The NOT'lanta Open is almost full but there are still openings in 4.0 WDS, 3.5 WDS, 3.0 MDS, 4.0 MDS, women's singles.
Here’s the direct link: https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showSignUp/5080449A4AB2DA5FC1-notlanta to sign up.
Aiken Pickleball News
The NOT'lanta Open is almost full but there are still openings in 4.0 WDS, 3.5 WDS, 3.0 MDS, 4.0 MDS, women's singles.
Here’s the direct link: https://m.signupgenius.com/#!/showSignUp/5080449A4AB2DA5FC1-notlanta to sign up.
Monday and Wednesday mornings from 10am- 12pm, there are two courts available for reservations at Smith-Hazel. See separate news article for details.
During the month of September there will be evening play at Odell until 845pm on Wednesdays and Fridays.
And on Fridays there are now five one-hour slots available for lessons.
Social distancing and face masks are still required.
Smith-Hazel, a City of Aiken Recreation Center, is reopen for pickleball effective Monday, August 31, 2020, It has two indoor courts available for play from 10am-12pm on Mondays and Wednesdays. Smith-Hazel is located at 400 Kershaw St NE, in downtown Aiken.
The card you use to access Odell Weeks will allow you access at Smith-Hazel. You can reserve a court via the Odell sign up.
Where - Montclair Park, 3304 Crane Ferry Road, Augusta, Ga. When - September 11-13, 2020
Brackets 3.0, 3.5, 4.0 WD, MD, MXD, 4.5 MD and Mens/Womens singles
Register online at SignUpGenius.Com then type in "arheins@gmail.com" in search box.
Contact Anne Rheins 706-399-4958 for additional information.
Odell Weeks is back to using the main entrance for pickleball and the fitness center - both to enter and exit the building.
Face masks are still required
The USA Pickleball Membership "Grace Period "has been eliminated. This is where, although the membership had expired, the member stayed in an "Active" status for an additional 30 days · Now, when the membership expires, the Membership is put in a "dropped" status, for non-payment of dues, when the membership actually expires.
This also means that the Ambassador designation is automatically removed, as always, when the membership has been placed into the "dropped" status. USAPA is adding a notice 60 day prior and will keep the 30 days prior, 3 days prior, and one at Expiration Date notice. More time on the front end to remind players their membership is about to expire.
Pickleball’s momentum as one of the fastest growing sports in the country continues with a brand re-launch aimed at building awareness and promoting the sport’s development and growth across America. The new brand name is officially USA Pickleball, aligning it with other sports governing bodies and our USA Pickleball National Championships. The brand re-launch also includes a new, modern logo and an updated website at usapickleball.org.
As of January 2020, membership in USA Pickleball Association has surpassed 40,000 and the Sports Fitness Industry Association estimates the number of active Pickleball players in America is 3.3 million.
When arriving at Odell Weeks to play pickleball, please do not enter the gym until five minutes before the time of your reservation. This will give the people playing on the court before you a chance to leave. The only exception is if you have the first reservation of the day. In that case, you may enter 15 minutes before your reservation time in order to set up the net.
When you are playing at your reserved time, and there is someone scheduled behind you, stop playing at your allotted time and exit the gym as soon as possible.
The point of having 15 minutes between reserved slots is to allow social distancing. The previous group should exit before the next group enters to minimize the number of people you come in contact with.
Face masks are now required when entering and exiting Odell Weeks. They may be removed for playing pickleball. Please remember to sanitize your hands before putting your mask back on after playing to avoid transferring germs from your hands to your face.
Effective Friday, July 17th, all players entering Odell Weeks must wear a mask to enter the facility. You may remove the mask upon entering Gym 2, and while playing. After you are finished playing, please put your mask back on when exiting the facility. Below is a copy of the Aiken City Council Passes Emergency Ordinance Requiring Face Coverings.
Aiken City Council Passes Emergency Ordinance Requiring Face Coverings
Aiken, SC – The City of Aiken issued an emergency ordinance requiring individuals to wear face coverings in certain situations and locations to protect, preserve, and promote the general health, safety and welfare and the peace and order of the community related to the potential exposure of City residents, employees, and visitors to COVID-19. The emergency ordinance passed with a vote of 5-2 in favor.
The ordinance will take effect Friday, July 17, 2020, and will end 61 days later (September 16, 2020).
• All customers are required to wear Face Coverings while inside the enclosed area of any Retail Establishment or Foodservice Establishment;
• All Retail Establishments shall require staff to wear, and those staff shall wear, Face Coverings while working in areas open to the general public and areas in which interactions with other staff are likely in which social distancing of at least six feet cannot be observed; and
• All Foodservice Establishments shall require staff who interact with customers (including, without limitation, delivery personnel) to wear, and those staff shall wear, Face Coverings while working.
• Businesses subject to this ordinance are required to post appropriate signage at each public entrance to the building informing anyone entering the building of these requirements, and the operator of the business shall ensure that all people entering the building are in compliance.
• Failure by customers to comply with this ordinance could result in a charge of misdemeanor trespassing as defined in South Carolina Code Section 16-11-520 if they refuse to leave the premises.
Exemptions. Face Coverings Shall Not Be Required:
• In outdoor or unenclosed areas appurtenant to Retail Establishments or Foodservice Establishments in which social distancing of at least six feet is possible and observed;
• For people whose religious beliefs prevent them from wearing a Face Covering;
• For those who cannot wear a Face Covering due to a medical or behavioral condition;
• For children under the age of five years old;
• For patrons of Foodservice Establishments while they are dining;
• In private, individual offices;
• When complying with directions of law enforcement officers;
• In settings where it is not practical or feasible to wear a Face Covering, including when obtaining goods or services such as the receipt of: a. dental services, b. barbering services, c. beautician services; or while swimming;
• While doing outdoor physical activity;
• Police officers, firefighters or other first responders when not practical or engaged in a public safety matter of an emergency nature, or persons engaged in the repair or maintenance of infrastructure;
• While exclusively with members of a family or the same household, and no person other than such family or household is within the same enclosed area.
For more information visit https://www.cityofaikensc.gov/keepaikensafe/