Intermediate and Advanced Recreational Players

Outdoor play at Cashman Park May 5-October 31, 2025.

Registration opens on March 12th at 6 p.m. for Newburyport residents ($10) and March 31st for non-residents ($20).
Registration is handled by Newburyport Recreation and Youth Services Department - click on the blue button to take you to their site.
You will register for ONE OF THE SKILL LEVEL GROUPS - YELLOW, ORANGE or RED (descriptions below). Please be realistic about your skills, you probably know many of the players in each level. If you are playing at a particular level and generally losing - even when you partner a better player, you are probably playing at too high a level. Similarly, if you are always winning, it might be time to move up a level. If your win:lose ratio is 50:50, you are probably at the right level.
There will be two sessions each day 8:45-10:15 and 10:30-12:00, this is 10 sessions each week.
Most sessions will be organized by skill level group, but some sessions will mix yellow and orange and some sessions will mix orange and red - this will give you the opportunity to "play up" occasionally.
Initially, you will only be able to register for 1 session each week.
10 people will play in each sessions (100 people/week)
Each Friday at 8:00 a.m. you will receive a SIGNUPGENIUS email so that you can try and secure a spot for the following week.
THE SCHEDULE FOR DAILY PLAY WILL BE ANNOUNCED ONCE WE KNOW HOW MANY REGISTER AT EACH SKILL LEVEL

LINK TO REGISTRATION (NYRS) RECREATION DEPARTMENT

PLAYING LEVELS

Playing Level

Blue Level................................ never played, need to learn or in the first weeks of learning.

Green Players ........................... newer player or someone who cannot cover the court quickly. May have issues with serving.

Yellow Players .......................... Intermediate recreational players. More comfortable with own shots, but do not always use them strategically. Can move around the court well, and serve well. Resetting and court positioning still needs to be mastered. May retreat off the NVZ line unnecessarily. Rallies are generally 3-6 hits. Love the game, but also highly value the social aspect of playing.

Orange Players ...................... Advanced intermediate recreational players. Starting to think strategically when lining up a shot. STUDY THE GAME. PAY ATTENTION TO PARTNER POSITIONING. Can play a much faster paced game with greater accuracy of placement of shots. Reliable serve. Rallies are 6-10 shots. Know the importance of playing at the NVZ and do not play from back or mid-court unless forced into defense. Probably mostly the power game (characterized by driving and hard slams) however, these players are aware of the effectiveness of the soft game and are working on drops and resetting and can sustain dinking rallies.

Red Players ..............................the best recreational players WHO STUDY THE GAME, PRACTICE AND HAVE PERFECTED A RANGE OF SHOTS. Have a reliable and effective serve. Strategically exploit opponents' weaknesses. Great anticipation of opponents' shots and demonstrate effective partner positioning. Use stacking when appropriate. Use spin strategically not indiscriminately. Does not just play the hard driving and slamming game, instead red players know when to reset and change-up the pace of the game.

MORE DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS OF SKILL LEVELS

GREEN - You know the basic rules and you prefer to play the game at a slower pace.

ORANGE/RED - Students of the game. Quick reactions with focus on positioning and accuracy.

GREEN - You know the basic rules and you prefer to play the game at a slower pace.

Still learning the rules.
Probably, haven't played for very long or you haven't played regularly
Your serve is in at least 50% of the time, but it does not always go deep.
You may still be caught by the two bounce rule
You tend to stay back after returning serve rather than getting to the kitchen line
You tend to be a little fearful of volleying at the kitchen line.
Still learning the various shots and cannot really predict where your shots will land.
Not aware of making kitchen faults until someone points out that you are volleying in the kitchen.

YELLOW - You play competently, but not always strategically.

ORANGE/RED - Students of the game. Quick reactions with focus on positioning and accuracy.

GREEN - You know the basic rules and you prefer to play the game at a slower pace.

