General Discussion

Big thanks to Felipe for his research and information! He made a number of very good points based on real numbers.

This is also a long post as several issues within our club have been building up for a long time. I am expressing views I have heard from many CRPA members, and I feel it’s time to put them out in the open.

I feel that Felipe’s most crucial point is “The reality of sign-up is that the demand far exceeds the supply of available playing spots”.

I agree with his point that we can make proposals to the city to increase available slots in their programming. I know Annette has written an excellent letter and spoken to the programmer and encouraged others to do the same. I paid a visit to the city programmer as well to point out some facility use that is underused by other groups that could help alleviate some of our problem.

But, since we all pay the same dues and should have equal access to whatever club spots are available, it is incumbent upon the CRPA to create the fairest possible sign-up system.

This makes it obvious that the system of Court Rentals, facilitated by the CRPA,  must be eliminated (no matter the location). As Felipe said, “Court rentals offer fewer sign up spots and make it more difficult to track who is playing.” These Court Rentals have allowed some people to play 5, 6, or more times per week while others struggle to get into 2 sessions per week. As Felipe also remarked, it may have to be a "first to click” sign up system. But there can be guard rails installed to limit the number of sessions available to an individual. With the Court Rental system, the person booking a court invites their chosen group, which is why some people are able to play so often. Different members of the same groups book the courts and invite each other. With an individual sign up, many more people have the opportunity to snag a spot in any given time slot.

Another factor contributing to the demand exceeding the supply of available playing spots is the practice of the CRPA allowing players from the Comox Valley to be members of the club. It seems most of these players from out of town play within the Court Rental system. With the persistent shortage of playing spots for local residents, it makes no sense to allow out of town residents to take up spots. We could either make the residential boundary the Oyster River, like the School Districts do, or include Black Creek residents.  I know that we have Campbell River residents that play in the Comox Valley too. I don’t know if they have a severe shortage of playing spots available in their area like we do - that would be up to their local associations to deal with.

Aside from Court Rentals and out of town players, I have heard the comment “the system is broken” and therefore it is not the fault of people signing up for multiple sessions that others cannot get in. “The system”, as it exists right now, relies on people being considerate of others and doing the right thing instead of taking advantage of it for personal gain. There have been examples of club members signing up for more sessions than they have any intention of attending, then picking and choosing and cancelling some afterward. And the city had to send out a letter to ask people not to sign up for back to back sessions or two sessions on the same day. So “the system” needs to be changed as we cannot rely on people not taking advantage of it. In the meantime we can only hope that members will become more mindful of their fellow club members!

There is also an elephant in the room that many club members feel we need to acknowledge and discuss.  Many of us have read articles about nasty elitist attitudes that have invaded the sport of Pickleball, so I am going to quote from some of those articles.   “Pickleball used to feel like a neighbourhood barbecue. Now some courts feel like high school all over again. Let’s stop pretending we don’t see it. The elitist culture is real. It’s suffocating the soul of this sport.”

“Key aspects of this growing elitism include:

• Skill-Based Segregation: High-level players (4.0+s) often refuse to play with beginners, creating insular groups and rigid cliques.

• Obsession with Ratings/Gear: Intense focus on DUPR ratings and having the newest, expensive equipment, prioritizing status over skill and enjoyment.

• "Wimbledon" or "Win-at-All-Costs" Mentality: Treating recreational play with extreme seriousness, reducing the fun, social, and beginner-friendly, nature of the sport, and, in some cases, displaying aggressive behaviour.

• Court Space Conflicts: Increased demand has led to conflicts, with some elitist behaviour appearing in the competition for limited, high-quality, court time.”

Unfortunately, Campbell River has not escaped this elitist trend. We have experienced all four of the key aspects listed above. And that is exactly what is driving this Court Rental system. I have heard from people directly involved about some ugly incidents - one last summer in which a group of women were playing during the public hours at the outdoor courts when a group of advanced players told them they had reserved 2 courts they wanted to play on. The women then left the courts. If this is allowed (?) a notice needs to be posted informing others that the courts are reserved. More recently there was an appalling incident at the Community Centre as a result of elitist attitudes during a Court Rental session. A group that managed to rent one court (of the 4 courts) was very badly treated by others, some of whom they had considered friends. I won’t get into the disturbing details. Unfortunately, I suspect these are not the only incidents, just examples.

Here is another quote to think about from a recent article about elitism in Pickleball:

“You’re not trying out for the Olympics. You’re playing a game invented in someone’s backyard…Levels don’t make a great Pickleball environment. People do. Pickleball does not belong to the pros. Pickleball does not belong to the 4.0+s. Pickleball does not belong to the cliques. This sport belongs to EVERYONE who steps on the court for the love of the game.  The best Pickleball communities are the most human. Courts thrive when: People cheer for each other. Beginners feel safe. Partners rotate. No one treats rec play like Wimbledon qualifiers. Joy is louder than ego. That’s what built this sport. Not the ratings. Not the paddles. Not the highlight reels. The heart. The Humanity. The reminder that we’re here because this is FUN.”

I have spoken to many other members of the CRPA that feel the same way. Just a few years ago, I observed the hard work that a small group of club members put in to get the CRPA established and lobby the city for more time and facilities. There was no intention to create an elitist club. The atmosphere on the courts was much more relaxed, and dare I say happier back then. People were encouraged to learn the game and to participate. It’s great to work on skills, and skills naturally develop when people play frequently, and when they play with more highly skilled players.  Based on feedback from others, most people feel they step up their game when they play with better players, and they welcome helpful suggestions to improve their shots or strategy.  But sometimes they do not play better if the more skilled players make them feel bad every time they miss a shot, (even though those more skilled players often miss shots too). Personally, I strive to improve my skills but I really enjoy playing with people that smile and laugh during the games as it shows they are having fun. I feel that some people have lost the joy of just playing.

There seems to be an obsession with levels and only playing with players at the same level. I can see having some sessions that are “tiered” or divided into Beginner/Developing, Intermediate, and Upper Intermediate/Advanced. But the idea that we always have to divide ourselves according to DUPR scores, or that we must somehow be evaluated to determine our exact level or our DUPR score, is contrary to the soul and spirit of Pickleball.

I think that the majority of our club members are not interested in playing in super competitive tournaments, but want to come out and play for the joy of it. Fun tournaments and “fun days” are another matter.

Come on CRPA members - in this increasingly negative world we live in, let’s make our Pickleball community a more positive happy place!

One more quote:

“Next time you step on the court, ask yourself:

Did I welcome someone?

Did I include someone?

Did I drop my ego at the gate?

Did I make the environment better or worse?

If the answer is “no,” don’t blame the sport.

You’re part of the problem.

Pickleball doesn’t need more exclusivity.

It needs more generosity.

More kindness.

More of what made the game explode in the first place.

If we protect THAT, Pickleball will stay beautiful forever.