Please join us at TBayPA Pickleball Play Information & Registration
for the latest information and updates. This website will be closing down soon and may not have the most up to date information.
Covid19 advisory from Pickleball Canada as of March 12 2020
| IMPORTANT COVID-19 CORONAVIRUS INFORMATION FOR ALL PICKLEBALL CANADA MEMBERS The COVID-19 Coronavirus is a current health concern in Canada and throughout the world. With March Break beginning in a couple of days and tournament season upon us, we want to provide an update regarding the steps we are suggesting that Members, Clubs and Tournament Directors undertake as a result of COVID-19. We know that many of you and your families will be travelling during the break. For those traveling abroad during March Break, please refer to the “Travel Advice and Advisories” by Government of Canada HERE: Given our diverse demographic, many of our members may have a health history that provides incentive to manage their risk of infection more aggressively. Everyone will be making their own decisions on attendance at pickleball sessions. Certainly, the gym/court environment, handling pickleballs, and sitting in close quarters could contribute to the spread of the virus. We all need to take personal responsibility to help reduce this risk. Each of us needs to do a personal symptom check-up daily. If you have any symptoms of the COVID-19, the flu or even the common cold, please cancel your attendance at pickleball sessions until your symptoms pass. If you are exhibiting the symptoms of COVID-19 or you come into close contact with anyone you suspect could have COVID-19 or that you know is being quarantined/under self-isolation, the guidance received from Telehealth includes the following:
Unless current governmental health authority guidance changes to the contrary, Pickleball Canada is suggesting that clubs and tournaments could carry on as normal, but with an Infectious Disease Response Plan in place. This includes additional daily sanitizing of facilities and equipment, additional hand sanitizer stations, expanded personal protection equipment policies for staff, contingency plans and reminding their staff and members to adhere to prevention measures from Health Canada.
In addition to your provincial health websites, the Health Canada website has a daily update on the situation which should be reviewed regularly: Of special interest regarding mass gatherings, important information can be found HERE: Communications to Members will continue as required until such time as the COVID-19 outbreak is declared finished or as new critical information becomes available. We appreciate your continued support of Pickleball Canada and your participation in prevention of the spread of this virus. Enjoy your March Break. |
INFORMATION IMPORTANTE SUR LE CORONAVIRUS COVID-19 Le coronavirus COVID-19 est un problème de santé actuel au Canada et dans le monde. Le congé de mars et la saison des tournoia sont dans quelques jours. Nous voulons fournir une mise à jour en ce qui concerne les mesures que nous suggérons que les membres, les clubs et les directeurs de tournoi prennent à la suite de Covid-19. Nous savons que beaucoup d’entre vous et vos familles voyageront pendant le congé. Pour ceux qui voyagent à l’étranger pendant le congé de mars, veuillez consulter les «Conseils aux voyageurs et avertissements» du gouvernement du Canada sur ce lien: ICI Compte tenu de la diversité de notre démographie, un grand nombre de nos membres peuvent avoir une histoire de santé qui les incite à gérer de façon plus agressive le risque d’infection. Chacun décidera lui-même de sa présence aux séances de pickleball. Certes, l’environnement du gymnase, du terrain, la manipulation des balles de pickelball et le fait d’être assis dans des quartiers étroits pourraient contribuer à la propagation du virus. Nous devons tous prendre nos responsabilités personnelles pour aider à réduire ce risque. Chacun de nous doit faire un bilan de santé quotidien. Si vous présentez des symptômes du COVID-19, de la grippe ou même du rhume, veuillez annuler votre présence aux séances de pickleball jusqu’à ce que vos symptômes disparaissent. Si vous démontrez des symptômes de Covid-19 ou vous entrez en contact étroit avec quelqu’un que vous pensez pourrait avoir Covid-19 ou que vous connaissez qui est mise en quarantaine ou en auto-isolation, les directives reçues de Télésanté comprennents les éléments suivants:
À moins que des directives de l’ autorité gouvernementale de la santé actuelle change, Pickleball Canada suggère que les clubs et les tournois continussent normalement, mais avec un plan d’ intervention pour les maladies infectieuses en place . Cela comprend la désinfection quotidienne supplémentaire des installations et équipements , stations de désinfectant pour les mains supplémentaires, les politiques de l’ équipement de protection individuelle élargi pour le personnel, et d’adhérer aux plans d’urgence et de prévention de Santé Canada .