You serve deep and generally serve in.
You remember to stay back after serving to anticipate a deep return of serve
You try to return the serve deep.
Rallies are shorter an d on average 5 shots.
You tend to stay back staying short of the NVZ line, and therefore get caught in the transition zone and lose the point.
You are still a little fearful of playing on the NVZ line, particularly because of the need to volley quickly
You are beginning to get more control over shots and you are beginning to place them with a little more accuracy
You don't really think about using the third shot drop
You don't yet block (take the pace off) hard shots coming at you
You are not yet concentrating on court positioning with your partner

ORANGE/RED - Students of the game. Quick reactions with focus on positioning and accuracy.

Good mobility and positioning on the court.
Your serve is deep and accurate, you can serve to the opponent's backhand when needed.
You return serves deep and get to the NVZ immediately after the return of serve.
You play at the NVZ line as appropriate.
Sustain longer rallies.
You know tactics for keeping opponents on the defensive.
You can return soft and hard shots and sustain rallies
You execute the third/fifth shot drop and know when to use it.
You can change the pace of the game with blocking shots and drop shots and move into dinking rallies.
You can get to the majority of balls because you have good anticipation and speed.
You know how to work with your partner strategically.
Red level players strategically use stacking.

GENERAL RELEASE AND WAIVER OF CLAIMS

PLEASE READ CAREFULLY - you will sign a waiver of this type when you register

I do hereby agree to forever release the City of Newburyport, and all of its employees, agents, officials, board members, volunteers and also any and all individuals and organizations assisting or participating in use of the parkland and/or facilities of the Newburyport Parks (the “Releasees”) from any and all claims, rights of action, and causes of action that may have arisen in the past, or may arise in the future, directly or indirectly, from personal injuries to me or property damage resulting from my use of the City of Newburyport Parks parkland and/or facilities. I also promise to indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Releasees against any and all legal claims, suits, and proceedings of any description that may have been asserted in the past, or may be asserted in the future, arising directly or indirectly from my use of the City of Newburyport Parks parkland and/or facilities. I further affirm that I have read this Consent and Release Form and that I understand the contents of this Form. I understand that my use of Newburyport's parkland and/or facilities is voluntary, that I understand the risks of such use, and that I am free to choose not to participate in said use. By acknowledging this RELEASE AND WAIVER OF CLAIMS as part of this form, I affirm that I have decided to participate in this use with full knowledge and understanding of this RELEASE AND WAIVER OF CLAIMS and that the Releasees will not be liable to anyone for personal injuries and/or property damage which I may suffer in said use of parkland and/or facilities.

I further understand that my participation in the pickleball program organized on behalf of pickleball players by the volunteers of Newburyport Pickleball, is voluntary and that I am free to choose not to participate in said program. By indicating my agreement below, I affirm that I have decided to participate in this program with full knowledge that the Releasees will not be liable to anyone for personal injuries and property damage, including exposure to and infection by the COVID-19 virus, which I may suffer in this program.

I have read this release of liability and assumption of risk agreement, and understand its terms, understand that I have given up substantial rights by AGREEING IN THE FORM BELOW, i do so freely and voluntarily without any inducement.

I further give permission for the City of Newburyport and Newburyport Pickleball to take photographs during the pickleball sessions for the purposes of of publishing in print or media to illustrate and promote the program experience.

Intermediate and Advanced Recreational Players

Outdoor play at Cashman Park May 5-October 31, 2025.

PLAYING LEVELS

Playing Level

NEW AND BEGINNER RECREATIONAL PLAYERS

MORE DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS OF SKILL LEVELS

GREEN - You know the basic rules and you prefer to play the game at a slower pace.

ORANGE/RED - Students of the game. Quick reactions with focus on positioning and accuracy.

GREEN - You know the basic rules and you prefer to play the game at a slower pace.

YELLOW - You play competently, but not always strategically.

ORANGE/RED - Students of the game. Quick reactions with focus on positioning and accuracy.

GREEN - You know the basic rules and you prefer to play the game at a slower pace.

ORANGE/RED - Students of the game. Quick reactions with focus on positioning and accuracy.

ORANGE/RED - Students of the game. Quick reactions with focus on positioning and accuracy.

ORANGE/RED - Students of the game. Quick reactions with focus on positioning and accuracy.

GENERAL RELEASE AND WAIVER OF CLAIMS

PLEASE READ CAREFULLY - you will sign a waiver of this type when you register

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