Pickleball

Pickleball

Pickleball is currently played at the Y indoors in our basketball gyms. During these times, we set up pickleball nets and reserve the gym for friendly pick-up games with no ranking system. Please be prepared to rotate court time/games with other players! We have pickleball paddles and balls available for use. Pick-up pickleball play is free for Y Members. Guests may participate with the purchase of a day guest pass.

Join a Pickup Pickleball Group

• Cansler Family Y: Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 10am-12pm;
• Pilot Family Y: Mondays and Wednesdays from 11am-12:30pm
• Tennova Family Y: Monday-Friday 11am-1pm; Saturdays 7am-11am
• Downtown Y: no designated time; pickleball nets and equipment are available for use in our large Group Fitness Studio at any time when a group fitness class is not meeting.
• Davis Y: Outdoor pickleball courts are now open for Y Members only! Call 865-777-9622 to reserve court time from Monday-Friday 8:30am-8:30pm, Saturday 8:30am-5:30pm, and Sundays 1-5pm. 1 hour blocks available. Call no more than 24 hours in advance to reserve court time.

Beginner Pickleball Clinics

New to the sport or looking to improve your skills? Join a Beginner Pickleball Clinic at the Y! Participants will learn the basic rules and etiquette of the game plus easy tips for improving their play. Then, they’ll participate in practice drills and scrimmages against other beginner pickleball players. All equipment is provided. Please register for these free clinics online by searching for “pickleball.”

• Cansler Family Y:
  • Clinics will return soon!
• Tennova Family Y:
  • First and third Wednesday of each month 1-3pm, starting in September
• Davis Family Y:
  • Tuesdays and Saturdays 8:30am-10:30am in August
  • Tuesdays 6:30-8:30pm in August

How do you play Pickleball?

Basic Overview

Pickleball is similar to tennis, ping pong, badminton, and other racket sports, but with a unique set of rules to make it enjoyable for all ages and all fitness levels in either singles or doubles.

The Court

Pickleball uses a badminton-sized court: 20′ by 44′. There is a seven-foot no-volley zone on each side of the net, to prevent “spiking.”

The Serve

Serves are to be made diagonally, starting with the right-hand service-square and alternating each serve. The serve must clear the seven-foot non-volley zone in front of the net and land in the diagonal service court.

Serves should always be underhand with the paddle below the waist, and the server must keep one foot behind the back line when serving. The ball should be hit into the air without being bounced. The same player from the serving team continues to serve until the point/control is lost, at which point the partner on the same team takes over the serve. If the ball touches the net but still lands within the appropriate service court, the serve may be taken over (re-do).

Volleys

To volley means to hit a ball in the air without first letting it bounce. This can only be done when the player’s feet are behind the non-volley zone line (seven feet behind the net).

Double Bounce Rule

Each team must play their first shot off the bounce. The receiving team must let the serve bounce and the serving team must let the return of the serve bounce before playing it. Once these two bounces have occurred the ball can either be volleyed or played off the bounce.

Fault

A fault is committed when the ball:

• Is hit out of bounds
• Does not clear the net
• Is volleyed from the non-volley zone
• Is volleyed before a bounce has occurred on each side

Who Serves First?

Toss a coin – the winner of the coin toss chooses whether to serve first, or not to serve first.

Download and print the USAPA abbreviated version of Pickleball rules.