Safety

• If you have any concerns about your physical ability to play Pickleball, consult your doctor.

• If you have health conditions the club needs to be aware of, or if specific actions are required in an emergency, inform a committee member.

• Wear appropriate court shoes and consider using eye protection.

• Always prioritise safety:

• Wait for play to stop before walking behind a court.

• Never chase a ball onto another court.

• Stop play if a ball rolls onto your court.

• Avoid running backwards.

• Do not leave water bottles or balls on the court surface.

• If injured or unwell, stop playing immediately – do not continue for fear of disrupting the playlist or out of loyalty to your partner.

• Stay up to date with the rules of Pickleball.

Etiquette

• Sign up for sessions in good time. Avoid last-minute dropouts – in emergencies, notify the session host as early as possible. Notice for withdrawals must be before the posted deadline. All late cancellations will still incur the session fee. Appeals for reimbursement may be submitted in writing to the committee but will only be considered in exceptional circumstances.

• Arrive on time, help with setup, and participate in the warm-up.

• Use respectful language. Be welcoming to partners, opponents, guests, and new members.

• Make line calls on your side only and only call a ball OUT if it is clearly OUT. If in doubt, the ball is IN.

• Respect your opponents’ line calls. Show good sportsmanship. If you are unsure, favour your opponents.

• At the end of each game, touch paddles or shake hands and thank all players.

• Assist with packing away nets and thank hosts or coaches at the end of sessions.

• Do not direct negative feedback to session leaders or coaches. Email any concerns to the club for committee review.

Bullying in any form will not be tolerated. Avoid criticism or negative body language toward your partner. Recognise that people participate in sport for assorted reasons and encourage enjoyment for all.

• In recreational play, experienced players should adjust their play to ensure challenge without overwhelming newer or weaker players. Avoid excessively targeting less experienced players.

• Only provide coaching or advice when asked and always do so constructively.

• Recognise the valuable contributions of coaches, session leaders, and officials, all of whom are volunteers giving their time to support your enjoyment of Pickleball.

Experienced Player Responsibility

• Experienced players are encouraged to give back to the club by leading or participating in sessions that support the development of improver players.

Club Representation

• Members must wear suitable club kits, as agreed by the committee, when representing FAPC in external matches.

• When representing the club externally:

• Show respect to officials and accept their decisions without public complaint.

• Be a positive role model and uphold the reputation of Fleet Aces.

Disciplinary Action

• Any member thought to be in breach of the Code of Conduct will be referred to the committee. Three committee members will be selected at random to review the matter and determine appropriate action. This may include:

• Offering guidance on expected improvements,

• Issuing a warning,

• Or, in serious cases, requiring the member to leave the club or implementing any other action at the committee’s discretion.