The ODAS Park Pickleball Club recently wrapped up its fall session.
The club began operations at ODAS Park just 16 days before the first COVID-19 lockdown began back in March 2020. Before that, they were playing in the Orillia Room at Rotary Place.
“We’ve been off the map for so long, but now we are here, and we have full programming going as long as the province doesn’t put in any restrictions,” says program director, Robin Eddington.
Beginner lessons began on Sept. 8, followed by nine weeks of Fall Leagues that started on Sep. 27.
Eddington says ODAS Park is the perfect venue for the revitalized pickleball club, as Rotary Place was not ideal in the minds of many players.
“We played there for four years or more, there was hardly any room, and we could only make up two courts,” he explained.
“We figured we would transfer over to the Orillia Recreation Centre (ORC) but because of the pandemic, it was temporarily closed. So, we got in contact with ODAS Park with the intention of moving operations back to the Rotary Place or the ORC, but we found this to be the best spot for us.”
ODAS Park has no other court lines, making it easy for pickleball players to see the court. The venue also has lots of spacing for COVID protocols.
“We have four courts, they are all spread out with 12 feet in between each court instead of five, there is lots of room to walk around so no one is interfering. We have bleachers when we are allowed spectators, change facilities, and a snack bar,” Eddington said.
Most of the 100 members of the ODAS Park Pickleball Club come from a tennis, squash, or racquetball background.
“Those sports get hard on the knees and joints, where pickleball is a much smaller court, a quarter of the size of a tennis court, so you don’t have as much space to cover,” Eddington explained.
“This tends to be a team sport, not singles, and there is some give to the floor here, so there is less shock to the knees and all of the joints.”
Glen Morehouse and his wife, Joanne, have been a part of the ODAS Park Pickleball Club since its inception. They have been playing pickleball for six years.
“It’s very social, it’s fast-moving, and it’s quite exciting,” Glen said.
“It’s like having a fitness program that doesn't feel like work,” Joanne added.
Both are passionate about pickleball and they enjoy playing their Saturday morning games as it gives them an activity they can do together.
“It’s a friendly atmosphere, it’s something we get to do with an active group who is very welcoming and interested in engaging new people in the sport,” Joanne said.
There is a waiting list for the next season that kicks off in January. Introductory sessions to the sport begin on Jan. 11, with league play beginning on Jan. 15 for returning members and Jan. 26 for beginners.
The cost to join a league is $45 for nine weeks of play and all players need to be fully vaccinated. For more information on the ODAS Park Pickleball Club or to get information on how to join, click here.