En plus de vos sites Web provinciaux sur la santé, le site Web de Santé Canada contient une mise à jour quotidienne de la situation qui devrait être revue régulièrement : De l’information importante au sujet de rassemblements de masse se trouve ICI. Les communications avec les membres se poursuivront au besoin jusqu’à ce que l’éclosion de COVID-19 soit déclarée terminée ou que de nouvelles informations essentielles deviennent disponibles. Nous apprécions votre soutien continu à Pickleball Canada et votre participation à la prévention de la propagation de ce virus. Profitez de votre congé de mars. |
On Tue Feb 4, 2020 @ LAV one court will be used for player assessments from 7:30-8:15pm – only 2 courts for open play
Also there will be another player development session available from 7:15 to 8:00pm on Thursday Feb 6th, 2020 that will focus on Level 3.0+ skills, aiming at supporting those who desire to move to playing at the 3.0 and above level. Julie will be available at this time to offer tips to improve your play. If you would like to register please read post below on “How people get rated to play at 3.0+ level at LAV at 8:30pm?” Clinic time will focus on & allow practice of:
- Increasing consistency, direction and variety of shots & serves
- Why & how to do (attempt) the 3rd shot drop
- Getting into position with your partner
Please sign up to register at Level 3.0+ skills development clinic
Player development court at LAV Thu Jan 30 2020 available from 7:15 to 8:00pm
There will be one court available from 7:15 to 8:00pm that will focus on player development, aiming at supporting those who desire to move to playing at the 3.0 and above level. Julie will be available at this time to offer tips to improve your play. Focus will be on
- Increasing consistency, direction and variety of shots
- Why & how to do (attempt) the 3rd shot drop
- Getting into position
There is no need to sign up – just let Julie know at 7pm that you are interested. This opportunity will also be available next Thursday Feb 6th, 2020
Please also read the following:
HOW DO PEOPLE GET RATED TO PLAY AT THE 3.0 + LEVEL to play from 8:30pm to 10:00pm at LaVerendrye High School?
No matter how long you have been playing pickleball or tennis, if you are wanting to play during Level 3.0 + play you need to be evaluated on your ability to meet the ALL the following criteria MOST of the time during regular game play. If you are new and are interested in playing after 8:30pm let Julie, Peter or Sally know and we will get the team to evaluate you over a few weeks of regular play. If you have been rated previously at LAV at 2.5 or below you can request to be reevaluated.
As you look at the various levels remember that you need to demonstrate ALL of the skills at the lower levels as well as the level you are aiming for. We use an internal rating system based on that developed by the USAPA. NOTE: This is not an official USAPA or Pickleball Canada rating.
| PICKLEBALL LEVEL 2.0 SKILLS* Players at Level 2.0 demonstrate the following:
· Knows some of the basic rules, including the”two bounce rule”and scoring · Demonstrates a forehand groundstroke · Demonstrates a backhand groundstroke · Demonstrates a volley · Demonstrates an overhead smash · Gets some serves into the correct service square. · Knows where to stand as the serve team and the return team |
PICKLEBALL LEVEL 2.5 SKILLS* Players at Level 2.5 possess Level 2.0 and lower skills and consistently demonstrate the following:
- Knows some of the basic rules including the two bounce rule after serve, and how to score. Demonstrates control on forehand groundstrokes (direction, depth, height)
- Uses backhand groundstrokes
- Placing serves in correct service court.
- Knows correct court positioning as the serve and return team
- Approaches the non-volley line to hit volleys
- Keeps the ball in play on short rallies
- Uses the forehand lob
- Dinking the ball at the net
- Attempting to hit a slower paced ball landing in the non-volley zone (3rd shot)
PICKLEBALL LEVEL 3.0 SKILLS Players at Level 3.0 possess Level 2.5 and lower skills and consistently demonstrate the following:
o PLACEMENT & PACE:· Demonstrates appropriate PLACEMENT & PACE of serves (depth, location) · Demonstrates controlled forehand & backhand groundstrokes (placement, pace, direction, depth) · Uses deeper and higher returns of serve to allow time to approach the net
o POSITION:· Serve team attempts to approach the net on the 3rd shot with a slower-paced/ drop shot · Approaches the non-volley line quickly and holds the line; especially on return of serve · Exhibits correct court positioning for doubles and how to “move as a team”
o CONSISTENCY:· Sustains a dink &/or volley exchange at the net (aim for 3 – 6 shots) · Can adjust to make and return different ball speeds (serves, volleys, dinks, groundstrokes) · Uses the forehand lob and overhead shots with some success
COMMUNICATION· Communicates to partner intentions (yours, mine) · Clearly communicates score & understands positioning related to score |
Places to play
PLEASE GO TO PLACES TO PLAY UPDATE JAN 2020 FOR
THE MOST ACCURATE & UP TO DATE INFORMATION
Pickleball at LaVerendrye Thur Jan 9 2020
Open Pickleball play is still scheduled for 7pm tomorrow – there is a basketball game scheduled to finish by 7pm so there may be a slight delay.
