First Timers
Follow our easy steps to learn the game and get ready for game play.
Coasties Pickleball Club has a clear pathway to help you start playing Pickleball quickly and easily with the appropriate skills and knowledge, as follows:
STEP 1 - Join OpenSports
We use OpenSports to run our introductory, coaching and social play sessions.
While you can use the OpenSports website to manage your bookings, we highly recommend using the mobile app that you can download from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store via the links below. You will need to create an OpenSports account to join a session. It’s free to sign up and use. More instructions on setting up OpenSports can be found here (including how to link to Coasties component).
It is recommended you upload a photo of yourself to your OpenSports profile to help hosts and other players get to know you.
Please note: Creating an account on OpenSports is NOT THE SAME as joining our club. OpenSports is just the platform we use to book pickleball sessions. To join our club you must go through our membership portal and pay the membership fees.
STEP 2 - Book into an 'Introductory' session
Go to the OpenSports website or mobile app to register for a Coasties Pickleball Club 'Introductory' session (please note these sessions are currently incorporated into 'Beginner Social' sessions at our Lake Haven venue).
At this session, not only will you learn the rules of the game and the unique scoring system, you will also be exposed to gameplay shots such as serves, returns, dinks, volleys and drives, culminating in guided match play.
Dedicated Introductory sessions are held at Kariong Courts each Sunday morning between 0900-1030 h (subject to coach availability - sessions listed on OpenSports).
| Click on links below to book in a session: |
| Introductory Sessions @ Kariong |
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| Introductory Sessions @ Lake Haven |
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STEP 3 - Become a Coasties Pickleball Club member to continue playing
While we welcome non-members to the club, to continue playing regularly at Coasties, you're required to become a member of Coasties Pickleball Club. Members receive a significant discount on session prices. Please sign up through our membership portal.
Becoming a Coasties Pickleball Club member gives you membership to Pickleball Australia, the Pickleball Association of NSW and Coasties Pickleball Club, and gives you access to all the sessions for your playing grade in OpenSports.
For information on membership fees and benefits, click here.
STEP 4 - Play a few 'Social' sessions
After you have learnt the basics of the game via an 'Introductory' session, it is time for some Social Play. In the first instance, you should be looking to join one of our 'Novice' or 'All Levels' Social sessions. Social sessions will usually incorporate a variety of 'Kings and Queens' style gameplay where players will rotate courts and partners depending on win/loss outcome to ensure an even level of play for all members. Our hosts will guide you through each session.
As your skill level develops, you will be able to progress to higher level Social sessions, often linked to DUPR (Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating) levels. DUPR levels range from 3- (Novice), 3-4 (Intermediate), 4-5 (Advanced), 5+ (Professional). More information about DUPR is available via this website.
STEP 5 - Coaching sessions and Competitive Play
After completing a few social sessions, you may like to attend one of the many coaching sessions that Coasties Pickleball has to offer. Sessions are normally small group lessons that will cover one to two fundamentals, such as 'Transitioning to the Kitchen' or 'Playing from the Baseline'.
CLICK HERE TO SEE AVAILABLE COACHING SESSIONS
As your playing level increases, you may be interested in playing in a league or a tournament. A DUPR rating is essential by this stage as tournaments are usually divided into categories such as 3.5 below, 3.5-4, 4-4.5 and 4.5 plus to ensure competitive game play across all skill levels. Most tournaments are listed on the Pickleball Tournaments website.