Our club
A social club for adults of all ages, abilities and genders
Newark Pickleball Club
Newark Pickleball club was set up at the end of August 2024 after we were kindly invited along by Lincoln Pickleball club to have a go and fell in love with the game! We purchased a few nets, found a location and invited friends to come along and give it a go. From that point on the numbers grew and enquiries increased to the point where now have about 60 players registered.
Newark Pickleball is a social club for adults (over 18) of all ages and gender where inclusivity and fun are at the heart of everything. Of course we all enjoy a competitive game but we try to match players with similar abilities whether they’re picking up a paddle bat for the first time or if they’ve been playing for a while.
Together we enjoy helping each other progress without taking ourselves too seriously!
As a club we also like to socialise outside of our weekly games with social events and a post-pickle-pint after each session! Bringing people together from all walks of life, encouraging people to stay fit and active as well as making friends is very much the ethos of Newark Pickleball.
How can I try Pickleball?
It couldn’t be easier to have a go at Pickleball and discover for yourself just how much fun it is!
No special equipment is required and any comfortable clothing is fine. Trainers / tennis shoes are recommended.
At Newark Pickleball we have beginner paddle bats for you to use, nets and plenty of balls so just get in touch and we’ll make arrangements for you to come and have a go. There’s no charge for your first session, thereafter the cost is either £6.50 per session (if you book a block of 10 sessions in advance) or £7.50 if you just want to pay as you play (PAYP). 10 session advance payments are made BACS transfer into the Newark Pickleball account, PAYP payments are made via the booking app ‘Spond’.
Paying for 10 sessions in advance not only helps the club survive by ensuring we have funds in reserve, but also gives you priority access to book sessions for the week ahead before the PAYP players are invited.
We believe the cost represents excellent value for money for two hours of play plus the choice of two sessions a week, and covers regular running costs including hire of the hall, replacing worn/damaged equipment, website hosting/general admin etc. Any profit made after covering costs will be reinvested into the club to the benefit of all. This could include paying for coaching sessions, club socials such as a summer BBQ or casual drinks evenings, subsidised travel to Pickleball competitions, club merchandise etc.
We run two sessions a week – Tuesdays 7:30-9:30pm and Thursdays 7:00-9:00pm at Suthers School sports hall. There’s no charge for your first session, thereafter the cost is either £6.50 per session (if you book a block of 10 sessions in advance) or £7.50 if you just want to pay as you play (PAYP). We limit each session to 24 places on a first come first served basis.
Due to increasing numbers we ask that you get in touch beforehand if you’re new to the club and would like to come along and give it a go, we will do our best to fit you in but you may have to wait for a space to become available.
Organising the games
We operate a system that uses colour coding for each player and timed games between 8 and 10 minutes depending on how many people are playing.
In this way we try to ensure everyone plays a similar number of games and has the opportunity to play players that are more advanced. However for the second half of a session we put abilities/colours together to ensure players get a chance to play others at the same or similar level.
The table shows the colours and how we assign them to everyone, although this is under constant review as players improve. New starter are assigned a non colour until we can determine which level they are at.
| Colour | Description |
|---|---|
| Green | Players new to pickleball or those still learning the basics (2.0) |
| Blue | Players who have played before and have an understanding of the game (2.5) |
| Yellow | Players who have played before, know how to score and can play an extended rally (3.0) |
| Red | Players who demonstrate advanced techniques and control (3.5+) |
Frequently Asked Questions
We use a free booking app called Spond, if you pay for 10 sessions in advance (£65) you will receive an invite to book either the Tuesday or Thursday session (or both!) at 5pm every Sunday evening. You need to submit your response by Monday at midday before others are invited to book.
If you pay-as-you-play (£7.50 per session) then you will receive an invite via Spond at midday every Monday asking which session(s) you’d like to book. You need to submit your response by 5pm on the Tuesday and payment via the app, must be received by 6pm on the day of play.
Spaces are limited to 24 players per session, if we haven’t reached that number for either session by midday on Tuesday then we will open up spaces to new players on our reserve list.
Please note – we can’t guarantee you a place for either session however by paying for 10 sessions in advance you will have priority access to places, versus those paying per game.
If you’d like to pay for 10 sessions in advance (which gives you priority access to book whichever sessions you’d like for the week ahead) the cost is £65, payable via bank transfer into the Newark Pickleball account – we will send you the details. You can book a session whenever you like giving you maximum flexibility.
If you prefer to simply pay as you play (PAYP) the cost is £7.50 per session, you will be asked to make the payment via the booking app ‘Spond’ before 6pm on the day of play.
