Aiken Pickleball News

Revised schedule for Drills with "Little Mo"

Starting this week April 21, all Drills for "Litte Mo" will be held at Odell Weeks. Smith-Hazel will no longer be used. Nothing else has changed.

Revised schedule for Drills with “Little Mo” as follows:

April 21

OW - 915-1015am - Half volley - Court 1

OW - 1045-1145am - Half volley - Court 1

OW - 6-7pm - Dinks purpose

OW - 730-830pm - Half volley - Court 1

April 28

OW - 915-1015am - Overhead smash - Court 1

OW - 1045-1145am - Overhead smash - Court 1

OW - 6-7pm - Overhead smash - Court 1

May 5 - Limited hours as Odell - No evening drills

OW - 915-1015am - 3rd shot drop - Court 1

OW - 1045-1145am - 3rd shot drop - Court 1

May 12

OW - 915-1015am - drive topspin volley - Court 1

OW - 1045-1145am - drive topspin volley - Court 1

OW - 6-7pm - 3rd shot drop - Court 1

OW - 7:30-830pm - drive topspin volley - Court 1

May 19

OW - 915-1015am - King/Queen of the court - Court 1

OW - 1045-1145am - King/Queen of the court - Court 1

OW - 6-7pm - King/Queen of the court - Court 1

May 26 drills move to June 9th - No drills on June 2

June 9th

OW - 915-1015am - drop, chip, drive - Court 1

OW - 1045-1145am - drop, chip, drive - Court 1

OW - 6-7pm - drop, chip, drive - Court 1

June 16 -

OW - 915-1015am - Lobs - Court 1

OW - 1045-1145am - Lobs - Court 1

OW - 6-7pm - Lobs - Court 1

June 23 -

OW - 915-1015am - Specially shots - Court 1

OW - 1045-1145am - Specially shots - Court 1

OW - 6-7pm - Specially shots - Court 1

Click here to sign up.

Open play to expand to six courts

Starting Wednesday April 21, open play will expand to all six courts on Wednesday and Saturday mornings. - On Wednesday open mixed play from 9-10am; court designation play from 10am-1230pm. - On Saturdays open mixed play from 915-1015am; court designation play from 1015am-1230pm. Court designation as follows:

With all six courts - Ct1 - 3.0L and below; Ct2 - 3.0-3.0H; Ct3 3.0H-3.5L; Ct4 - 3.5L-3.5; Ct5 - 3.5-3.5H; Ct6 4.0+;

With five courts - Ct2 - 3.0L and below; Ct3 - 3.0-3.0H; Ct4 3.5L-3.5; Ct5 3.5-3.5H; Ct6 4.0+ (Lesson on Court 1);

With just four courts - Ct3 - 3.0L and below; Ct4 - 3.0-3.0H; Ct5 - 3.5L-3.5; Ct6 - 3.5H+ (New Players Clinic on Courts 1 & 2)

If you haven't been rated, now might be a good time. Next skill rating session is Wednesday April 21 at Smith-Hazel. Click here to sign up.

2021 Tournament Survey

From the 2021 tournament committee:

Please click here to take the survey so the Aiken Pickleball tournament leaders can determine the availability of volunteers from our local pickleball community.
Our volunteers are critical to the success of this event.

Our tournament is tentatively scheduled for Sept 10 -12, indoors at H. Odell Weeks. Because of COVID, the following are the anticipated changes from our tournaments in the past:

Face coverings/masks will be required inside of Weeks, except when on a court performing any of the following functions: Playing a match, court side referee, court side monitor. Vaccination status cannot play into this rule because of current City policy.

The number of participants will be capped at a level less than in past tournaments. This would be managed during the registration process. Limiting the number of participants reduces the number of people in the building thereby reducing match delays and enhancing social distancing.

Lunch will not be served indoors. A food truck and outdoor seating may be considered.

Congregating in the main hallway will be discouraged. Physically-distanced seating may be offered in some of the other rooms in the building or outside.

As usual though, volunteers are needed for:

Court monitors
Referees
Check-In Table
Set Up/Tear Down

Thank you for your input.

Minutes for the April Leadership Team meeting have been posted

The minutes for the Leadership Team Meeting that was held Monday, April 5th, 2021 at 5:30pm via Zoom have been posted. Topics that were discussed included an update on drop-in play at Odell; the New Players Clinics at Odell and Gregg Park; "Little Mo" in the mornings at Smith-Hazel and evening at Odell; the Round Robin for the ladder scheduled for Saturday May 1st; an update on Leagues and the Tournament scheduled for September and much more. Go to Forums or click here to see the full report.

Lessons, Drills and Clinics

Lessons available in April with Mo Garcia Friday mornings and evenings. Check with Mo at mog01@aol.com to schedule. Lessons also available with Jose Vega on Monday mornings April 12 & 26, and Saturday morning April 24. Text Jose at 706-284-8112 to schedule.

Drills with “Little Mo” Still a couple of slots available. Click here to sign up.

New players Clinic at Odell Saturday morning April 10. Sign up at the front desk.

New players Clinic at Gregg Park on Friday morning April 16. Click here to sign up.

Evening New Players Clinic at Gregg Park, Thursday, April 29th - 6-8pm. Sign up at Gregg Park front desk. More info to follow.