Order of Play

The Founder's Courts are a public facility available for use by everyone. They are a part of Bainbridge Island Parks and Recreation (P&R) and follow their established rules. Bainbridge Island Pickleball works closely with Parks and Recreation running organized play, maintaining the courts, and supporting the pickleball community here on Bainbridge Island. 

There are two basic types of play available at the Founders Courts (organized and public play). These guidelines will explain the differences and detail the Order of Play for the different sessions. The high level descriptions are summarized below.

(9-Noon M-F)

Organized group play (aka open play) is dedicated time where the courts are treated as a unit and various forms of court rotation are established for all players. No reservations or signups are required, simply show up and play. The type of activity (rotation) varies from day to day to provide different types of recreation and competition. Group play hours are established by P&R and are posted on our website calendar and at the courts.

• Group play limited to the six dedicated pickleball courts (except Friday where all 12 courts are utilized)
• Open play using paddle rack (single queue)
• 2-in/2-off until 14 people waiting, then switch to 4-in/4-off
• All other times, play organization should use the whiteboard when the courts are full

For a full description of Organized Play please click here.

(times OTHER than 9-Noon M-F)

All other times of the day are referred to as Community Play. During Community Play, each court is first-come first-serve and generally players will arrive with their own group. Individuals may also play and can often work into a game but groups are allowed to stay together as an exclusive unit. The courts are a limited resource and must be shared when there are more groups wanting to play than courts are available.

• Community play limited to the six dedicated pickleball courts
• At all other times play organization will utilize white board
• Once there are people waiting everyone is “on the board” and will rotate out each game and sign up again on the board if they wish to continue playing

For a full description of Public Play please click here.

Dedicated Pickleball Courts (Upper Courts, #1 - #6)

The six courts designed specifically for pickleball were opened in August of 2020. These courts have proven to be very popular and are a limited resource for the public community. To share these courts fairly with everyone, an “Order of Play” has been established and is explained in detail in the sections below (TBD Link). The primary principle is that when more people are present than can be accommodated by the six courts a sharing system is used. When demand is light then players are welcome to keep a court and play as long as they desire.

Shared Pickleball/Tennis Courts (Lower Courts, #7 - #12)

The shared courts have markings for two tennis courts and six pickleball courts. Pickleball players can set up portable nets stored on the court and use the courts as follows:

• Tennis players have priority to the courts and pickleball must move to give access to tennis players. Tennis court usage is fairly light, but due to the lack of outdoor tennis courts P&R has

 put this policy in place. Please cooperate politely with the tennis players.

• Friday morning Organized Play has exclusive rights to shared courts for pickleball Game day

activities. (More info link)

• The shared courts are first come / first served and are generally not involved in the rotation

system on the dedicated pickleball courts. This allows groups that wish to play together for

multiple games to play uninterrupted.

• Pickleball nets should be stored after play. Roll the wheeled nets to the side and pack up the

portable nets and place them in the storage bin.