[douga]

Last year while in The Villages, I remember seeing some information about playing Pickleball. I think it may have been in the recreation news but I am not sure. There were quidelines or rules that had to be followed before you were allowed to play and also they offered a course like Pickleball 101 etc if I remember correctly.

Can anyone direct me to a website etc where I might get this information. I have been playing Pickleball for 6 months up here in the North but would like to start playing in the Villages when we return in January.

If anyone can give me any information about playing pickleball in TV I would certainly appreciate all the help I can get.
Thanks

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by douga

Last year while in The Villages, I remember seeing some information about playing Pickleball. I think it may have been in the recreation news but I am not sure. There were quidelines or rules that had to be followed before you were allowed to play and also they offered a course like Pickleball 101 etc if I remember correctly.

Can anyone direct me to a website etc where I might get this information. I have been playing Pickleball for 6 months up here in the North but would like to start playing in the Villages when we return in January.

If anyone can give me any information about playing pickleball in TV I would certainly appreciate all the help I can get.
Thanks

Here are the Recreation Department contacts;
Phone: 352-753-1716
Fax: 352-753-2305
Email Recreation Department RecreationDepartment@districtgov.org

[njbchbum]

the recreation guide can be downloaded here [9 pg pdf document]

hth

[elevatorman]

There are quite a few people who play without the 101 class. Go around to the rec centers in the morning and ask the players if you can get in a game. Most will be happy to let you in.

[jeffy]

douga, I am a member of the Villages PAC ( pickleball advisory committee ). Based on the info that you been playing already for 6 months, the beginner program of 101,102,103 probably are not for you. I would recommend that you look in the thursday local newspaper and see the Rec News. There you will be able to find " beginner open play". The latest Rec News lists the follow for beginner open play:
mondays at hibiscus
thursdays at chula vista
fridays at lake miona
saturdays at churchill
sundays at odell and la hacienda

Players that you would meet at these would be comparable to the average person that has been playing for 6 months. You could talk to them as to where they play in "open play" which is every morning at every pickleball facility from daybreak until 10:00 am.

jeff

[tpop1]

I started playing last year just the way Jeffy suggested.....went to any Beginnner open I could make.

The PAC members would attend once in a while and in the spring suggested a few of us move to open play.

Just showed up at open play each morning and found the level of play compatible.

[douga]

That is great news and just what I was looking for. I will be in the Villages in January for four months and would love to continue playing pickleball. I didn't know how to get started but beginning open times would be a great way to get started. We have been playing twice a week for six months for 4 hours an evening and the skill level has really begun to rise.
I don't want to get into a situation where I join a game and then the level is way above me and it is detrimental to the other players.

Do you just go to these courts and then line up and take your turns playing? I am not sure how the rotation works. I don't want to impose on a foursome that plans on playing a bunch of games as one group.

[tpop1]

Just go out and stand in line....strict rotation usually rules; next 4 in line play! Followed pretty religously.....sometime people will fall back to play with friendsbut never any cuts in line.

[jeffy]

QUOTE "I don't want to get into a situation where I join a game and then the level is way above me and it is detrimental to the other players."

Your best bet is as I explained. Go and play a couple of times at "beginner open play" and talk with the people there as to what centers they usually play at. There are some centers that you may not want to go to until you are at least close to an advanced player. One such place is Lake Miona during the early morning. These are advanced players that would prefer to play against other advanced players. Having a beginner and three advanced players on teh court is no fun for anyone. You WILL be able to play with these players as ANYONE IS ALLOWED AT ANY CENTER , but you may not be embraced with open arms.

I do not know for sure, but logic would tell me that the newer the village, the more likely there are to be more beginner level players to be found at that areas rec center.

jeff

[douga]

Thanks Jeffy. That information is good to know. I just checked the rec guide and did see some open beginners times and when I come down in January that will be a great way to start. May take 102 or 103 classes just to meet people and help improve my strokes.

I will be staying near Cane Gardens so will have to avoid Lake Miona in the mornings. Maybe seabreeze would be a better option for open play in the mornings or late afternoon. Guess it will just have to be trail and error and I am sure it will not be hard to find many players around my level.

Thanks for all your help.