Membership / Rules / Newsletters

2026 Elmridge Rules

1. Safety Rules 

Be Aware and Come Prepared:

• If you’re unwell, recovering from illness, or have a medical condition, consult your doctor before playing.

• Stop playing immediately if you feel dizzy or unwell. 

• Warm up before playing to prevent strains and sprains.

• Drink water before arriving. Bring a full bottle of water and sip regularly during play.

• Use sunscreen and dress to stay cool in heat.

• Elmridge strongly recommends you wear protective eyewear (especially for pickleball).

• Elmridge strongly recommends you wear proper court shoes.

• Pace yourself – especially in hot weather. Take breaks if you need to. 

• Use proper technique during play – good form helps prevent overuse and acute injuries. 

• Stop playing during rain, high winds, or thunderstorms.

Make Sure the Courts are Ready for Play:

• Report hazards or broken equipment immediately by telling an Elmridge rep

• Store your gear safely – keep water bottles, bags, and other items off the court to prevent tripping. Move others’ stuff that could be a hazard.

• Inspect the courts – ensure the surface is dry and free of debris, balls, or other hazards.

• Remove all water from your court before play.

Play Safely:

• Don’t run backwards —turn and run instead. 

• Watch for wayward balls and players from adjacent courts. 

• Don’t chase balls across active courts—yell “Ball!” to alert others.

• Communicate with your partner and be aware of their position to avoid collisions.

 After You Play:

• Cool Down & Stretch – this helps with recovery and injury prevention.

In Case of Injury of Medical Event:

• Treat minor Injuries early – don’t ignore aches, blisters, or swelling. See an Elmridge rep. for help. The First Aid kit is stored in the Clubhouse. 

• In the event of a serious injury or medical event, notify an Elmridge rep and call 911 immediately.

• In the case of a heart attack, call 911 immediately and get the AED (a.k.a. the defibrillator) Machine in the Clubhouse.

2. Etiquette Rules

Respect Others’ Bookings

• Finish your game and leave the court at least 2 minutes before the next game is set to begin.

• Clearing water off the court doesn’t entitle you to stay past your booking. You must vacate the court at the end of your time if another game is booked on your court.

• You may play on a court before your scheduled time if it’s clearly unoccupied and your presence won’t disturb others. Otherwise, wait outside the gate until your time starts.

Respect Court and Game Ambassadors

• Ambassadors running mixers are responsible for setting the rules. Listen to them!

Be On Time and Cancel If You Can’t Play

• If you’re more than 10 minutes late, your court becomes available to the first person who begins playing on it (whether they booked it subsequently or not).

• No-shows waste court time and take away someone else’s chance to play. Cancel if you can’t make it.

Protect the Club and Equipment

• Return all equipment after use. Loosen pickleball nets and move them to the side of the court after play.

• Report any damaged equipment to an Elmridge rep right away.

Be Honest

• Your integrity matters.

• Do not share gate or clubhouse codes with non-members.

• Always pay for your guests—don’t wait to be asked.

• Wear your Elmridge shoe tag or pay the guest fee – don’t wait to be asked.

• (in PB) report yourself or your partner if either of you steps on the kitchen line
  
  

Play Nice. Be Nice.

• Don’t disturb players on nearby courts.

• Don’t swear, be aggressive or yell at others.

• Dress appropriately—shirts are required.

• Be kind to less skilled players.

• Win with humility, lose with grace.

• Avoid giving unsolicited advice.

• (in PB) announce the score clearly and loudly enough that your opponents can hear. Finish saying the score before you serve. 

• (in PB) Don’t target the weaker player

• (in PB) don’t use aggressive shots in recreational play when playing with weaker players.

• (in PB) When the game’s over, go to the net and thank your partner and both opponents by (lightly!) tapping their paddles.

Calling Balls In or Out

• Make calls quickly and clearly (gesture or call).

• (in PB) If you and your partner are unsure about (or disagree on) a call on your side, the point goes to your opponent.

• (in tennis) If you or your partner are unsure (or disagree on) a call on your side, replay the point.

• Respect calls made by others, even if you disagree.

• (in PB) Only call balls on your side unless asked by your opponent to decide a call on their side —if they do ask, then your call stands.

Respect Fellow Players

• Keep conversations quiet near courts in use.

• Never walk across someone else’s court even during a break in play.

• Never walk behind a court during a point—wait until the point is over. Then scoot.

• Use the gate closest to your court.

• Don’t serve until everyone on the court is in place.

• Don’t be the scorekeeper for others unless asked.

• Clean up after yourself—don’t leave bottles or garbage behind.

Ball Retrieval and Return

• Never enter someone else’s court to retrieve your ball.

• If your ball presents a safety risk, loudly call out “Ball!”, repeatedly if necessary, until acknowledged.

• Wait for a break in play before retrieving or asking for a ball (that doesn’t present a safety risk) back from another court

• Return balls during a break in play, and only after making eye contact with the receiving player.

• If your game is disrupted by an incoming ball, loudly call ‘Ball’ and replay the point.

No Alcohol or Marijuana Use

• The use of alcohol or marijuana is strictly prohibited at Elmridge.

3. Court Use Rules

General Rules on Bookings:

• You must reserve courts or spots in mixers using Court Reserve before playing (unless you are a guest sponsored by a member).

• Only instructors authorized by the Elmridge Board may offer paid lessons and clinics.

• Only members, guests or Pay-as-You-Go players who’ve paid their drop-in fees, may play at Elmridge.

• Guests and Pay-as-you-Go players need a wrist band before playing.

• Players who have booked a court get priority over those who haven’t.

• If you are more than 10 minutes late for your court booking, the booking is cancelled and others may use the court (whether they booked it subsequently or not).

How Elmridge Defines ‘Prime Time’:

• Weekends and weekday evenings 6-10 p.m. for all sports.

Elmridge Guests and Non-Members: 

• A guest is always accompanied by an Elmridge member.

1. The guest or Pay-as-you-Go player rate is $10 for a maximum of 2 hours of play/day.

2. Guests and Pay-as-you-Go players must wear wrist bands and sign a waiver before playing.

3. The sponsoring member is responsible for their guest. 

An Elmridge Pay-as-you-Go player is a player who has registered with the club and who has a Court Reserve account. Pay-as-you-Go players are considered “pay per play” players and can sign up to some club events at the non-member rate. Pay-as-you-Go players must wear a wrist-band and sign a waiver before playing.

• Pay-as-you-Go players can:

1. register for all summer camps.

2. register for some clinics and coaching sessions.

3. reserve courts at $20 / hour that are not already reserved 24 hours beforehand in CourtReserve; and

4. register for PB and tennis mixers 24 hours for $10 / mixer before an event if there is room in CourtReserve.

Member Booking Limitations 

*(N.B. limitations are lifted 24 hours beforehand if CourtReserve indicates availability):

• A member may reserve a maximum of 4 hours / week during prime time (excluding mixers and other club-run events).

• A member may reserve for a maximum of 1.5 hours a day during prime time.

• A family membership holder may reserve twice a day, for a maximum of 3 hours, for prime time play.

• A member may not make any concurrent daily court reservations.

• A family membership holder may make one concurrent court reservation a day.

• A member may book courts for a maximum of 2 hours a day. 

• A member may not reserve a court without listing at least one partner or guest.