FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Pickleball Lincoln Inc. (PLI) is a non-profit corporation whose mission is to foster the growth of a unique community focused on fun, fitness, and friendship. Most Pickleball court locations in Lincoln were made possible by the work of PLI. PLI is the main scheduler for Tournaments, open play and round robins throughout Lincoln. Some benefits of joining PLI are: One free lesson for new PLI members, access to portable nets and first aid kits at city park locations, skills & drills events, tournaments, volunteer opportunities, AND your membership donations are 100% dedicated to court maintenance and new court construction. If you play pickleball in Lincoln Nebraska, you are most likely a beneficiary of PLI.

Peterson Park in South Lincoln has ten (10) permanent outdoor Pickleball courts dedicated to open play / drop-in play in the Spring-Summer-Fall seasons (See "What is Open Play or Drop-In Play" FAQ). It can be intimidating for beginners who show up to play and don't know where they fit in skill-wise and what type of play etiquette is used. Do not fret! Pickleball Lincoln Inc. has worked hard to foster an inclusive, welcoming, and friendly culture among our members, and we are sure you will have a good experience and meet new friends. In general, the six (6) west courts are for intermediate to advanced players. This isn't a strict or enforced rule but as a beginner, we suggest starting on one of the four (4) east courts. If you are by yourself and the courts are full, pick a court you would like to play on by placing your paddle in one of the paddle holders mounted on the fence adjacent to the court. When the current game is over, the correct etiquette is that the current players come off the court to see if there are any paddles in the holders. The owners of those paddles should get to play next. It may be that you are the only one waiting at that court. In that case, three of the current players would go back on the court and you would partner up with one of them. Introduce yourself! Tell the other players you are a beginner and just learning the game. Ask the names of the other players and then enjoy your game.

Open/ Drop-in Play is loosely organized by the players themselves. Players arrive and leave the court venue as they wish. When four players are done with a game, those waiting should be invited to rotate onto the court. Being respectful, friendly, and allowing all to participate is the key to making this type of play work. Round Robin (RR) play is run by a coordinator who organizes the event. It is important that players sign up for each RR and, if necessary, remove their name from the sign-up list if they are unable to attend. A full RR session typically lasts about two hours. Games are played until there is a winning side or until time expires (usually 11-12 minutes). After each game, players switch courts, partners and opponents based on how the RR coordinator has set up play. Tournaments are structured events that focus on more competitive play. Tournaments are divided into both skill brackets and divisions. Divisions are typically men's, women's, and mixed. Most tournaments are played with a partner as a team, and play lasts several hours. The details and structure of tournaments operate on a per-tournament basis.

The best way is to create a free account for yourself on PLI’s website. Once you have an account, navigate to the “I Want to Play!” tab. There you will find both structured and open play times and locations around Lincoln. You can filter for Recreational play or locations around town. Register for a time, and have fun! You can also stop by the East courts at Peterson park for continual drop-in play. A free beginner lesson is also included when you join the PLI community, which can help get you connected to other new players.

Speedway Sports Complex in southwest Lincoln is a privately owned indoor facility and is used by Pickleball Lincoln, Inc. (PLI) for drop-in and Round Robin play during winter months. We are able to use the facility between the hours of 7:30AM – 2:00PM on weekdays. The indoor gym space allocated to PLI is set up for dual use as basketball and pickleball. When used for pickleball, there are potentially 18 usable courts! The cost to play for PLI members is currently $5 per session or $35 per month and these costs go directly to Speedway. It can be intimidating for beginners who show up to play and don't know where they fit in skill-wise and what type of play etiquette is used. Do not fret! Pickleball Lincoln Inc. has worked hard to foster an inclusive, welcoming, and friendly culture among our members, and we are sure you will have a good experience and meet new friends. Even better, PLI volunteer coordinators are present during scheduled play time to take court fees, answer questions, and to make sure things run smoothly. Intermediate to advanced players typically play on the courts located in the south bay. As a beginner, we suggest starting on one of the courts in the middle bay. If all courts are full, stand along the wall where the bleachers are located and wait for a game to end. When the current game is over, the correct etiquette is that the current players come off the court to see if there are any players waiting to play so that they have a turn. Introduce yourself! Tell the other players you are a beginner and just learning the game. Ask the names of the other players and then enjoy your game. If you have any questions, please speak to one of the volunteer coordinators.

COMING SOON! Mobile Instructions: At the top left, select the three lines which are a drop-down menu. From this menu, select the carrot next to your picture which allows you to change view your profile. You will be presented with a new menu, select ‘My Subscriptions.’ Your annual support donation is shown on this screen. Desktop Instructions: At the top right, select the drop down next to your profile picture. A menu is presented, select ‘My Subscriptions.’ Your annual support donation is shown on this screen.