All courts are restricted to FGGCC members (social and regular) and guests* for “Open Play” from 7:30am to 10:00pm. *Rules for Guests: Guests are typically someone visiting a member and may play with that member. Guests may not be a non-member playing on a regular basis.

No courts can be reserved except for "League Play" and “Beginner Clinics” by designated member instructors.

Open Play

Court availability is controlled by members signing up on the “whiteboard” mounted by the pickleball court gate.  Players entering the court area must sign up on the whiteboard in the next available block (four names per block left to right).  When a court is available, the next team on the whiteboard draws a line through their names and enters the court to play.  Play is limited to ONE 11-point game (games are won by the team reaching 11 points or by a two-point advantage after 11 points).  At the conclusion of that game, the players MUST leave their court but are free to sign up in the next available block on the whiteboard.  This “open play”, which usually takes approximately 15 minutes per game, allows for an equitable rotation of players and should allow us to accommodate more than 50 players per hour.

Notes:

If no one fills in a space or spaces on the block and starts a new block, they MUST wait until the person(s) in the unfilled block play.

Some members feel uncomfortable playing during the open court time especially if they are playing with more skilled players. Recommendations: (1) Sign up as a foursome with people of similar skills. (2) Go to the Wednesday Clinics for beginning players and improve your skills. (3) Play during off hours,

       
 
Summary of basic rules. (for more information go to https://www.usapa.org/)

• Pickleball is played either as doubles (two players per team) or singles; doubles is most common
• The first serve is made by the team closest to the court west entrance gate.
• All serves must be made underhand or a bounce serve by "dropping" the ball.
• Paddle contact with the ball must be below the server’s waist.
• At the beginning of the serve, both feet must be behind the baseline, and the imaginary extensions of the baseline. At the time the ball is struck, at least one foot must be on the playing surface or ground behind the baseline, and the server’s feet may not touch the playing surface in an area outside the confines of the serving area.
• The serve is made diagonally crosscourt and must land within the confines of the opposite diagonal service court. Balls touching the non-volley zone line “kitchen line” are ruled out
• Only one serve attempt is allowed. Let serves the ball touches the net on the serve and lands on the proper service court must be played out.
• Both players on the serving doubles team have the opportunity to serve and score points until they commit a fault *(except for the first service sequence of each new game where only one person on the team serves).
• The first serve of each side-out is made from the right/even court.
• If a point is scored, the server switches sides and the server initiates the next serve from the left/odd court.
• As subsequent points are scored, the server continues switching back and forth until a fault is committed and the first server loses the serve.
• When the first server loses the serve the partner then serves from their side of the court.
• The second server continues serving until a fault is committed. At that point a “side out” is called and the ball goes to the opposing team.
• Once the service goes to the opposition, the first serve is from the right/even court and both players on that team have the opportunity to serve and score points until their team commits two faults.
• In singles the server serves from the right/even court when his or her score is even and from the left/odd when the score is odd.
  • Points are scored only by the serving team.
  • Games are normally played to 11 points, win by 2.
  • Tournament games may be to 15 or 21, win by 2.
  • When the serving team’s score is even (0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10) the player who was the “first server” in the game for that team will be in the right/even court when serving or receiving; when odd (1, 3, 5, 7, 9) that player will be in the left/odd court when serving or receiving.
  • When the ball is served, the receiving team must let it bounce before returning, and then the serving team must let it bounce before returning the ball. (two bounce rule).
  • After the ball has bounced once in each team’s court, both teams may either volley the ball (hit the ball before it bounces) or play it off a bounce (ground stroke).
  • The two-bounce rule eliminates the serve and volley advantage and extends rallies.
  • The non-volley zone (“the kitchen”) is the court area within 7 feet on both sides of the net.
  • Volleying is prohibited within the non-volley zone. This rule prevents players from executing smashes from a position within the zone. Players may enter and hit the ball in the kitchen if the opposing team hits the ball into the kitchen (a dink shot) but the player hitting the ball must exit the kitchen before hitting another shot.
  • It is a fault if, when volleying a ball, the player steps on the non-volley zone, including the line and/or when the player’s momentum causes them or anything they are wearing or carrying to touch the non-volley zone including the associated lines.
• A player may legally be in the non-volley zone if they are not hitting the ball
  • A ball contacting any line, except the non-volley zone line on a serve, is considered “in.”
• A fault is any action that stops play because of a rule violation.
• A fault by the receiving team results in a point for the serving team.
• A fault by the serving team results in the server’s loss of serve or side out

