Aiken Pickleball News

Rating Process for Court Designation Play

We have updated the rating process for Court Designation Play. Changes include 1) Once a player has been rated there is a four-month waiting period before they can be rated again; 2) Players who win gold medals at the Aiken yearly tournament will no longer be considered for an upgrade to the next higher skill level.

For a complete look at all the changes go to Odell Weeks Guidelines under the Information tab.

Lost and Found

Last Saturday at First Presbyterian Church, after all play was completed, there were two metal water bottles and a pair of glasses left behind. All three items are now in the room where the nets are kept, on a shelf on the wood podium next to the door. The room can be accessed next Saturday morning after 9am.

If you need the items before then, you can try calling 1st Pres (803) 648-2662 and ask for assistance in retrieving your item.

Saturday play at First Presbyterian Church

We got off to a great start for 2020 at First Presbyterian Church this Saturday morning January 4th. Twenty-four (24) people had signed up and a few players showed up who hadn’t signed up but people were courteous and patiently sat and waited for their turns to play.

To help with play next week, Saturday, January 11th, there will be two sessions. One will be from 9-11am and the other from 11am-1pm, with a limit of eighteen (18) players per session. Sign-up is required. You can only sign up for one session per Saturday.

Special note: Please put your names on your paddles. Those little return address mailing labels work great! Also, we had a couple of water bottles left today after everyone was gone. It would help if you could put your names on these so we can get them back to their proper owners.

Thanks to everyone for being so patient. Hopefully having two sessions next week will make play more enjoyable. And special thanks to Michele Bullington and Dick Keeler for opening and closing.

January 11th will be the last day of indoor play at 1st Pres on Saturdays until February 1st.

Ask the Pickleball Ref by David Hoel

SITUATION: In a tournament match, a Team A player wore a shirt which was a color similar to the ball. Team B requested that the Team A player change his shirt. Alternatively, Team B requested the match use a different color ball.

QUESTION: Were either of Team B’s requests required to be satisfied?

ANSWER: No. The referee determined that the player’s shirt color did not present a sufficient safety or distraction issue. (Rule 2.G.1) Further, the tournament announcement clearly described what color balls would be used during the tournament, so changing the ball was not required. However as a courtesy, the referee offered use of a different color ball, only if all players agreed. The players chose to play with the original ball.

And just for the record, the Super Senior Round Robin being held on Saturday, January 18th, will be using an Onix orange ball - so please no orange tee shirts!

Saturday Play at First Presbyterian Church

There will be indoor play on Saturdays at First Presbyterian Church, January 4th & 11th, from 9am - 1pm. Need a minimum of four players to sign up, or the sessions will be cancelled.

First Presbyterian Church is located at 224 Barnwell Avenue, NW in downtown Aiken. Please park on Barnwell Avenue and go in the door by the Coke machine. Turn right after you go in and go through the double doors into the gym. There is a $2.00 per person fee for each session. A container will be placed in the laundry room where the nets are stored. All of these funds will go directly to the church as a donation to help them cover the costs of heating and air conditioning, and general wear and tear on the gym.