IslandWalk at the West Villages – Pickleball Orientation

Pickleball Activity Group: (PAG) More Info

PAG is a volunteer organization formed by the IslandWalk Home Owners’ Association (HOA) in October 2018 to help address the needs of the growing pickleball community in IslandWalk. PAG’s mission statement is to provide structure, guidelines, and programs in an inclusive and transparent manner for the varied needs of the IW Pickleball community.

PAG roles and responsibilities are divided between the 10 volunteer members:

Operations, Communications, Equipment/Facilities, Finance, Technology, Social Activities, Recreational Sports Activities, Competitive Sports Activities, Education/Wellness. In January of each year, a new contact list will be posted at the Resort Court bulletin board, by the tennis courts, and New Clubhouse Court bulletin board, near the dog park.

 

3 ways to get play time on IW courts:

Open court time:

There tend to be open courts in the afternoons and evenings. If there are courts open, you can play on the courts. If someone does arrive and has reserved the court, please acknowledge their right to play and find another court.

Reserve a Court: If you want to guarantee court availability, you can reserve a specific court using the “Reserve My Court” (RMC) tool. RMC is an online court reservation system that allows IW residents to secure a court. To reserve a court, residents need to gain reservation privileges by signing up for RMC. Players may go directly to the RMC Website (https://login.reservemycourt.com/login) or download the RMC app on your smartphone or tablet.

You will need to create an account on the RMC system, then set up both Resort courts and Clubhouse court accounts (you can also set up tennis and bocce reservation capabilities).

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How to Access the RMC Court Reservation System More Info

https://login.reservemycourt.com/login

Then click on: Create an Account

You will need to create an account for the Resort and the Club Courts separately.

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Drop-in Play More Info

Drop in is open community play time that is blocked off by PAG. There are 3 different skill levels and times for 2.0-2.9, 3.0-3.4, 3.5+ (see below). We ask that you do not attend multiple levels of drop-in play to avoid overcrowding on the courts, and to preserve the quality of play at each skill level.

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Evaluate their skill level to select the best drop-in session: More Info

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Beginner:

A beginner is classified as a player who is new to the game or has only played a handful of times.

Beginner + (2.5)

Knows basic rules such as “two bounce” and scoring. Has some basic stroke skills. Attempts to dink but not always effective, gets some serves and returns in, tries to volley, and attempts groundstrokes. Understands how to grip the paddle.

Intermediate Player (3.0)

Regularly gets serves “in” to mid-court or deeper. Starting to hit dinks lower over the net. Can hit 5/10 dinks, volleys, returns, serves, groundstrokes. This player will drive and lob their third shot, understands the need to develop this shot in their game but still won’t attempt it. Moves to the kitchen line after returning, stays back after serving. Demonstrates general ball control with varying degrees of success and is attempting to develop more softness in their shots.

Intermediate + Player (3.5)

Demonstrates control and basic consistency in shots, can hit 6/10 dinks, volleys, returns, serves, third shots and groundstrokes. Player is attempting to hit drop shots to get to the kitchen line. Can apply fast and slow techniques during points. Attempts to dink during a rally. Places serves and returns deep in the box, approaches non-volley zone line quickly. Has a moderate number of unforced errors per game.

Advance Player (4.0)

Demonstrates control and basic consistency in shots, can hit 8/10 dinks, volleys, returns, serves, third shots and groundstrokes. Uses logic and strategy while playing points. Applies fast and slow shot selection at the proper times more often than not. Mixes drives and drop shot techniques to obtain the kitchen line. Has fewer number of

unforced errors per game.

Advance + Player (4.5)

Can regularly convert a hard shot to a soft shot. Exhibits patience in play and shows a noticeable increase in skills, a higher level of strategy, quickness of hands, movement, placement of shots, anticipation of play, sustained volleying skills, and places put-aways with consistency. Makes very few unforced errors.

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During drop-in: how do I get to play?

Place your paddle in the paddle trays by Court 5. You can paddle up with 3 of your friends or share a court with random players playing the in the same drop-in time. When the courts are busy and there are many paddles/players in line waiting for a court, keep your game to 9 points. When there are fewer paddles in the paddle trays, play to 11.

Instructions are posted on the fence above the paddle tray.

