Club Etiquette
Dear SLPC Members,
This message is coming to you from the SLPC Board because we need to be absolutely clear about an issue that affects the fairness, sustainability, and culture of our club.
Every time you play on a court at the Rally House, you must have a CourtReserve booking.
This is not optional. It is your responsibility — whether anyone is watching or not.
CourtReserve Booking Is Your Responsibility — Every Time
All players, regardless of membership type, must book their court time in CourtReserve BEFORE they are playing. This applies to:
- Members with unlimited packages
- Members with limited prepaid packages
- Members paying per play
- Guests of members
- Any 1-hour extensions
- Any play outside your original booking
If you are on a court and not booked, you are playing without authorization.
“I Couldn’t Book” Is Not an Exception
We are hearing too many after-the-fact explanations such as:
- “I forgot my phone”
- “The app wouldn’t work”
- “I didn’t know how”
- “I was already on the court”
- “I thought someone else booked”
These are not exceptions.If you cannot book, then you do not play.
What is not acceptable is playing first and then asking the club to add the charges or ignore the booking requirement.
Membership Types & Charges (No Grey Areas)
All player types already have:
- An active CourtReserve account
- A valid credit card on file
- Clear pricing rules
Everyone must book — including prepaid members.
Warm-Ups and Extensions (Already Communicated)
- Members may warm up on open courts only, for 10 minutes maximum
- Members may complete the final serve if the court is open afterwards
- A 1-hour extension may be added in CourtReserve if a court is open
- Extensions are charged at half of a 2-hour session, based on your membership tier
($5 / $8 / $10)
Why This Matters
SLPC operates on an honour system by design.
We:
- Have no on-site staff
- Keep costs low for everyone
- Rely on members to do the right thing
- Depend on CourtReserve data to manage access fairly
We also have:
- Security cameras
- Software showing booking information
- Very clear visibility when the system is being abused
It is obvious.
Consequences (We Don’t Want Them — But We Will Use Them)
To date, there have been no consequences, and that is exactly where we want to stay.
However, continued abuse leaves the Board with limited options, including:
- Automatic billing corrections
- Restrictions on booking privileges
- Temporary suspensions
- Termination of membership for repeat offenders
We do not want that culture.
We do not want to police members.
But we will protect the club if necessary.
Respect the 95% Who Do This Right
Thank you to the vast majority of our membership who:
- Book every time
- Follow the honour system
- Look out for one another
- Respect the volunteers and Board members who keep this club running
We also want to acknowledge our very dedicated volunteer team and Board, who consistently step in to help solve problems for members — often behind the scenes.
If You’re Struggling With CourtReserve
If your issue is genuinely that you don’t know how, or couldn’t make it work:
Please take ownership.
- Ask for help
- Learn the system
- Reach out respectfully
We will help you — but responsibility remains with the player.
In Closing
This is about fairness, sustainability, and mutual respect.
If you play, you book. Every time.
Thank you for helping SLPC remain the kind of club we are all proud to be part of.
Sincerely,
The SLPC Board of Directors
Sarnia Lambton Pickleball Club Etiquette
a) Remember Pickleball is only a game.
b) Treat all players, officials, volunteers, staff, and spectators with courtesy and respect.
i. Introduce yourself to any players you do not know.
ii. Never use foul/abusive language or obscene gestures. Never degrade another person.
iii. Compliment teammate and opponents on good shots and a good game.
iv. Don’t critique teammates or opponents.
v. At the end of each game, meet the other players at the net to acknowledge them in a positive manner. In officiated matches, thank the referee.
vi. Accommodate players with adaptive needs when possible.
c) Know the Official Rules of Pickleball, apply them fairly and cooperate in any situation that is not expressly covered by the rules.
d) Practice good sportsmanship when making line calls.
i. Only make calls on your own side of the court.
ii. Only call “out” if space is clearly visible between the line and where the ball lands. Give the benefit of doubt to your opponents.
iii. If you and your partner disagree the ball is “in”.
iv. Respect your opponents' right to make all calls on their end of the court.
v. Call your own shot “out” if you see that it is out.
vi. Never ask for or accept line calls from spectators.
vii. If you question an opponent’s call, do so respectfully and do not argue.
viii. If you defer a line call to your opponents, accept their call graciously.
ix. Do not call a ball “out” unless you see it clearly and are certain it is out.
x. Promptly correct any wrong call your partner may make.
xi. Resolve any uncertainty in favor of your opponents.
xii. You may overrule a line call at any time that is to your disadvantage.
e) Call a fault on yourself or your partner as soon as the fault occurs, regardless of whether your opponents are aware of the fault.
i. Watch your own and your partner’s feet for service or NVZ foot faults.
ii. Accept your opponent’s and partner’s fault calls graciously.
iii. Admit if the ball hits you or your paddle on the way out of bounds.
f) Claim a replay only if a hinder affects your team’s ability to play the ball.
g) In social play, rotate on and off courts fairly, courteously, and in accordance with local practice.
i. Don’t jump ahead of others who are waiting to play.
ii. Don’t invite someone else forward in line or rearrange paddles so they can move up to play with you; move yourself back instead.
iii. Don’t call a lower score or start a second game to avoid leaving the court.
iv. Be prepared to play when it is your turn.
v. Leave the court when your timeslot ends even if in the middle of a game.
vi. If you must cross over or behind an active court, wait until play is stopped and cross quickly in a single group to minimize disruption of that game.
h) Make safety a priority, while using common sense.
i. If a ball strays onto your court, make eye contact with the correct person and roll or toss it back to them without disrupting play on other courts.
ii. If your ball enters another court, immediately warn any players whose safety may be in jeopardy by loudly calling “ball” or some other warning. If the ball is rolling behind their court and does not present a danger to players, do not interrupt play but wait until play stops to retrieve it or ask for its return.iii. Never throw your paddle or strike the ball in anger or frustration.
i) As a stronger player in social play, be kind to other players.
i. Avoid hitting excessively to a weaker player.
ii. Do not slam the ball directly at other players.
iii. Avoid taking advantage of a person’s physical ability.
j) Be considerate about playing up and playing down.i. Be willing to play sometimes with less-skilled players.ii. Do not demand to play with more skilled players; ask them nicely if you wish to play with them.
k) Be a respectful and supportive partner.i. Avoid criticism and negative non-verbal communications.ii. Don’t critique a partner.iii. Do not coach during game or from sideline. Provide coaching and advice only when requested.