Didsbury and District pickleball Club Guide to Etiquette
Didsbury and District Pickleball Club Etiquette, Safety & Sportsmanship Guidelines
While there are official rules for the play of the game, there are many other aspects of Pickleball that can, and regularly do, affect play and the personal interactions between the members of our club. What follows here is mostly common sense. Sometimes, however, simple things can be overlooked or underestimated for their contribution towards a positive and safe environment.
We want our Club to be a place within our community, where we can gather, socialize, and play with others who enjoy the game of pickleball. The purpose of this guide is to help everyone to be aware that, how we treat other members within the club, shapes and defines the Club. No matter what level of skill, whether you are playing for recreation or competitively, keeping these guidelines in mind will help everyone to have a more enjoyable, and safe time.
ETIQUETTE
Socializing – Socializing and having fun are encouraged as part of the DDPC Pickleball community. Where possible, congregate together when not on court. Mobile phone use during sessions is discouraged. In the Pickleball setting, it is anti-social. Apologize to fellow participants if you MUST use your mobile device and go OUTSIDE the venue to conduct your non-pickleball activities.
Harassment & Vilification – Sexual harassment or objectification will not be tolerated. Nor will any vilification based on race or gender. Any such proven instance may result in membership cancelation.
Positive recognition – Acknowledging great Pickleball play is always welcome … and is encouraged.
Roles – The successful conduct of Pickleball sessions depends on participants playing their roles. If ALL participants understand and play their role, sessions will be ‘uneventful’ in a positive sense. The Pickleball will be what shines. The roles are clear and simple and can be described as follows:
- Players, play;
- Hosts, host;
- Coaches, coach.
In ALL circumstances, any grievance should be addressed to the Committee or President AFTER the session. This ensures that the matter can be evaluated, and remedied if necessary, in a calm, professional manner.
Introduce yourself – Once on the court for a game, acknowledge the other players and introduce yourself if you don’t know the other players. Call players by name during the game.
Court Play: rotating in – Normally, rotation is done with longest waiting player(s) entering open courts first. Some formats vary, but all players should understand the format rules and be ready.
If you are waiting to play and you are next up, make sure you are ready to play when the next opportunity presents. Do not dally getting onto court. Socializing is an important part of our club, but if you are not ready to play this can be frustrating for other players.
Announce the score – Please announce the score, clearly and loudly, and gain acknowledgement that it is correct before serving the ball – EVERY TIME. It is both a rule & etiquette … and helps to reduce conflict on the courts.
Line calls – Line calls are ONLY MADE by the team on the side where the ball landed. If the players on the side where the ball landed disagree (or both are unsure), the decision goes in favor of the other team. In ALL other circumstances, positive line calls made by the team on the side where the ball landed, will prevail.
Returning a dead ball – If you return a ball to your opponent or your partner for service, please either 1) hand it to them directly; 2) “bounce” it to them; or 3) identify who it is going to, make eye contact, and hit as accurately to them as you can so they don’t have to go chasing the ball. Do not kick it under the net, across the court, or hit it indiscriminately. The same rules apply if a ball enters your court from another court. Do not kick it or roll it to the other court or hit it indiscriminately.) identify who it is going to, make eye contact, and hit as accurately to them as you can. Respect the players and the game.
Friendly Banter/Language – Some players like to have friendly banter during a game, but please ‘read the room’ (NO foul language & ensure that any banter is two-way). If you begin to banter with a player and they do not respond … STOP (even if you have had fun banter with that player in the past). People are not constants. Under no circumstances is it polite to trash talk, goad or do anything to distract your opponents during a game.
Advice & Instruction – Many players appreciate advice from players who are more advanced. Many will actively seek such advice. DO NOT give advice or instruction to another player during or after a game unless it is asked for. Some DDPC sessions will be conducted with Advanced Players present for the express purpose of providing guidance and development. Players can approach the designated Advance Player at those sessions and request to play alongside that Advanced Player and receive on-court feedback. In game play within these designated sessions, it is appropriate to ensure that the opponents are made aware of this special circumstance. In short, be helpful where you can, if asked.