The Thunder Bay Pickleball Association is working hard to increase the number of times and places available in Thunder Bay for indoor pickleball play. The best way to get up to date information for all venues is through signing up at https://tbaypa.playerlineup.com/public_join
Everyone is welcome including visitors. If you have any questions about signing up please email Darron Smylie at dsmylie@gmail.com
Pickleball event Sat Jan 4, 2020 at St Patrick’s High School from 9am to 1pm
Hi everyone.
Exciting things are happening in Thunder Bay pickleball scene. With the recent formation of Thunder Bay Pickleball Association which links all pickleball sites and players together and the online community that Darron Smylie and Toby Graveson have worked so hard on, you can find out when and where to play pickleball in Thunder Bay. Please register to get access to this information at TBayPA.ca and also to use the player sign-up process. See link below:
This also has details on registering for the event on Saturday (6 courts will be available).
If you have any questions about the events or how to sign up please email Darron Smylie at dsmylie@gmail.com
Here’s to a great year of pickleballing in 2020.
Have fun, play safe.
… Julie M
Extra Pickleball Play available Friday Dec 13 & Saturday Dec 14th :)
Mark your calendars for extra play this week! Darron and Toby have done a great job to organize extra play times. See below for details … call Toby for extra information at 807-628-0736
Friday December 13
6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
École Gron Morgan Public School
174 Marlborough St, Thunder Bay, ON P7B 4G4
2 courts with 10 foot baseline and sideline clearance and 20 foot ceiling
Use main entrance on Marlborough, gym is to right
$2.00 drop in fee, no age restriction, recreational play intermediate-advanced
Also Friday December 13
6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Bishop EQ Jennings Catholic School
775 John St, Thunder Bay, ON P7B 6H3
2 courts with tight (43 inch) baseline clearance and 18 foot ceiling
Use main door on John St, gym is straight ahead
$2.00 drop in fee, no age restriction, recreational play beginner-intermediate
Saturday December 14
1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
St. Ignatius Catholic High School
285 Gibson St, Thunder Bay, ON P7A 2J6
6 courts with medium baseline clearance and 24 foot ceiling
Use main door on Gibson St, gym is straight ahead
$2.00 drop in fee for up to full 4 hours, no age restriction, all play levels, recreational and challenge courts
This is a 4 hour play period! If you only want to play the regular 2 hours, please consider either 1:30-3:30 or 3:30-5:30.
We will post holiday play hours and locations (December 21-January 4 calendar) shortly.
Thank you for being a member of TBayPA. We hope to see you on the courts this Friday and Saturday!
TBPA Meeting at 7pm Wed Oct 30, 2019
If you are committed to promoting the play and development of pickleball in Thunder Bay please attend meeting tomorrow night at Robin’s Donuts on Memorial Ave at 7pm. Text Julie (807) 631 3260 or Toby (807) 628 0736 if you plan to attend. Thanks.
How do people get rated to play at the 3.0 plus level from 8:30pm to 10:00pm at LaVerendrye High School?
We use the internal rating system developed by the USAPA unless people have been rated at other facilities. NOTE: This is not an official USAPA or Pickleball Canada rating.
No matter how long you have been playing pickleball, you will be evaluated on your ability to meet the ALL the following criteria MOST of the time during regular game play. Julie will be available this Thursday October 31,st at 7:00pm to answer questions and provide tips to improve your game.
If you are new and are interested in playing after 8:30pm let Julie or Sally know and we will get the team to evaluate you after a few weeks of regular play. If you have been rated previously you will need to challenge the rating (process available at “Skills Assessment” section of this website).
As you look at the various levels remember that you need to demonstrate ALL of the skills at the lower levels as well as the level you are aiming for.