Pickle Ball ~ Levels of Play Guidelines
(For more information concerning levels of play go to https://www.ifpickleball.org/ifp-rating-system/
FGGCC Beginners Players (Level 1.0-2.5)

• New and have only minimal knowledge of the game and the rules.
• Limited to some rallies.
• Learning how to serve.
• Developing a forehand.
• Fails 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.

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

• Makes most easy volleys and uses some backhands, but needs more work on developing shot strokes.
• Beginning to approach the non-volley “kitchen” zone to hit volleys.

FGGCC Intermediate Players (Level 3.0-3.5)
Note: Most players above 3.5 will be looking for higher levels of competition such as that found at the East Naples Park

• More consistent on the serve and service return and when returning medium-paced balls.
• Demonstrates improved skills with all the 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 little success and doesn’t fully understand when and why they should be used.
• 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.

Learning to play! (November-April)

The Club has provided pickleball paddles and balls for our free “Beginner Clinic” instruction so members can just show up after their clinic has been scheduled.  Paddles and balls are available by the Pickleball Courts in the green storage.  Most members after they have decided they are interested in the game will want to purchase a paddle and balls for their regular play.

Our Tennis Professional, Scott Ransome, will schedule several of our experienced pickleball players to provide beginner and advanced play clinics on Wednesday at 12pm beginning in January and running through March. Paddles and balls are available at the courts for clinics and open play.


No experience or equipment is needed to participate in the clinic. Hope to see you on our beautiful Pickleball Courts soon.
 

• Safety reminder: Members should know that stability and balance are necessary as players move around the court to return the ball during play, therefore there is some risk of falling while playing pickleball.
• Proper Footwear required:  Tennis or pickleball sneakers are required.

(Adapted from USAPA Materials)

Do you want to join the FGGCC Member Pickleball League? The club is offering two pickleball “ladder” leagues, one 6-Week in the fall and one 10-Week in the winter. Dates and times will be announced on the website. The League is designed for players who understand the rules of the game and scoring. Members playing in the league will be matched up with other members of similar skills and abilities. Each week members play three 11-point games every Thursday morning with the highest ranked players beginning around 8am. Players are scheduled for 45-minute blocks. League participants are expected to be available for scheduled play or MUST contact the League coordinator John Karsnitz ([email protected]) so a substitue can be arranged. 

If you want to play in the league, please provide the following information for each participant:

• Name
• Email
• Telephone Number
• Approximate level of play. (see website “Levels of Play”)

Questions about the league can be found on the Club Website or answered by one of our Pickleball Team Members: John Karsnitz, (Coordinator) Jerry Haines, Larry Patterson, Soren Nywall, Mandy Lazar, Janice Jahnke or Paul Luxion.
General Information
The “ladder” format of play is designed so that players play mostly with others of similar skill levels. Your ranking on a ladder is based on your points for any given week. The player with the highest point total (out of 33 possible) will move up one foursome and the player with the lowest number of points  will move down one foursome. No player will be moved more than one foursome up or down in a given week.

Each week, players will be placed in groups of 4 in the order of their ranking on the ladder for match play. You are expected to play every week. All players will play three 11-point doubles games in a round robin fashion with the other three players of the foursome. At the start of the game, the team closest to the gate will serve first. When one side has 6 points, players have the option to change ends of the court to minimize the effects of the sun and wind or other factors that may affect outdoor play. The first team to 11 points wins the game. At the conclusion of the game, players rotate within the foursome to make a new team. Play continues as with the first game. After your games have been played, players record their scores on the score sheet that is available on the clipboard outside the gate. There is a maximum of 33 points per week (3 games x 11 points per game).


