Court & Club Rules

Paddle Line Etiquette

1. When you come off the court after your game put your paddles at the end of the paddle line. Four on, Four off or Two on, Two off during low court usage. Players are strongly encouraged to play within your skill level ability.

2. Paddles must always be placed at the end of the line.

3. You may put your paddles down as a single paddle, two stacked paddles, or four stacked paddles. Two stacked indicates you want to play partners with the other paddle owner, while four stacked paddles indicates four players who wish to play together.

4. Players may not stack their paddle with someone else’s without that player’s permission.

5. Players may only stack paddles at the end of the line. If you want to stack with players further along in the line, they must bring their paddles back to the end of the line to be stacked.

6. Those stacking paddles will give up line position to allow four unstacked paddles to proceed to an empty court if there are one to three paddles in front of the stacked paddle.

7. If you are a single paddle and do not wish to play with a particular group you may ask the owner of the next single paddle in the rotation to take your place.

Guest/Visitor Policy

FOR ALL OPEN PLAY:

The Sterling Grove Pickleball Club (the Club) organizes play within the Sterling Grove community exclusively for Club members. Through an agreement with the Sterling Grove Golf + Country Club Management, the Club has exclusive access to 8 of the 9 courts from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday through Sunday. Non-members are welcome to use the remaining court at any time of the day. Court usage outside of Club scheduled play is subject to Sterling Grove Golf + Country Club Management policy and unaccompanied visitors are not allowed access to any court without prior consent of the Sterling Grove Golf + Country Club Management.

The Club allows guests of members or visitors to the area to participate in play as follows:

Guests: A guest is a player who is a temporary visitor staying within the community. Members may bring a guest(s) for Club OPEN PLAY provided the guest signs a liability waiver. Guests are not eligible to participate in other organized play. There are no charges for guests.

Visitors: A visitor to the courts is a non-resident who is associated with a Club member household. A member may invite a visitor(s) to play (no more than 6 players per member household) during non-club scheduled time providing the visitor(s) completes a liability waiver. Guests are not eligible to participate in other organized play. There is no charge for visitor play.

Open Play

FOR ALL OPEN PLAY: Regular & Skill Level

When players are waiting to play and courts are full:

Four players will play a game to eleven points and then vacate the court they just played on. If four or more new players are waiting, all players will relinquish the court for four new players and continue the process. If there are only two players waiting, a 2-on/2-off scenario can be used.

Players waiting, are suggested to line up paddles in a group of four, to determine who is next to play on the next court. Stacking paddles indicates that those players are choosing to play together. As players exit the court they should insert paddles at the end of the line. When stacking paddles, placement in line is determined by the last paddle stacked. All players waiting to play should be ready to enter courts as a group.

When players ARE NOT waiting to play and there are available empty courts:

Four players will play a game to eleven points. If no other players are waiting to play, the same four players may continue to play another game. If new waiting players are present, the waiting players have priority for court access. We encourage players to meet new people, introduce themselves and mix up play when possible

Skill Level Drop In Play

How It Works:

Players don't need to sign up, just "drop-in" anytime during the scheduled time period and put your paddle in the rack. There are 5 different SGPC skill level drop-in play time periods: 2.0, 2.5, 3.0, 3.5 and 4.0+ (see posted schedule).

Players must participate in the appropriate skill level.
If you are unsure of your skill level you can ask to be rated, watch for scheduled rating sessions to sign up. You must play at your designated SGPC Skill Level as per the "membership roster" located under the Membership tab on the SGPC website. New SGPC members can use their current USAPA rating for initial entry. Existing SGPC members must go through the rating process and receive a higher rating to move up levels.
You can only play at one skill level.

Players may stack paddles during Skill Level Drop In.

Round Robin Play

A “Round Robin” is structured form of play for club members and organized by SGPC skill level. It is designed so that all players are playing against people of roughly equal ability, which makes play the most fun and reasonably competitive.

You must play at your designated SGPC Skill Level as per the "membership roster" located under the Membership tab on the SGPC website. New SGPC members can use their USAPA rating for initial entry if current (within a 24 month window). Existing SGPC members must go through the rating process and receive a higher rating to move up levels.

Round Robins are played over a two-hour time span. When more than 19 players are present games will be set at 10 minutes each. There is a 4.0+, 3.5, 3.0, 2.5 & 2.0 & Women's round robin. Participants in the 4.0+, 3.5, 3.0, 2.5, 2.0 and Women's ladders should play in the corresponding 4.0+, 3.5, 3.0, 2.5, 2.0 or Women's round robin. Women's round robin is open to all levels.

Skill levels:

4.0+ = 4.0 and above

3.5 = 3.5 and above

3.0 = 3.0 and above

2.5 = 2.5 and above

2.0 = 2.0 and above

Women's = All skill levels

Players can play on only one Round Robin 4.0+, 3.5, 3.0, 2.5, 2.0 or Women's. Players must play within their SGPC skill level in the numeric round robins.

In the two hours allocated to each Round Robin you will play eight games, each with a different partner and against a different pair of opponents. When you arrive, you will be assigned a number. Your number remains yours throughout the session and dictates which court you play on, with whom you are playing as a partner, and against which opponents. Your Round Robin Captain will help you get started with this. A Round Robin Captain is present at every Round Robin. Please arrive no later than fifteen minutes before the Round Robin is scheduled to start.

There is no limit to participating players that arrive before play begins and sign in.

Players may team up with another player and split play between the eight games. Both players must be signed up (side by side) and in attendance at the start of round robin play. One or both players must be in attendance for the entire duration of the round robin.

After each game, you will play with a new partner and against new opponents. By the end of eight games you will have played with eight different partners and against different opponent combinations. You may have a one or more “byes” (where you sit out for a game) if there is an uneven number of players or more than 16 players signed up.

Code of Conduct

1. All persons must conduct themselves in a civil and courteous manner at all times and must not jeopardize or interfere with the rights and privileges of others.

2. Loud, profane indecent or abusive language is prohibited.

3. Verbal harassment or physical abuse of any person by another is prohibited.

4. No person’s actions shall compromise the safety of another. All persons using the Pickleball courts shall obey all safety and SGPC rules.

Abusive use of the equipment and facilities located in and around the Pickleball courts is prohibited.

Disciplinary Policy

All members of Sterling Grove Pickleball Club must abide by the SGPC rules and Code of Conduct approved by the SGPC Executive Board and all Sterling Grove HOA rules and policies.

If a violation of the SGPC Code of Conduct occurs, the SGPC Executive Board, via quorum, will decide appropriate action, if needed, in the following circumstances:

The member(s) has/have failed to abide by the SGPC Code of Conduct.
The member(s) has/have purposely disrupted meetings or functions in a way that is not appropriate.
The member(s) has/have caused harm to any SGPC members or Club.
The member(s) has/have failed to abide by Sterling Grove HOA rules.

Violations must be submitted in writing and authenticity maybe verified by witnesses when possible.

The identified member(s) shall be affected by the following disciplinary action:

After review, discussion and majority vote in favor of a disciplinary action, the SGPC Executive Board will email a letter to the affected member(s) issuing a warning, or if necessary, an immediate 30, 60, or 90 day suspension of SGPC scheduled play. A copy of the letter will also be forwarded to the Sterling Grove Homeowners Association.
If multiple offenses occur the SGPC Executive Board will recommend removal from SGPC and all Sterling Grove Pickleball court privileges to the Sterling Grove Homeowners Association.

All copies of the documentation will be filed electronically and manually to ensure precise and accurate reporting in all situations concerning disciplinary action.

Approved: February 15, 2021

Court & Club Rules and Procedures