We have 3 great starting points for anyone new to pickleball:

• Learn to Play:  This is a 4 session series in which you’ll be introduced to the rules, positioning, scoring and basic shots of the game.  You’ll play with others who are learning in a fun, supportive environment.   

• Quick Start:  This is one 90 minute class, for folks with a racket/paddle background, who are currently physically active, and have an athletic background.  Players will learn the fundamentals of the game while playing.

• Take a Lesson: Email one of the pros to set up a time to learn with them.  Lessons can have 1-4 players.

• Participants in Learn to Play classes will be able to borrow our Demo paddles.  

• Those who rent courts can use our loaner paddles - these tend to be older models that still work perfectly fine and are great for groups.

• We provide Franklin X40 balls on each court.  Please return balls to their holders after play.

People play pickleball for so many different reasons – to meet new friends, to get exercise, to socialize and/or to feel the fun of competition.  We have programming to meet all of those needs.  Those who want social play tend to stay in the less advanced groups; those who want more competition tend to move toward the upper and more advanced groups.  Some find people who play the way they do, and rent courts together and play on a weekly basis.

Regardless of how competitive (or not) one is, we strive to be a place that welcomes all people and where friendships happen across skill levels! 

We have a TeamReach group called MRCPB, group code MRCPB123

Members can message individuals or the whole group to find partners. MRC staff will also post program openings and updates on the app.

• Open Play: Players come to the session that fits their skill level, players randomly populate the courts, play a game, then losers come off & winners split.  Two new players come off the bench to play the next game.  After playing two games, players come off and wait for a court to open.

• Round Robin:  The play is organized and players are assigned a beginning court based on level. Game scores are used to determine whether they will move up or down to play more or less challenging players.  There is very little or no waiting out. 

Yes.  We offer 10-week contracts in which a group of players commit to renting a certain number of courts at the same time each week.  In return for an upfront payment, players are assured they will be able to play at a convenient time, and they receive a discount on the court fee.  To request a time, email pickleball@midcoastrec.org.

DUPR (Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating) is a global, algorithm-based system that provides a single, universal number (from 2.0 to 8.0) representing a pickleball player's skill level, based on match results, opponent strength, and game scores, allowing for fair matchmaking and progress tracking in the sport. It's used by everyone from beginners to pros and updates dynamically, making it the most common standard in pickleball for tournaments and competitive play.  Players can sign up for a free account if interested.

Most players find pickleball more fun and enjoyable when teams pair off against teams of near-equal abilities, therefore we divide play into Novice, Intermediate, Upper Intermediate and Advanced.  These are not necessarily related to the number of years one has been playing.

These terms can be subjective, so there is a number rating system to help people find the best fit of play.

Here is a guide to find your level.