Sherm and Mikki Leach; loaner paddles by Deb Smedley, Selkirk Representative
Kathy Aalto
As the pickleball courts opened up with playing restrictions in place, the ground rules changed on how pickleball is played at PebbleCreek (PC). How the game is played and keeping score didn’t change, but how to get a court and how to find other players to play with changed. All PC Pickleball Club events and activities have been suspended. Previously, the club provided round robins, lessons, and competitive ladders. There was open play, where players could simply drop their paddle in the box at designated times and boom, they were on the courts and playing. Now? Nothing.
Until the club is back and schedules events, there is a temporary solution called The Adoptables. We get excited when we hear someone has adopted a child, a pet, or a new fun lifestyle. Now, PebbleCreek residents who want to play pickleball can get excited about being adopted or get excited about adopting someone. The really good news about adopting someone is that you don’t have to feed or house them, simply meet them at the courts for a game of pickleball.
How does the adoption process work? There is an adoption list pinned to the top of the club’s Facebook page, Pickleball at PebbleCreek. This list is organized by player rating. If you are new to the game and a beginner, you can list yourself as such. If you already have a club rating, you list yourself with that rating. Name, rating, phone number, and you are set.
Players who reserve a court on the club’s Court Reserve System, but need to find other players at their skill level of play to fill out the court, can check the list and give players on the adoption list a call to see if they are available. Players who don’t reserve courts, but want to be adopted into games where the court is short players, can have their name added to the adoption list.
A nice feature of The Adoptables is that you do not have to be a club member or already know how to play the game to be adopted. You do need to be a resident of PebbleCreek. If you want to try out the game, The Adoptables is for you. If you like the game, and want to take advantage of all of the club’s future events, you can join the club at that time. The Adoptables coordinates with PebbleCreek residents, who want to try out the game by getting them hooked up with coaches, and provides demonstrator paddles from paddle representatives who are PC Pickleball Club members.
To join The Adoptables, text Kathy Aalto at 503-708-6421. Please provide your name, rating, and phone number. If you want lessons to learn pickleball, list that as the fourth item in your text and whether you need paddles.
The list is also posted at the Ramada, in the ice machine room, on the bulletin board and is updated weekly.