Publishing the Players Schedule
The “Weekly Playing Schedule” will be emailed to all participants by Monday for the Thursday’s matches. The top four players will be assigned to court #1 and each subsequent team of 4 to the remaining courts. When all four players are ready, play will begin.

Absences
If a player is unable to play, the player must contact the coordinator by Sunday if possible so that a substitute can be arranged to fill-in for the missing player.


Position on the Ladder
The ladder is configured for three 11-point games played each week. Each week players are assigned a court based on their points earned during the prior week’s play. Players who miss a week will automatically move down one rung on the ladder. If a players misses multiple weeks, they will be advised that they are being moved to the substitute list.


Interruption of a Match (Recording of Scores)
Scoring for interrupted matches due to weather or injury should be handled as follows:

1. If the match is terminated before the start of the third game, scores should not be recorded.
2. If the match is terminated sometime during the third game, points for the third game will be assumed to be in the same ratio of the score up to that point. For example, if the score was 9 to 7 at termination, the winning team would get 11 and the losing team would get 7/9 of 11 = 9 (rounded to the nearest point).

We encourage all members to review the “Rules of Play” and information about ”Clinics” by following the links under the Pickleball Banner on the top of the page.

Plan to try Pickleball this season!
Questions can be emailed to John Karsnitz ([email protected]) or talk with any member of the League coordinating team; Jerry Haines, Larry Patterson Soren Nywall, Mandy Lazar, Janice Jahnke (evening coordinator), or Paul Luxion (summer coordinator).
 
Evening Pickleball
Join us under the lights for evening pickleball on Monday and Thursday Evening's Year Round. Our evening pickleball program is alive and well.  Come join in the fun under the lights on Mondays at 6pm and Thursday's at 7pm after Division 1 tournaments and at 6pm when there is no tournament play scheduled. Playing under the lights is a nice way to avoid the heat of the day. What’s that you say? You don’t have a paddle or you’re new to the game? Well, not to worry we have plenty of spare paddles and we have experts who can teach you the game and make you an active, safe, contributing player in just about 15 minutes. 
 
It is all about having fun! Whether you are a newbie or an experienced player, we guarantee that you will highly enjoy your evening and leave the courts with a big smile on your face (whether winning or losing— and you will do both).  We only play doubles (two players on each team).  We have 4 courts, and most are active throughout the evening. 
 
Oh, by the way, at the end of some evenings we conclude with beverages and snacks while we lie about how great we are at Pickleball! 
 
Come join us.  We would love to have you become part of our Pickleball under the lights.”
 
Contact: Janice Jahnke. at [email protected], or Paul Luxion at [email protected]
 
Summer Play
Let Paul Luxion or Janice Jahnke know if you will be available for summer pickleball. They will contact you to let you know the schedule of play.
 
Contact: Paul Luxion at [email protected], or Janice Jahnke. at [email protected]
 
East Naples Pickleball InterClub League (ENPBIL)
Members who want to play in the Inter-Club League must be rated by the League rater. Inter-Club is a competitive league so players must win a position for weekly play. The winter InterClub League features 10 matches in Division 1 (3.5), played on Thursdays (home matches 6pm)  and 10 matches in Division 2 (3.0),  played Wednesdays (home matches 6pm). A schedule of dates and times can be found on the website at (en-interclub.wixsite.com/eastnaplesinterclub). Members interested in joining one of the teams should contact either John Karsnitz (Team Manager) or Larry Patterson (Captain Division 1) or Larry Stueber (Captain Division 2).
 

Members who want to play in the Inter-Club League must be rated by the League rater. 10 matches in Division 1 (3.5) are played on Thursday at 6pm and 10 matches in Division 2 (3.0) are played Wednesdays between from 3-6pm. A schedule of dates and times can be found on the website at (en-interclub.wixsite.com/eastnaplesinterclub). Members interested in joining one of the teams should contact either John Karsnitz (Team Manager) or Larry Patterson (Captain Division 1) or Larry Stueber (Captain Division 2).