End of Game - At the game’s finish, approach the net and acknowledge/thank your fellow players. Move off the court and if you must cross another court, do so quickly. Note: the game is NOT over until the ball you were playing with, is in hand. The point and the game may be over, but that ball is still a hazard until it is in your hand. Do not just paddle tap and walk away.
Last Teams/Game Standing - If you are the last players leaving the pickleball venue, please make sure that balls are collected and put away, and that the courts are left neat & tidy.
SAFETY
Stretch - Stretch before and after playing, it helps to minimize injuries.
Hydration - This is so important in our climate … drink plenty of water before, during and after you play. Drink before you are thirsty. If you see someone who displays signs of dizziness, weakness or lack of concentration ask them if they are OK. Help other players to make smart decisions for their own welfare.
One more game - Do not overplay your current physical condition. Be self-aware and do not be cajoled by others. “Come on, one more game” … can cause avoidable injury.
Wet Courts - Do not play on wet courts … courts can get slippery and therefore dangerous when wet.
Runaway Ball – If your ball strays onto another court during play, you should immediately call, “BALL” (loudly, as some of us have difficulty hearing voices over the background noise.) Even if you’re in the middle of the best rally in the world and you hear “BALL!” STOP PLAY. This is a safety issue. You’ll be in other great points, but not if you’re injured.
Entering/Exiting/Passing thru Courts – Entering, exiting, or passing through court(s) should ONLY be done during breaks between points, not during play. Requesting permission or announcing your actions is a practical courtesy.
Lobs and overheads - When going backwards for a lob, turn and run back, DON’T TRACK BACKWARDS. This is a primary source of falls and concussions which can be avoided. Any more than a couple of shuffle steps to prepare for an overhead is too much. Do not attempt to ‘smash’ off-balance. In circumstances where one player is significantly more agile than another, the more agile player should agree with their partner to cover all lobs.
Do not dive for balls or overexert – Do NOT dive for any shot. Do not run into a wall/fence, run into the net, run unwarily into your partner, or run onto another court in the follow-thru of a shot or in order to retrieve a ball.
Falls - If someone falls on the court, ALL PLAY STOPS, until their needs have been assessed. The session host will know where a First aid kit is located. If a medical emergency is determined, call 911 and advise the session host immediately. AFTER all assistance has been provided to the participant/member, the President and/or secretary should be notified
GOOD SPORTSMANSHIP
Many of the guidelines listed above fall into being a “good sport” on the courts. Here are additional examples of displaying good sportsmanship on the Pickleball court during social play:
- Play your strongest game against equal or better opponents, focus on developing your skills if your opponents are obviously less advanced in skill level. Examples include, practicing placement, practicing difficult or low percentage (non-aggressive) shots, deliberately putting yourself in difficult positions on court from which to recover;
- If you are in a game with opponents where one player is more advanced than another, don’t avoid hitting the ball to the more advanced player. They are wanting to play too and playing to them will challenge your skills!
- The opposite is true as well, if you have a less advanced player in the game, always give them an opportunity to do their best. Advanced players (3.5 and above), in recognition of their DDPC grading, are obliged to facilitate rallies and promote the DDPC game style when choosing to play in any session designated 3.0 or below.
DUTY OF LOYALTY
Detrimental activities or behaviors
Members shall not engage in any venture, transaction, or behavior, that might be detrimental to the activities and reputation of the Didsbury and District Pickleball Club. For the elimination of doubt, a member should self-report any potential conflict of interest, or aberrant behavior, to the President in writing so that the matter can be considered, documented, and the appropriate advice given.
Social Media & Public Commentary
Members shall refrain from making comments in public forums e.g. Facebook, Instagram etc. that denigrate the sport of Pickleball, the Club, or the Associations that DDPC are affiliated with (Pickleball Alberta & Canada Pickleball). Members are encouraged to raise concerns through the Club Committee. We accept that there will always be differences of opinion, but club membership requires respect for the welfare of the collective. We welcome open dialogue and encourage, ‘the right conversations with the right people’.
Membership is a privilege and should be respected.