Pickleball Open Play Rules

Updated December 13, 2024

Which Court Should I Play On? Advanced and Beginner Courts

• Courts 1–4: For Advanced Players.
• Courts 5 & 6: For Beginner Players.
• When paddle racks for either Advanced or Beginner Courts are empty, designating that no one is in line/waiting to play, those open courts may be used by anyone freely until someone gets in line.

How Do I Get in Line? Paddle Racks

• Players waiting to play on the next open court should place their paddle in the next open spot on a paddle rack to designate their place in line.
  • Only 1 paddle per player in a rack at a time.

How Do We Rotate? Open Play Rotation

• All players (winners and losers) come off the court at the completion of each game.
• To get back in line, players place their paddle in the next open spot on a paddle rack.
• Next Players Up: When a game on a court ends, all players vacate and the court becomes available to the next set of either 2 players (singles play) or 4 players (doubles play) in the designated rack.
• Beginner Court Paddle Rack
  • There is 1 paddle rack for Beginner Courts.
  • Winners and losers place their paddles in the same rack.
  • 2 players wanting to play together as a doubles team in the next game should place their paddles next to each other.
• Advanced Court Paddle Racks
  • There are 2 paddle racks for Advanced Courts (Winners' Rack and Losers' Rack):
    • Winners' Rack: For the players who just won a game.
    • Losers' Rack: For the players who just lost a game.
      • On a given day, players entering the rotation should begin by placing their paddles in next open spots on the Losers' rack.
    • 2 players wanting to play together as a doubles team in the next game should place their paddles next to each other.
• Rotation Marker: A rotation marker alternates between the Winner's and Loser's Racks indicating which set of 4 players (or 2 players if playing singles rather than doubles) are up next on the next open court.
  • The rotation marker should be moved to the alternate rack after the start of each new game.

Court Etiquette

• Follow the open play rotation rules so everyone gets to have fun.
• Be respectful to other players.
• Pickleball is a game and should be fun – don't take it so seriously.
• Treat all equipment, including paddle racks and nets, with care. Report any damages to the Recreation Department.
• Limit warm up time to keep games moving.
• No arguing or altercations are permitted. There is no trophy to be won here.