It’s all sunshine and rainbows when you first start playing pickleball. You arrive on court full of optimism. Maybe you got pummeled by Betty with a knee brace last week, but you can only get better from here. You’ve got the pickleball addiction and you’re going all in.

Then, you go to the wrong court at the wrong time.

Being in the pickleball space, I’ve always heard “Don’t go to that court at 7 a.m. That’s when a league is there.” Honestly, I just assumed it was because it’s a 5.0 group where everyone’s a banger, and that’s just not my type of game.

But recently, I went to a new court at the wrong time. I heard the comforting pop, pop, pop sound of pickleball, and I assumed I’d just join in open play like I have everywhere else. That’s the beautiful thing about pickleball, right? It’s open. The barrier of entry is so low and people are so friendly, just rotate in and enjoy.

Well, that’s not always the case.

When I got there, I immediately felt like the new kid at school, standing alone with my new Six Zero Coral hoping someone would come play with me. I was met with standoffish energy from people who looked unimpressed with my presence.

There was no paddle system and no clear organization, just a complete free-for-all where everyone knew what to do and I didn’t. I asked someone who looked somewhat friendly, but they were no help at all.

I even got aggressive at one point and walked onto a court after the paddle tap and asked if I could join in. They straight up said no.  

I finally ended up with one pity game from two grandmas who targeted me the whole time and said they were going to go play with their friends after we were done. I left feeling so defeated.

The worst part is, this isn’t an isolated case. I recently met a woman who was new to the area, went to her nearest public court to make friends, and was immediately turned away because she was a 3.5 and they were a 4.0 minimum league. I was appalled. Isn’t pickleball supposed to be this fun, safe, social place? Some players take their games so seriously – and they’re not even pros. They're just 4.0s with a superiority complex who refuse to be welcoming because of someone’s DUPR.

That’s such a shame. Imagine if someone did that to you when you started out. No one shows up for the first time knowing every little thing about scoring, positioning, and plays a perfect 3.5 game. So let the newbie play. You don’t have to coach them, but at least play one easy game with them and tell them about the beginner or intermediate group that meets regularly at 5pm.

Who knows, maybe that person you turned away could eventually whoop you in the 4.0 league as they advance to PPA Challenger events?

On a more serious note, you never know what that person might actually be going through. They could be new to the area, they might be looking for new community, or they might need an escape. So be a friendly face. Be a good member of the community.

At the end of the day, pickleball is just a game. It’s about the people who make the game special. So be the reason someone keeps playing pickleball, instead of the reason they hate it.

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