Drop-In Play Court Rules

Purpose

To provide groups of four or fewer PebbleCreek homeowners / renters and their guests the opportunity to find pick-up games with others of similar skill levels.

Court Organization

• Courts are labeled by skill level.

• Courts will have a paddle box designated for specific skill levels.

• Paddle boxes will have a band that may be used to indicate the next player group.

• There may be multiple courts assigned to a single paddle box.

• Singles, drilling and ball machine use:

  • Are only allowed if there are vacant Drop-in courts.

  • Drilling and ball machine use must cease immediately if new players arrive.

  • Singles players are allowed to complete their game if new players arrive.

• Court priority order:

  • Club events take precedence.

  • Leveled Drop-in play.

  • All other Drop-in play.​

Paddle Placement

• Paddles are organized in groups of four in the paddle boxes.

• Once paddles are in the box:

  • No substitutions are allowed.

  • If a player withdraws and their paddle is removed, all players move forward one position in the queue.

  • Paddles may not be moved forward to form preferred groups.

• 1 player = 1 paddle (no holding spots for others).

Game Rotation

• Games are played to 11, win by 1 using traditional scoring.

• Once a game is completed:

  • If no paddles are waiting in the paddle box, players are not required to leave the court and may continue playing.

  • If players leave their court, that court is now considered vacant.

  • Players may place their paddles back in the box at the end of the queue.

• Drop-in courts may be used for Open Play, however:

• They may only be used if no paddles are waiting in the paddle box.

• All four Open Play players must be present to play.

• Drop-in courts may be used for singles play, drilling or ball machine use if the court is vacant with no paddles waiting.

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Player Rotation

• Paddle order, not proximity to the court, determines which group plays next.

• The band may be used to indicate the next group to play.

• When a court opens up, the paddles are distributed to the four players going on the court.

• If fewer than four paddles are waiting when a group finishes:

  • One or some of the players who have just finished may rotate into the group going onto the court.

  • Remaining players may put their paddles into the paddle box.

• If there are fewer than four paddles in the paddle box:

  • New / arriving players must merge into existing groups.

  • Mixed-level games are allowed.

  • Playing up is allowed if space permits.

• If a Drop-in court is being used by singles players or for drilling and new players arrive (placing their paddles in the paddle box):

  • Singles players may complete their game and then vacate the court.

  • Players drilling or using ball machines must vacate the court immediately.

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General Etiquette

• Be considerate of your fellow players.

• Player should typically play at their own level or lower.

• Players should only play up one level if at all possible.

• If fewer than four same-leveled players are waiting to play:

  • Mixed-level games are allowed.

  • Playing up is allowed if space permits.

• No group should dominate a court at the expense of others:

  • If a game is exceptionally long, consider changing to rally scoring.

  • Players waiting for full groups at their level should consider joining the next-best suitable level.

• If a court is available and no players are waiting:

  • Players with a different skill level than indicated may play on that court.

  • If players with the appropriate skill level for that court arrive, players should leave that court when their game is completed.

• Bags should be placed outside the courts. If hung, please fasten low on fence.

 

Q&A

Question: I’m playing with a group of four players, our game is completed but there are less than four paddles waiting in the paddle box. Do we have to split up ?

Answer:   Yes. Players should rotate into the group of players that are waiting.

 

Question: We are a group of 3 players of the same level, waiting to play. A player at a lower level wants to paddle in and play. Is that allowed ?

Answer: Yes. Playing up is allowed in this case.

 

Question: There is a vacant Drop-in court and no paddles waiting. Can my partner and I play singles ?

Answer: Yes, under certain conditions. If new players arrive and place their paddles in the box, you may complete your game and leave the court. You cannot play singles again until a vacant court becomes available again.

 

Question: Can players use Drop-in courts for Open Play ?

Answer: Yes, under certain conditions. If there are vacant Drop-in courts, Open Play players can use these courts, however, if Drop-in players arrive and place their paddles in the box, they must leave the court at the game’s completion. If there are paddles already waiting in the box, players would have to merge into that group.

 

Question: I see a vacant Drop-in court, can I “hold” it for Open Play while I wait for the other players to arrive ?

Answer: No. If using a vacant Drop-in court for Open Play all four players must be renters and their guests to play amongst themselves.​