Pickleball

Drop in Pickleball

Drop in open Pickleball

Open to ages 19+ and all levels during designated times. This is a drop-in opportunity where you can reserve seven days ahead to book a spot. You only pay for a one-time play. 

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Registered Pickleball (levels 0.5 to 3.5) and Instructional Pickleball

Register for indoor Pickleball (levels 0.5 to 3.5+)

This is a registered program where you can sign up for entire session of pickleball to play for consecutive weeks. Play level is indicated and players must play to level advertised. You must register and pay for the entire session to play.

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What level am I  - self evaluation

All registered programs follow a progression according to skill level. Identify the level that suits your abilities best. You will need to determine your skill level in order to fit into a program.

Pickleball Adult 19+ and Adult 55+

The City of Burlington is offering registered pickleball programs for players of all levels - from those new to the sport, returning after injury, beginner and recreational intermediate players who enjoy fast, agile game play. Identify the level that suits your abilities best. Instructors and staff are happy to assist. Advanced players who choose to play in programs designed for less advanced players will be asked to play down to the program level advertised in all cases.

What level am I?

All Pickleball programs are organized by player skill level. We recommend that you determine your skill level in order to fit into a program that is suited to your learning needs. Find the level from 1.0-5.0 which aligns with most of your skills. As a guide, most recreational players will rank in the 1.0-2.0 levels due to speed, accuracy, consistency and agility requirements. 2.0-3.0 levels will be for very capable recreational players. 3.0-4.0 are highly effective, fast and agile players able to position the ball consistently, while 4.5 and 5.0 levels are highly proficient trained athletes often able to compete at a regional, provincial or national level.

What if I choose the wrong level?

No problem! Our staff and instructors will help you through any class which is a little too demanding for your skill level, and will suggest a better program fit for you moving forward. Our goal is to keep learning challenging and playing fun, instructors may alter drills to meet your skills. More advanced players who choose to remain in programs that are designed for less advanced players will be asked to play down to the program level advertised in all cases.

What level am I?

Level 1.0

• New and have no to minimal knowledge of the game and the rules.

Level 1.5

• Able to rally some times.
• Learning how to serve.
• Developing a forehand.
• May fail to return easy balls frequently and occasionally misses the ball entirely.
• Played a few games and is learning the court lines, scoring, and some basic rules of the game.

Level 2.0

• Sustains a short rally with players of equal ability.
• Demonstrates the basic shot strokes – forehand, backhand, volley, overhead and the serve, but may have obvious weaknesses in strokes.
• Familiar with court positioning in doubles play.

Level 2.5

• Makes longer lasting slow-paced rallies.
• Makes most easy volleys and uses some backhands, but needs more work on developing shot strokes.
• Beginning to approach the non-volley zone to hit volleys.
• Aware of the “soft game.”
• Knowledge of most rules of play.
• Court coverage still requires improvement

Level 3.0

• More consistent on the serve, service return and when returning medium-paced balls.
• Demonstrates improved skills with all basic shot strokes and shot placement but lacks control when trying for direction, depth, or power on their shots.
• Beginning to attempt lobs and dinks with some success but may not fully understand
• when and why they should be used.

Level 3.5

• Demonstrates improved stroke dependability with directional control on most medium- paced balls and some faster-paced balls.
• Demonstrates improved control when trying for direction, depth and power on their shots.
• Needs to develop variety with their shots.
• Exhibits some aggressive net play.
• Beginning to anticipate opponent’s shots.
• Learning about the importance of strategy and teamwork in doubles.

Level 4.0

• Consistent and dependable strokes, including directional control and depth on both forehand and backhand shots.
• Reliable serves, lobs, overheads, approach shots and volleys and can use spin shots with some success.
• Occasionally can force errors when serving.
• Rallies may be lost due to impatience.
• Uses the dink shot and drop shots to slow down or change the pace of the game.
• Demonstrates 3rd shot strategies – drop shots, lobs, and fast-paced ground strokes.
• Aggressive net play and teamwork in doubles is evident.
• Fully understands the rules of the game and can play by them consistently

Level 4.5

• Beginning to master the use of power and spin, can successfully execute all shots, can control the depth of their shots, and can handle pace.
• Beginning to master the dink shots and drop shots and their importance to the game.
• Beginning to master 3rd shot choices.
• Displays sound footwork and moves well enough to get to the non-volley zone whenever required.
• Understands strategy and can adjust style of play and game plan according to the opponent’s strengths and weaknesses and court position.
• Serves with power and accuracy and can also vary the speed and spin of the serve.
• Understands the importance of “keeping the ball in play” and the effect of making errors.
• Making good choices in shot selection.
• Anticipates the opponent’s shots resulting in good court positioning.

