With the winter doldrums kicking into high gear, what could be better than a bit of physical activity, making acquaintances, and a chance to learn a new skill? Raymond Parks and Recreation Department might have the perfect solution to boost your spirits.
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| Raymond Parks and Recreation is now offering pickleball five night a week with games for players beginner to advanced. Visit raymond.reddesk.com for more details. SUBMITTED PHOTO |
Meeting once a week, the program aims to teach the basics of pickleball, helps improve your skills, plus you can meet other players and make some social connections. Participants can learn the rules and strategies, and work on some drills to develop skills.
Raymond Parks and Recreation Director Joseph Crocker said that the beginners’ program was developed to cater to people who have never played pickleball before.
“The addition of Skills & Drills into our pickleball program focuses on a different type of player who wants to work up to playing games with a partner,” he said. “It is a more leisurely pace where they can build the skills needed for intermediate and advanced levels. It is less competitive and allows people to learn comfortably.”
So what is all this pickleball hype, you might ask?
The Just Paddles website gives a concise explanation:
“Pickleball is a paddle sport that takes aspects from tennis, badminton, and ping-pong. It is played with a pickleball paddle, a hard plastic pickleball with holes, and a net. Various rules for the game help make it so that all ages and genders can be competitive against one another. People love pickleball because it is great physical exercise, requires strategy, and is very social. The game is fairly inexpensive compared to other sports, as you can find pickleball paddles under $100 and most courts are free to play on.”
Raymond Parks and Rec follows these rules of play listed on their website:
"On the first game, losers sit and winners stay for one more game; After that players rotate out after 2 games. Play to 11 points unless there are people waiting to come into play, then play will be to 9 points. Any ball that hits the basketball nets/backboards, that was clearly going to be in play otherwise, is a replay. Any ball that hits the rafters or ceiling is out of bounds. Players may step over the service line on all serves. On nights that are full there will be a separate winners and losers group after play. 4 new players from these groups will rotate in alternatively.”
Raymond Rec pickleball is taught by Crocker, and Donna Morton. The Intro Skills & Drills program is coordinated by Roger Bennett.
The Raymond pickleball scene has grown to become incredibly popular with events running five nights a week.
“We’ve just been so inundated with participants. We are hoping this new level will help with organization in the program,” said Crocker.
The Raymond Parks and Rec website lists the following schedule for pickleball:
Mondays: Intermediate/Advanced Play
Tuesdays: Beginner/Intermediate Play
Wednesdays: Beginner/Leisurely Play
Thursday: Intermediate/Advanced Play
Friday: Pickleball Intro & Skills
Beginner Pickleball Intro Skills & Drills will be held at the Raymond Elementary School gym from 6 to 8 p.m. on Fridays. Sessions are limited to adult players 25 and over.
To learn more, check out Raymond Parks and Recreation on Facebook or Instagram. You can also visit the website at:
https://raymond.recdesk.com/Community/Program/Detail?programId=178
Register through Raymond Parks and RecDesk here:
https://raymond.recdesk.com/Community/Program
Through the sign-up process, you will also sign up for the TeamReach app which keeps the group up to date and assists with scheduling.
To learn more about the sport of pickleball, visit the US Pickleball website at: https://usapickleball.org/what-is-pickleball/ <
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