Not at all, we’re all pretty new to the game so you’ll be in good company if you haven’t tried Pickleball before! Some players have a tennis, squash or badminton background and tend to pick the game up quickly but we have others that are completely new to racket sports. Although we mix everyone up for the first hour we put players of similar ability and experience together for the second hour to to make it as enjoyable as possible for everyone. However we will all help you progress and develop your Pickleball game in a fun and light hearted way! Please be aware that we are an adults only club (18+).
We run four courts playing doubles and singles games two evenings a week (Tuesday and Thursday) and limit the numbers to 24 players each session, which means you will have some time to recover on the sidelines before your next game!
Please note the times are different for each session – 7:30-9:30pm on Tuesdays, 7:o0-9:o0pm on Thursdays.
We usually go to the Tawny Owl pub after each session for a ‘debrief’!! All welcome.
We have a wide range of ages from players in their twenties to those into their seventies both male and female, we try to match abilities so that everyone has a fair and competitive game. Please be aware though that we are an adults only club (18+)
We provide all the equipment you’ll need (nets, paddle bats and balls). All you need to bring is a bottle of water and to wear standard sport clothing suitable for indoor use (non marking trainers). You will work up a sweat so be prepared!
There’s no charge for your first session, thereafter the cost is either £6.50 per session (if you book a block of 10 sessions in advance) or £7.50 if you just want to pay as you play (PAYP). 10 advance sessions are booked by BACS transfer into the Newark Pickleball bank account, PAYP payments are paid via the booking app ‘Spond’.
Priority booking access is given to those that have booked 10 sessions in advance.
We believe the cost represents excellent value for money for two hours of play plus the choice of two sessions a week, and covers regular running costs including hire of the hall, replacing worn/damaged equipment, website hosting/general admin etc. Any profit made after covering costs will be reinvested into the club to the benefit of all. This could include paying for training sessions, club socials such as a summer BBQ or casual drinks evenings, subsidised travel to Pickleball competitions, club merchandise etc.
We play at Suthers School Sports Centre, Fernwood, Newark, UK NG24 3NH. The entrance to the sports hall is found around the back of the main school building (go through the gate to the left as you look at the building). Parking is free.
From March 11th we will have two sessions a week available – Tuesdays 7:30-9:30pm and Thursdays 7:00-9:00pm.
Our Picklers
Club policies
We are private individuals organising Pickleball on everyone’s behalf and therefore not a formal members club. There’s no charge for your first session, thereafter the cost is either £6.50 per session (if you book a block of 10 sessions in advance) or £7.50 if you just want to pay as you play (PAYP). Payments are made by you by BACS transfer so you have complete control.
We believe the cost represents excellent value for money for two hours of play plus the choice of two sessions a week, and covers regular running costs including hire of the hall, replacing worn/damaged equipment, website hosting/general admin etc. Any profit made after covering costs will be reinvested into the club to the benefit of all. This could include paying for training sessions, club socials such as a summer BBQ or casual drinks evenings, subsidised travel to Pickleball competitions, club merchandise etc. We reserve the right to make spending decisions on behalf of everyone however we will always try to consult everyone where possible.
We hire the courts from Suthers School Sports Centre therefore you play at your own risk and subject to their insurance policies. Newark Pickleball accept no liability for accidents, loss/breakage of personal equipment or cancellations.
We ask that you complete a signing in form before every session which enables us to keep track of numbers, who has paid, player contact details and that you have understood the health and safety disclaimer.
Newark Pickleball is a social club for adults of all ages, genders and abilities. We run the club to provide a welcoming, learning and fun environment for all. We will not tolerate any behaviour that is contrary to these principles, anyone deemed to be contravening these will be asked to change their behaviour or to leave the club.
At Newark Pickleball all players play at their own risk, however here are some tips to ensure you play safely and sensibly:
1. Wear a good pair of tennis court shoes (no black soles, walking, running, cross trainers, or street shoes). We recommend Skechers pickleball shoes.
2. Always warm up your body before playing with some easy stretches, back, arms, shoulders, hamstrings. If in doubt consult with a certified physiotherapist or doctor who can factor in any medical problems you may have.
3. Keep well hydrated, drink plenty of fluids before, during and after playing.
4. Please do not run backwards to get to a ball over your head, it is too easy to fall or collide with a wall and hurt yourself.
5. Carefully run forward to get that low bouncing ball so you don’t fall and hurt yourself.
6. Always yell ‘BALL ON COURT’ loud and clear and NEVER run onto the adjoining court to retrieve your ball; the players on that court will throw it back to you.
7. Never walk behind players while they are playing; wait until they are between points and let them know you want to cross behind their court.
8. Don’t take an extra ball or balls with you on the court. Only one can be used and strays should never be left lying on the other courts. Always retrieve the stray ball.
9. Do not take extraneous materials (bags, bottles, towels) on the court or hang them on the net posts. These items create unsafe courts and impede visibility.
Come and join the fun!
Whether you’re a beginner or have played before, come and try Newark Pickleball!