PICKLEBALL LEVEL 2.0 SKILLS*
Players at Level 2.0 demonstrate the following:
| o Knows some of the basic rules, including the”two bounce rule”and scoringo Demonstrates a forehand groundstroke
o Demonstrates a backhand groundstroke o Demonstrates a volley o Demonstrates an overhead smash o Gets some serves into the correct service square o Knows where to stand as the serve team and the return team |
PICKLEBALL LEVEL 2.5 SKILLS*
Players at Level 2.5 possess Level 2.0 and lower skills and consistently demonstrate the following:
| o Knows some of the basic rules including the two bounce rule after serve, and how to scoreo Demonstrates control on forehand groundstrokes (direction, depth, height)
o Uses backhand groundstrokes o Placing serves in correct service court o Knows correct court positioning as the serve and return team o Approaches the non-volley line to hit volleys o Keeps the ball in play on short rallies o Uses the forehand lob o Dinking the ball at the net o Attempting to hit a slower paced ball landing in the non-volley zone (3rd shot) |
PICKLEBALL LEVEL 3.0 SKILLS*
Players at Level 3.0 possess Level 2.5 and lower skills and consistently demonstrate the following:
| o Demonstrates placement of serves (depth, location)
o Uses deeper and higher returns of serve to allow time to approach the net o Serve team attempts to approach the net on the 3rd shot with a slower-paced/ drop shot o Approaches the non-volley line quickly and holds the line o Sustains a dink exchange at the net o Sustains a short volley session at the net o Exhibits correct court positioning for doubles and how to “move as a team” o Adjusts to differing ball speeds (serves, volleys, groundstrokes) o Demonstrates controlled forehand groundstrokes (placement, direction, depth) o Demonstrates controlled backhand groundstrokes (placement, direction, depth) o Uses the forehand lob with some success o Returns the ball lower over the net |
PICKLEBALL LEVEL 3.5 SKILLS*
Players at Level 3.5 possess Level 3.0 and lower skills and consistently demonstrate the following:
| o Places serves deep into the court with appropriate placemento Can utilize the 3rdshot slower-paced/drop shot to approach the net
o Quickly approaches and holds the non-volley line when appropriate o Uses deeper and higher returns of serve to approach the net o Sustains a short volley session at the net with some placement and control o Initiates and maintains a sustained dink exchange at the net o Consistently returns lower balls over the net o Demonstrates control/consistency on both forehand and backhand groundstrokes (direction, depth, and pace) o Uses slower paced shots vs faster paced shots to their advantage; able to adjust to differing ball speeds consistently o Able to create coverage gaps and then hit to these gaps o Hits overheads with control o Avoids hitting out balls o Uses a forehand and backhand lob when appropriate o Developing patience during rallies o Able to play with partners effectively using court strategies such as partner communication o Knows all main rules including how to determine the score based on server/ player position |
PICKLEBALL LEVEL 4.0 SKILLS*
Players at Level 4.0 possess Level 3.5 and lower skills and consistently demonstrate the following:
| o Controls and places serves and return of serveso Consistent and dependable forehand and backhand groundstrokes (directional control, depth, placement, and pace)
o Consistent and dependable volleys (directional control, depth, placement, and pace) o Consistent and dependable overheads (directional control, depth, placement, and pace) o Accuracy in placing lobs o Consistently executes successful slow paced (3rd shot) from the baseline to approach net o Initiates and maintains a sustained dink exchange at the net to elicit a “put away” shot o Able to change a slow paced strategy to a fast paced strategy, vice versa o Can block and return fast, hard volleys o Can handle speed on shots without over-hitting or hitting out-of-bounds o Moves effectively with partner, easily switching sides, and communicates when required o Controls play at the non-volley line, keeping their opponents back, driving them off the line and controlling the speed or placement of the ball o Consistently creates coverage gaps and hits to these gaps o Recognizes and exploits weaknesses in their opponent’s game o Poaches effectively o Developing their use of spin on a variety of shots o Maintains patience in rallies |
* Skill assessment sheets are based on those provided by the USAPA website. These were compiled for use in assigning internal club skill ratings and do not replace the official USAPA/IFP skill level definitions, but provide assistance to help rate players within local clubs. Players can also use these sheets to determine what particular skills they need to work on.
See https://www.usapa.org/skill-assessment-sheets/for more information
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