Welcome to Niguel Shores Pickleball
Our Mission Statement
“Our Mission is to create a friendly and safe environment in Niguel Shores where beginners and veterans are treated equally, sportsmanship is more important than wins and losses, competition is strong, but not relentless and where people are more important than the game.”
Drop-in versus Organized play:
There are no pickleball court reservations in Niguel Shores. Instead, there are specific “drop-in” play and
“organized” play hours. You must always be present when you have guests playing.
Drop-in play is a “show up and play doubles ” kind of system with no planning needed and a rack system is used to mix players after each game.
Please try to schedule guests during organized play hours rather than the popular drop-in hours in order to give residents priority.
As a common courtesy during drop-in play, the two strongest players should separate and play on opposite sides. Please use common sense and common courtesy if there is a mismatch in skill level. For instance, work on your softer “placement shots” if you are playing against less skilled opponents.
Organized Play occurs during NON-DROP-IN times and is when you plan ahead and contact players for singles or doubles at a specific time. If you want to play with specific partners or groups, you should schedule during organized play.
Four-On/ Four Off policy
During drop-in or organized play, when there are four or more players waiting to play, the “four-on, four- off” policy is in effect. All four players exit the court when their game ends and the next four players start
their game. Also, during organized play, singles players and players working on technique may play for
15-minute segments (similar to the length of a game) and then must rotate off. They may rotate back on when another game ends.
Hours: Since daylight hours change during the year, the courts always close at 7:00 p.m. or dusk, whichever comes first. Sundays are the one exception; on this day the courts close at 3:00 p.m.
Drop-in Play: M/W/F/Sat: 9-11 a.m. & Wed: 4-7 p.m.
Organized Play: M/W/F/Sat: 8-9 a.m. & 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
Wed: 8-9 a.m. & 11 a.m.-4 p.m. T/Th: 8 a.m.-7 p.m.
Sun: 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
How to use the gold/silver rack:
This rack is used during drop-in play to randomly select foursomes. There are two sides to the rack; one is painted gold and the other silver.
When you first arrive, place your paddle on either side (usually the side with fewer paddles). Place it in the empty slot next in line. When you have finished playing a game, all four players exit the court and the next four begin based on the position of the red marker, which alternates between gold and silver
sides. To re-enter the rotation for another game, the winners put their paddles next in line on the gold side and the losers put their paddles next in line on the silver side. Again, the red marker alternates and is switched back and forth to determine which side plays next.
General pickleball etiquette:
• When you open a gate, close the gate (never leave any gate open).
• Wait for play to stop before entering the pickleball courts.
• When waiting to play, sit or stand as far away from play as possible.
• The server announces the score (loudly enough to be heard) before each serve.
• You are in charge of all line calls on YOUR side of the court. If in doubt, the ball is
“in.” (Note: spectators should not make line calls unless invited to do so).
• Retrieve your ball on an adjacent court after their play has ended.
• Call “ball on” when it is dangerous for the other court to continue (i.e., they might step on the ball). However, if there is no danger, let their play continue and say nothing until their rally ends.
• During drop-in play, don’t “target” the weaker player (the stronger player wants to play too!).
• You don’t need to apologize for wanting to win, but keep winning in perspective.
• Tap paddles (like shaking hands) at the end of your game.
Information provided by the NS Pickleball Steering Committee
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