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Lessons: Want to gain more skills in pickleball? More Info

We have a number of HOA vetted and certified PB Instructors available to you. If you want lessons, their contract information is the” Talk of the Walk”, a monthly Castle Group newsletter.

Instructors are allowed to conduct lessons on our courts from noon on. The player contacts the instructor directly to set up an ideal time and date. You can sign up for a private 1 hr. session or you can add up to 3 other players to take a lesson with you.

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Identify your paddle: label

PAG will print a label to help identify your paddle. Having a name and a phone number on the paddle helps in 2 ways. When your paddle is in the lineup bin, players can call out your name when a court is open. It is easy to identify and return if you leave your paddle at the courts.

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Communications More Info

PAG publishes a newsletter periodically as well as an frequent email blast with information about activities in the pickleball community. Review current and previous newsletters, click More Info above.

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To get on the mailing list, contact Jane Wentland (jwentland@iwpickleball.com)

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Purchasing Pickleball paddles/equipment:

Paddles: Where to buy/get more information

NEW Paddles range from $80-$250 per paddle

Our approved PB instructors may be sponsored by a paddle company and can suggest

the proper paddle for you. They can loan you a demo paddle to try before you buy.

Instructors usually do not make any profit on selling paddles. Many times, they have

used demo paddles or can offer discounts not found on line.

Brick and Mortar Retail:

Dicks Sporting Goods: Coco Plum Plaza, 30 day return

Wrigley’s Tennis and Pickleball Source: 941-637-1487

Trial loaner program in Punta Gorda.

Sarasota Pickleball

On Line:

Pickleball Central: has used and new paddles; 30 day return free shipping free return

Total Pickleball: paddles, balls, all pickleball gear

Gently used paddles:

Many players in Islandwalk resell their gently used paddles at a significant discount.

Shoes:

Gulf Soles: is an IW event sponsor, Venice and Englewood, club discount

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Balls: We recommend Franklin 40X balls; available on Amazon, Pickleball Central, Total

Pickleball, etc.

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Island Walk Pickleball Logo Wear: We have a relationship with Pickleballxtra.com to

supply special IslandWalk logo wear. Go to Pickleballxtra.com – then Club shirts – drop

down to Island Walk Pickleball to display items for sale. You can order from the website

and they will ship to your home.

Link to Pickleballxtra/Island Walk Pickleball logo wear 

https://www.pickleballxtra.com/collections/island-walk-pickleball

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Court Etiquette and Safety

1. Do not shuffle backwards or lunge sideways to get a ball. NO BALL IS WORTH A FALL.

2. If you see a ball from another court ball coming near your same-court players, or if your ball enters another court, shout “Ball-Ball” to alert players of the danger.

3. The preferred way to return the stray ball to another player is to focus your return, don’t just hit it randomly

4. Always keep the court gate closed while you are playing or leaving the court.

5. Don't enter or exit your court when a point is in play. Wait until the point is finished.

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EMERGENCY/FIRST AID

1. Stay with the person in distress, call 911. Do not leave the person if you are the only one on site.

2. Inform 911 dispatcher the EXACT court address by street. Court location is listed on the bulletin board by the courts.

3. Stay on the phone, do not hang up, keep talking. Do only what the dispatcher tells you to do. If there is a good signal, the EMT team can track your phone signal to exact location.

4. Do not move or lift or reposition the person or their extremities. Stabilize them where they fell or where they collapsed, Keep the person calm, provide shade if hot outside. Do not administer fluids unless dispatcher “approves”.

5. If there is someone else on the courts, ask for help.

                i. Observer 1, send them out to the main street to wave in emergency team. We have 2 different courts. The dispatcher on the phone, may or may not have experience inside IW.

                ii. Observer 2 try to locate Emergency Bag tag on the injured person’s bag. Call listed emergency point of contact.

6. AED

               i. Only use if dispatcher asks you to use it. The AEDs are located at the Clubhouse mailbox kiosk, and at the Lap pool tennis bathroom building near the Resort Center, under cover. There are additional AEDs around the campus.

7. First aid kits and crushable ice packs are located at each court in the plastic storage bin. Please inform the Wellness PAG Leads if supplies are low.

8. First Aid AED training is offered by the IW Cert team. 

9. Please don’t come to the courts if you are feeling depleted or have flu/Covid/RSV/Cold symptoms.

10. Use hand sanitizer