Pickleball players (Photo 34279472 © Robert Hills | Dreamstime.com)

By Kevin Rothwell

'Utter nonsense'

Pickleball players perplexed by policy

May 28, 2021 | 1:04 PM

A Coldstream council decision to require pickleball players at the Mount Ida tennis courts to use a foam ball has players upset. The move was driven by noise complaints from neighbours.

“Foam balls can be used in casual games, drills, or practice but are not approved for official tournament use. Those playing outside should pay special attention to weather conditions as wind can affect the movement of the ball,” Pickleballcentral.com stated.

After reading the original story, a number of pickleball players contacted Vernon Matters, noting that foam balls are not appropriate for outdoor play.

“It is nonsense, utter nonsense. Before COVID, we played at Marshall Field, Sawicki and Mount Ida and there could be 24 to 30 players at the court and there were never any complaints,” player and Mount Ida resident Gail Imrie told Vernon Matters.

Imrie stated that because of COVID and the construction of the pickleball enclosure at Marshall Field, a group of 10 women started playing three days a week for two hours at a time, at the Mount Ida court.

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“We are all seniors, we are all over 70, it’s our only way to get out for fresh-air, exercise, to socialize. We abide by the rules, we only have ten of us on the court, we social distance, we don’t start before 8:30 (a.m.) and if tennis players come up, they play on the other half,” Imrie said.

Coldstream Coun. Doug Dirk noted that the noise from the balls echos off the stucco siding on houses in the area, compounding the noise as it bounces around.

“I live right below the courts, and there is a little park below the courts, and when the kids play in the afternoon and on weekends, I can hear the ping, ping of the basketball, but I knew that was going to be filled with kids. I think it’s great. I could choose not to move here if I didn’t want to put up with that,” Imrie added.

The group plans to write to council and perhaps appear as a delegation, explaining why the foam ball requirement is essentially a ban on pickleball.

“Coldstream just finished painting new lines on the court; pickleball and tennis lines. If they didn’t want us to play, why did they paint pickleball lines?” questioned Imrie.