The Centre Drop-In Notes

The drop-in sessions at The Centre, 9-11am weekdays, is friendly recreational pickleball for all levels. Having fun is a priority over winning (but winning is fun). Don't get mad, get even!

General

Be patient with new players.
Newbies should be familiar with how the game is played and most of the rules. Start here.
Try to play with as many different partners and opponents as you can.
But if you have a partner you'd like to practice with that can usually be accommodated.
First serve is from the wall side. No one knows why. In the large gym, first serve is on side closest to the original courts.
Games are usually to 11 win by 2 unless > 1 players are waiting, then 9 win by 2. If 8 or more are waiting, 9 win by 1.
We observe the USA Pickleball Rules, but sometimes a little slack for newbies is appropriate.
Balls are provided. Bring your own paddle. If you forget it, many players bring a spare and there may be some loaner paddles at the desk.
All games are friendly games! Smile.

The Signup List

Although not officially required by The Centre, you are strongly encouraged to sign up for the Drop-In sessions. This page should forward you to the current week's page. Several reasons to sign up include:

It is good to know there are enough players for a game, which is often not the case in warm weather.
If there are many players, some might pick a different day to play.
If there are too many players, then nobody gets a good amount of court time, but have paid for it.

In addition:

Please remove yourself from the list if it turns out you can't make it, so someone else can sign up.
If your availability is a last minute thing, feel free to come in if it isn't full. But when you come and play when it is full you are taking court time away from those that did sign up and who might have picked a different day.

SignUpGenius Notes

You will find it convenient to make an account. At the end of 2023, it started remembering your login (on the same browser), so that helps a lot.
Changing or deleting your sign-up is easier if it was made with a login.
On a phone browser, picking the "Desktop site" can make the list of players easier to see.

Registration

The Centre requires an online registration so they know who you are in case of an emergency. On their home page, click on Account to make and account and then enter your contact information. Doing that ahead of your first arrival will save time checking in.

Payment

Pay at the desk when you walk in. It is $8 for the 2-hour session.
Credit cards are accepted.
Log in here to buy 10 or 24 passes for a discount. $75 for 10 ($7.50 per session); 24 for$168 ($7 per session). Just give your name on arrival.
If you play in the drop-in time 9-11 AND the reserved court time 11-1, you are expected to pay for two sessions.
Note for 2025: they are looking into the possibility of accepting Fit On Health credits.

Rotation

When there are more players than courts (more than 28), we try to rotate out/in in an orderly manner so everyone gets a similar playing time. If less than 28, then just try to play your next game with someone different.

If less than 8 are waiting, play "2 out and 2 in". Meaning if you have played two games in a row you are out. If everyone has played the same number of games, winners stay and split and the second-place team is out.
If 8 or more are waiting, all 4 are out and the next 4 are in.
When there are more than 3 or 4 waiting, the "paddle stack" cart can be used to determine who goes in next.
Also, if it is croweded we may go to Rally Scoring.

The Paddle Stack Rack

When you come out, put your paddle in the back of the line.

If there are many out, there may be two lines or columns, one for the winning players and one for the "second place team". This helps mix up players.

In such a case (8 or more out), we are usually playing "4 out / 4 in".

Use an old ball to indicate which column the next 4 players come out of. When the 4 paddle owners are found, move the remaining paddles up and move the "next column" marker to the other column.

If you need a break, don't put your paddle in the rack until you are ready to play.

Confusing? Someone there will know how it should work.

Walking On and Off The Court

When going onto a court to play, don't walk behind an active game; wait until the rally is over.

On a busy day, and when no one is using the playing field, we may have one or two "portals", usually between courts 2 and 3 and between 3 and 4. It's just a bungee cord holding up the divider nets so you can duck through.

You may walk onto the field and out through one of the portals to get to your court with less disturbance to ongoing games.

When leaving a court, reverse the procedure, but do turn and walk forward.

Next Group Early?

If some players for the next session are early, and you need a player or two to make a four, you may invite them to play. Or if there are one or more empty courts they can of course start warming up.

But if there are players who paid for the 9-11 session waiting to play, next session players should wait until 11:00.

Quitting Time!

When 11:00 comes around:

If players for the next session are waiting to play, vacate the court immediately. They have paid for the time.
But if there are free courts for those coming in, you may finish your game.
Take the portal bungee cords down and put them in the cart.
Put all the balls in the basket or bucket if no one is playing the next session. The pickleball nets should be left up and out.
Be sure you sign up for the next day!