Level 5.0

• Has mastered all skills – all shot types, touch, spin, serves, with control and can use them as weapons.
• Excellent shot anticipation, extremely accurate shot placement and regularly hits winning shots.
• Forces opponents into making errors by “keeping the ball in play.”
• Mastered the dink and drop shots.
• Mastered the 3rd shot choices and strategies.
• Uses soft shots, dinks and lobs to set up offensive situations.
• Mastered pickleball strategies and can vary strategies and styles of play in competitive or tournament matches.
• Dependable in stressful situations as in tournament match play.
• Athletic ability, quickness, agility, and raw athleticism are also qualities that are sometimes what separates the top players from those near the top.

Please note that it is not the role of staff members to police appropriate court behavior. It is the expectation that all players agree to the following guidelines and self-regulate to ensure compliance. Staff will monitor issues, and ask players not adhering to guidelines to remove themselves from the program if they contravene etiquette rules of play. Repeated incidents will result in enforcement of the City of Burlington Zero Tolerance Policy.

1. Recreational Play programs allow for a range of skills to join in, enabling players to be challenged and to develop. Remember to welcome all skill levels to the court and to be patient and supportive with players of differing abilities. Attending the appropriate level of play creates a fun, challenging and safe play environment. If a player is attending a program that matches their skill level, more advanced players are asked to continue to play respectfully to their opponent’s level. This provides both the opponent and the more skilled player appropriate challenge by focusing on changing shots, practicing ball placement and returns.
2. Players who have overestimated their skills and attend the wrong level of Recreational Play, will have no recourse when they are quickly outplayed. Players who are more advanced than the program they are attending will be required to play to the advertised skill level.
3. Staff can refer players who are not demonstrating required skills for the program they are attending, to the What Level am I self-evaluation and direct them to more suitable Recreational Play times if necessary. We ask all players to respect advertised skill level program times, and to ask for staff to assist them with determining their correct level if necessary.
4. Use appropriate language and be courteous to other players, spectators and staff at all times. Players or spectators whose actions fall into the realm of diva behavior, engage in heated discussions, and/or use inappropriate gestures will be asked to remove themselves from the court immediately. Repeated disruptions of this nature will result in further intervention.
5. Players can decide to adhere to or modify game rules as they see fit. However, all players in the match will need to quickly discuss and agree upon these modifications PRIOR to the start of game play. When rules of play are in question, avoid disagreements cutting into play time. Simply re-serve the point, ask a fellow player or staff for an impartial decision, or request the official IFP Rule Book for reference.
6. Drop-in players arriving at a City of Burlington facility are asked to check-in at the Customer Service Desk. Numbers of drop-in spots available will be indicated on a Sign-in Sheet. If space is available, drop-in players must provide Customer Service staff with a Drop-In ticket or payment, and receive an entry stamp. Drop-in players are asked to stroke a line through their name upon exiting if they leave prior to the end of the program. Players with reserved court-time can proceed to sign in with court-side staff. (Unstaffed Recreational Play: all participants will pay and sign in at Customer Service kiosks.)
7. At the court, whiteboards are available to determine order of play. Place your name on the whiteboard upon arrival. When a court becomes available, call out the names in your group, place a line through your group on the whiteboard and proceed to the court. DO NOT erase the whiteboard, a player’s name, or move a player to another group without permission. Fair partnering and inclusive play will be enforced.
8. Always introduce yourself before every match and shake hands or ‘Paddle Bump” at the conclusion of each match.
9. To prevent any uncertainty in scoring, always call out the score before serving. Ensure scoring calls are loud enough to be heard by all players on your court.
10. Be supportive of your partner. Positive feedback is appreciated.
11. Do your best to make fair line-calls during game-play. Ball calls are decided by the partners on the side that the ball drops. Balls will remain in play and will not be disputed following allocation of the point.
12. To prevent injury to others, call Ball! or Let! when you miss-hit a ball onto a neighbouring court.
13. Do not catch the ball with your hand or paddle anywhere on the court, even if outside court lines. The ball must be given the opportunity to prove it will be out regardless of how obvious.
14. Do not linger on a court before or after you play. Remember others are eager to get as much playing time as possible and will appreciate you freeing the court quickly.
15. In the event of an emergency, Program, Customer Service and Operations staff are all trained in incident response. Participants are able to contact any or all staff members to assist. Staff may be courtside, at Customer Service kiosks, or available by emergency call boxes depending on the program and location. Emergency response signage will be posted in all program spaces adjacent to entrances.