Pickleball

Pickleball Mixer (Beginner to Advanced or All-Levels) 

Games are played to 11 (must win by 2 points), then the team with fewer points rotates out. The winning team stays in and separates so they play with a new partner.  

When you rotate out, place your paddle in the provided rack – this will determine who is up next. Next up is on the right side of the rack OR next up is indicated by a slider if using our slider racks. 

Pickleball Challenge Court

Games are played to 11, win by 2. Winners stay on court to face the next challengers and usually play together unless all four players agree to mix partners. There is no limit to the number of games that winners play consecutively. The “Winner Stays” format rewards winning while keeping play fun and competitive. These challenge court mixers have a designated skill level listed in the event title; lower-level players are welcome to join but should expect more sitting than in a traditional mixer.

Pickleball River Day 

Players self‑select a court based on skill level, with courts arranged from beginner to advanced. Games are played to 11 with a 13‑minute time limit; winners move up the river to a higher court while losers move down. After moving, players split and pair with new partners on their new court. The River format encourages fun, social play while naturally grouping players with similar skill levels as the mixer progresses.

• Please ensure that you are wearing non-marking shoes designed for court use. If you're not sure check with a staff person.
• Water only in a closable container while on the courts (no coffee/sports drinks/food allowed).
• When in the Tennis & Pickleball Center, please be sensitive to others using the facility and keep noise to a minimum, including when walking behind the curtain.
• Please wait in the lobby or outside until the designated start time. Do not enter the court before the scheduled start time.
• There are many different levels of players that participate in our programs, please be welcoming and encouraging to all players. If you prefer to not play with all other players please consider reserving a court for your own use.

• Players are welcome to bring their own pickleball paddles. If you don't have your own paddle, your Y has paddles that you can borrow.
• Players are encouraged to wear athletic attire that allows for easy movement and sneakers or non-marking shoes.
• Tennis shoes or pickleball shoes are recommended as they provide the best stability for side-to-side movement.  
• Please help with the set up and takedown of the pickleball nets and equipment. 

• Players must demonstrate our core values of Caring, Honesty, Respect, and Responsibility at all times.  
• Players are expected to help with the set up and take down of the nets and equipment. 
• Support, compliment and encourage each other. We are a community that shares a passion for a game we love. Make each person's experience the best it can be.  
• The server is expected to announce the score before each serve. This gives the receiving team notice that the serve is about to happen, as well as time to raise their hand to stop service if they hear an incorrect or inaudible score.  
• Players will call the lines on their side of the net. The opponent gets the benefit of the doubt. Any ball that is not a 100% “out” is to be considered 100% “in.” An “out” call must be made quickly, or play will continue with the presumption that the ball was “in.” If partners disagree on a call, they will give the point to the opponents. Do not argue line calls or try to influence calls by your opponents unless asked by them. Remember that you will be remembered much longer for the quality of your character than for winning a game.  
• Do not chase your ball onto an adjacent court while they are playing a point. Ask them to return your ball after the point is complete or retrieve it yourself between their points.  
• If a ball strays onto your court, call “ball” to stop your point (to avoid injury). Retrieve the stray ball and return it to a player on the court from which it came. Replay the interrupted point.  

We hosted a fantastic instructional clinic that was part of our Crunchy Dill Pickleball Tournament. Here is a video showing you how to play the game and get some tips. The video shows an amazing "volley to dink" sequence, the third shot strategy and additional tips to improve your game. 

Many thanks to those who helped assist in hosting the clinic: Steve Paranto, Randy Bither, Joy Leising, Christine Barksdale, Tony Tollenaar and Wes Gabrielson. Also, a thank you to Cory Stores for the video.

Want to learn more? Take a few minutes to watch these two introduction videos.

PICKLEBALL SCORING PICKLEBALL RULES