Beginner League

League Format

League Dates. Beginner League play takes place Wednesday evenings, April 16 – May 28, 5:00 – 8:00pm.

Competitions. In the Beginner League, men and women compete with and against each other and each player will have multiple different partners and opponents during each night’s games.

Skill Levels. This league is intended for beginner level players. This league is not appropriate for players who have never played pickleball and those players are encouraged to take a beginner clinic offered by James City County. There is a separate intermediate-advanced ladder league for more experienced players.

Fees. There is a $15 per person registration fee charged by James City County. The money covers Veterans Park court reservations.

Beginner Teams: In the Beginner League, players play a version of king/queen of the court format each week, with the winners of a match moving up to the next higher numbered court, and the losers moving down to the next lower numbered court, or exiting, depending on how many players are waiting. After each match, players change partners. Players may play with the partner of their choice for the first match of the evening, but afterwards, partners will vary.

Injuries and Absences. In the beginner league, if a player cannot attend on any given Wednesday, they simply lose an opportunity to accumulate league points for the session(s) they cannot attend. If a player is injured and cannot finish a match once a match has stared, the opponents win the match.

Beginner League Play. The objective is to win games and move up to the highest numbered court. Players move up one court if they win a match, and move down one court, or wait and rotate back in, if they lose a match. Depending on the number of players in attendance, players may need to play every other match, so that all players can play.

Beginner League Points. Beginner League players score one league point for each game won. League points are accumulated by individual players from game to game each week and added to the previous week’s totals.

Pickleballs. Players need to supply their own pickleballs and paddles. Players may use any brand of pickleball as long as all players in a match agree. If teams cannot agree on a brand of ball, a coin toss (or other random method) will determine the brand of ball used for the match.

Forfeits. In the Beginner League, there are no forfeits. Players who do not attend on any scheduled Wednesday simply miss out on the ability to accumulate league points that week.

Venue Location. League play will take place on reserved courts numbered 1, 3, 5, 7 at Veterans Park. Open play and court availability for non-league play on un-reserved courts must be respected.

Weather. There is no rescheduling of Beginner League matches in the event of rain.

Matches. Beginner League matches are played in one game with the game winner scoring a minimum of eleven points per game. Winners must win the game by two points.

Sides and Servers. For all league play, the starting sides and servers will be determined by a coin toss or similar random method, with the coin toss winner picking either the side or the server, and the loser picking the remaining.

Beginner League Winners. Winners will be declared based on the most accumulated league points by each individual player.

Prizes. In the Beginner League, the top three individuals with the highest league points will win prizes, to be announced.

Rules

Official Rulebook. The league will follow the current version of the USA Pickleball rulebook, 2025 edition, found here: USA Pickleball Official Rulebook and Rules Summary

These rules include, but are not limited to:

● 2.E. Players must use USA Pickleball approved paddles.

● 4.A.2. The serve may clear or touch the net (i.e. a let serve that lands ‘in’ is played.)

● 4.F. A team scores points only when serving (i.e. no rally scoring.)

● 6.C.1. Players are responsible for calling the lines on their end of the court, including out balls, short serves, service foot faults and all non-volley-zone faults. Strive for accuracy and operate under the principle that all questionable calls must be resolved in favor of the opponent.

● 6.C.3. A player cannot claim a replay because the ball was not seen or there is uncertainty (i.e. replays are not allowed – make a call and play on.)

● 10.A. A team is entitled to two time-outs for each 11-point game. Each time-out period may last up to 1 minute.

● 10.B.2. Players will be allowed 15 minutes for a medical time-out.