Player Limits back in force!

The latest State/County Health Orders put us back into limiting the players for Pickleball, Tennis, and Bocce.

Under these orders only members of two households can play at any time, and must stay on one side of the net. This puts us back into playing singles, doubles limited to two households, or Australian rules. Please see the statement from Club Board President, Mike Falarski below.

Many thanks to Mary Tatum who has spent two weeks attempting to get a variance from State and County officials . Regretfully we were just notified by the County our request for a variance was denied based on the County’s legal team’s recommendations. Effective Monday, The Villages is requiring us to regress to these rules. All reservations for Monday or later with more than two households will be cancelled.

As you can see the contractor is making terrific progress on our new courts. Depending on the availability of city inspections, we may get use of the courts around Thanksgiving time. I can’t wait.

Stay safe,
Bill Pomeranz, President

Message from Club Board President Mike Falarski:  

The Villages was made aware of a discrepancy in the number of households that can play together for tennis, pickleball and bocce.  Previously up to four different households were playing on a court at one time.  It was discovered that the State indicated only singles could play on a court while the County said two households could play on a court.   The Community Activities office has spent the past two weeks requesting clarification from the State and County public health officials as they pertain to tennis, pickleball and bocce.  A variance was requested last week to allow up to four households to play together providing all other public health order requirements were met.  Unfortunately, on Tuesday November 10, The Villages received word that the variance was denied.

Effective Monday, November 16, tennis, pickleball and bocce may only have two households playing per court.
Example – Tom and Mary Smith can play Joe and Sally Jones, or Mary Smith can play Sally Jones, or Tom and Mary Smith can play Joe Jones.

It is a regression back to when the courts were first able to open.  The Villages is aware other businesses offering these amenities may be operating outside of public health order compliance.  The Villages is obligated to follow the State and County health public health orders and follow the more restrictive of the two.  If these orders are willfully not followed by The Villages, there are legal and liability coverage consequences.

The public health orders can and do change.  We diligently keep abreast of current information.  Meanwhile, we encourage you to still get outside and find a friend or neighbor to play bocce, tennis or pickleball with.

Pickleball Monitors are now “Designated Participants”

Effective Today, August 24, 2020

In the latest innovation to meet County Health regulations while utilizing club volunteers, all the court sports – Pickleball, Tennis, and Bocce are today switching from volunteer “monitors” to volunteers who are “designated participants” for each play time slot.  

A little extra paperwork and some new obligations to our volunteers – please thank them for volunteering so all of us can play.

More details about the rules and procedures here

 

Villages Pickleball Groundbreaking – August 7, 2020

Current and Past Club Presidents:  Bill Pomeranz, Steve Williams, Larry Martinson, Nancy Keane, Garry Gray

Current and Past Presidents and Pickleball Ad Hoc Committee Members Bev Poellot and David Cook (other Committee members not pictured – Anahid Gregg, Mike Falarski, Ken Brooks, Howie Blumstein)

New PIckleball Court Scheduler

The Villages Pickleball Club will be using an online reservation system from YourCourts.com that is going live on Thursday, August 13th. Your account has been created, using your email address as your login and “Villager” as your password. You will be required to change your password the first time you log into the system. 

NOTE: All signups done in the current system this week will be transferred to YourCourts.com.  Do not sign up using YourCourts prior to Thursday! 

All signup restrictions previously announced are in place effective for any reservations made for Monday, August 17th and later.

  • Players can only play once per day.
  • Players can only play 5 times per week.
  • Players can only have 3 active reservations (regardless of whether you make the reservation or someone lists you as a player).

Example: If you are playing Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, you will not be able to play (or be listed on a reservation) until after you play on Monday. After playing, you will only have two active sessions left. This helps to ensure all members have access to play time. 

  • Reservations must contain at least two and no more than four players. Do not enter anyone as a partner without confirming with them!

We are very excited about this system as there are many benefits to our community. This is the same system used successfully by the Villages Bocce Club. We have attached a user’s guide that will help you to learn how to use the system. However, it’s very straightforward and easy to use. This should help to alleviate reservation issues our members have had.

Contact vgcc_pb_yourcourts@googlegroups.com,  with any immediate questions.

Please be understanding during the initial implementation while we work out any growing pains!

If you already have a YourCourts account set up for Bocce or a different club with the same email, you have two options:

  1. If you use the same password, you will be prompted with a list of clubs that that your account has access. You can choose which club you want to access for that session.
  2. If you prefer to use two different passwords, your access is controlled by the password you enter.

Thank you,
The Villages Pickleball Board

Updated Pickleball Rules – Effective July 20th

Please understand this is a fluid situation, we are receiving updated information on a daily basis; please read the entire email.

    • Doubles Play is now allowed while always maintaining six feet of distance.
    • All pickleball will be played on courts 5 & 6, all tennis will be played on courts 1 thru 4.
    • Play times for both clubs:
      Open daily 9 am to 12:00 pm and again from 4:30 pm to 7:30 pm, when a court monitor will always be present to ensure compliance.  The courts will be closed for play from noon until 4:30 daily, and after 7:30 PM. Failure to comply may result in the courts being locked.
    • Everyone may only sign up once per day.
       
      You must have a reservation to play and all players must be listed in your reservation.

The new reservations will go into effect Sunday evening, July 19th   Any existing reservations outside the allowed time slots will be removed.
 
Cut off time for same day reservations is 8:30 am.

When making a reservation on the same day as you wish to play you are required to sign up using the “Book a Court” application before 8:30 am on that day.

No walk on players allowed, only those players signed up will be allowed on the court.
 
PLAYING PICKLEBALL:
Players will sign up for courts utilizing the online reservation system: https://villagestennisclub.org/book_a_court/
Currently, we are using volunteers to monitor courts (see below). During this time, we may cancel players reservations to ensure an approved monitor is playing during that time slot. You will be notified if this impacts your reservation.

You are still required to use only Villages approved Pickleball paddles and Villages approved balls.
 
Playing time is limited to one hour and twenty minutes. There must be at least 10 minutes of open time between reservations to allow players to exit and enter the courts without traffic through the gates. If you reserve 9 am stop play at 10:20 am.  Reserve play at 10:30 then stop play at 11:50, etc.
 
Guests/family are not allowed, Villages residents only
No shaking hands or bumping elbows.
Players shall leave the courts promptly at the end of their assigned period. 
No drop-in play, no lessons, and no more than 4 players on a court.
Complete guidelines and rules will be posted at the Tennis Shack, and on the Pickleball Website

No benches to be used and water fountains are closed
 
Court monitors are now required
Monitors will make sure we are wearing a mask upon entering and exiting courts.  Once play has started you may remove your mask while always maintaining the 6′ social distance. 

Monitors will make sure all players are maintaining 6’ social distance during play. Failure to do so will result in playing with masks, so please comply. 

Monitors will make sure you have a reservation and that all players’ names are on the reservation.  Each morning before 9 am the court monitors will pick up the paper copy of the reservation list and check off your reservation.

Attached is a link for a job application with the Villages.  They are looking to hire court monitors.  Please use this link or contact Mary Tatum in Community Activities at 408-223-4643
https://careers.jobscore.com/apply_flow/standard_applications/apply?acc_id=abP9Qy6s4r6lWSdNDWqL8o 

In the meantime, we have identified Pickleball members who will volunteer until the Villages finds the staff it needs.   If you are willing to help with this, please email Anahid Gregg.

Thank you,
Bill Pomeranz, President Pickleball Club