you must finish it before paddling in or joining another court.
● You may put your paddle(s) on only one (1) court at a time.
● Players should warm up before paddling onto a court. If you are unable to warm up on another court, limit your warm-up time to
5 minutes.
● If you arrive when a court needs one more player, you are encouraged to join that court for at least one game, regardless of level of
play. If you are more advanced than the other players, treat this game as your warm-up.
● Only players present may paddle onto a court. You may not save a space for someone who has not arrived to play.
PRE-ARRANGED GROUP PLAY POLICIES
● There are no pre-arranged group games during regular drop-in times, except for the court on Court 2 that is adjacent to the
curtain and the softball field. This court is designated as a DRILL/PRIVATE GAME court.
● Play is non-rotating: You may play with your group without interruption unless all the other courts are full.
● Rotation is 4 off, 4 on. If two players want a court, it is 4 off, 2 on.
● The four pickleball courts are open for all ages and skill levels on a first-come, first-served basis.
● When courts are full and players are waiting, limit drilling or warm-up to 10 minutes.
● When courts are full and other players are waiting, players must exit their court when they finish their game.
DRILL/PRIVATE GAME COURT POLICIES
● The court on Court 2 adjacent to the curtain and the softball field is available on a first-come, first-served basis except during
weekend drop-in play.
● Any group of two (2) or more can use the court.
● Usage is limited to one hour if other people are waiting, with start/end times on the hour (e.g., 9AM, 10AM, etc.).
● Court times for play are from 8:00 AM until dark.
● Players can paddle in but must wait to start on the hour.
LEAGUE PLAY POLICIES
PVPickleball has several teams that play in local competitive leagues. Each team captain schedules practice/drill times, which must be outside the scheduled drop-in times. See the Schedule page on the website for the current practice times.
WHATSAPP GROUPS
Players have created a PVPickleball WhatsApp community, which can host multiple purpose-based groups. These groups do not replace the PVPickleball email list at https://groups.io/g/PVPickleball. Use that email list for announcements for the entire PV Pickleball community. Use one of the following WhatsApp groups for announcements specific to that group.
Competitive Open Play: This group is for players who seek competitive and intense games, and whose skill levels are advanced-intermediate through advanced. Most announcements are for organizing open play during the afternoons or drill sessions on Wednesday and Friday mornings.
Cooperative Open Play: This group is for players who seek relaxed and cooperative games, and whose skill levels are novice through intermediate. Most posts deal with court conditions.