Sponsors
Membership benefits, other than the right to vote, will be available to you on completion of the application form and the payment of the relevant fees. Your application will be acknowledged by email including a membership number. Your right to vote and official membership will be automatic, unless, within 60 days of applying, the application is rejected by the club, state association, or PA. If this occurs you will be notified in writing and all fees will be refunded.
Please note:
1. If approved, an individual becomes a member of PA and the State Member Association and the affiliated club (if relevant) through which they applied.
2. In the situation that membership is not approved, the applying member will receive a full refund of the registration costs.
3. If membership is not approved an individual may still apply directly to the level above for membership (except National level).
I understand and will adhere to the policies and guidelines, as applicable, provided by Pickleball Australia Association Limited, its affiliated State Members Associations and the affiliated club/association.
I further declare:
1. I consider myself to be physically fit and capable of full participation and agree to notify my nominated association if this changes. Furthermore, in the event I am injured I give permission for event organisers to obtain emergency medical treatment on my behalf.
2. At pickleball events I will be responsible for monitoring my health status, warming up before sessions, hydrating to maintain fluids during sessions and cool down after sessions. I will follow directions from Event Hosts at any pickleball events attended.
(Lodgement of this application is taken as a signature to this declaration)
Code of Conduct and Court Etiquette.
Pickleball was created to be a fun, competitive, and highly social sport. Since its inception, it has embodied an ethic of good sportsmanship that includes respect, fair play, and graciousness in winning and losing.
This document establishes the Code of Conduct and Court Etiquette for all participants at Port Macquarie Pickleball Club. Our goal is to create a welcoming and positive environment for everyone. This policy identifies unacceptable behaviours which violate our club values, and outlines the conduct we expect from all participants. As a club we are setting these clear expectations to foster a safe, inclusive, and respectful environment.
* Treat all players, volunteers, staff, officials and spectators with courtesy and respect.
Introduce yourself to any players you do not know.
Never use foul language or obscene gestures. Never denigrate another person.
At the end of each game, meet the other players at the net to acknowledge them in a positive manner. In officiated matches, thank the referee/s.
Foster an inclusive environment by supporting players' adaptive needs.
* Know the Official Rules of Pickleball, apply them fairly and cooperate in any situation that is not expressly covered by the rules.
* Practice good sportsmanship when making line calls.
Respect your opponents' right to make all calls on their end of the court.
Call your own shot OUT if you see that it is out.
If you question an opponent’s call, do so respectfully and do not argue.
If you defer a line call to your opponents, accept their call graciously.
Do not call a ball OUT unless you see it clearly and are certain it is out.
Promptly correct any wrong call your partner may make.
Resolve any uncertainty in favour of your opponents.
* Call a fault on yourself or your partner as soon as the fault occurs, regardless of whether your opponents are aware of the fault.
Watch your own and your partner’s feet for service or NVZ foot faults.
Accept your opponent’s and partner’s fault calls graciously.
Admit if the ball hits you or your paddle on the way out of bounds.
* Claim a replay only if a hinder affects your team’s ability to play the ball. (A hinder is any transient element or occurrence not caused by a player that adversely impacts play, not including permanent objects. Examples include, but are not limited to; balls, flying insects, foreign material that, in the opinion of the referee, impacted a player’s ability to make a play on the ball.)
* In social play, rotate on and off courts fairly and courteously.
Don’t jump ahead of others who are waiting to play.
Ensure everyone takes turns rotating off the courts.
Be prepared to play when it is your turn.
If you must cross over or behind an active court, wait until play is stopped and cross quickly in a single group to minimize disruption of that game.
* Make safety a priority, while using common sense.
If a ball strays onto your court, make eye contact with the correct person and roll or toss the ball back to them without disrupting play on other courts.
If your ball enters another court, immediately warn any players whose safety may be in jeopardy by loudly calling BALL. If the ball is rolling behind their court and does not present a danger to players, do not interrupt play but wait until play stops to retrieve it or ask for its return.
Never throw your paddle or strike the ball in anger or frustration.
* As a stronger player in social play, be kind to other players.
Avoid hitting excessively to a weaker player.
Do not slam the ball directly at other players.
* Be a respectful and supportive partner.
Avoid criticism and negative non-verbal communications.
Provide coaching and advice only when requested.
* Be respectful of other players' time and effort.
Pickleball is most often played in a traditional doubles format with four players on the court. A last minute no-show or leaving a group session early disrupts the group dynamic and leaves the other three players hanging without a full game. Please respect the time and effort of your team mates by giving at least 24 hours notice if you can’t play, and staying for the 2 hour session you have booked.
* We reserve the right to ban the use of any paddle at our club which:
Is not UPA-A and/or USAP certified.
Is a fake or clone, usually from Temu or Alibaba.
Has failed structurally or been altered to gain an unfair performance advantage eg: delaminated, core-crushed, or manipulated.
Gives us reasonable cause to believe the paddle is performing in an unfair or unsafe manner.
Consequences for Violations.
Port Macquarie Pickleball Club enforces a progressive discipline policy to maintain a safe and welcoming environment. Severe infractions may bypass early steps at the club’s discretion.
First Offence: Verbal warning and a formal review of the club code of conduct.
Second Offence: Written warning and a mandatory two-week suspension from all club activities.
Third Offence: Immediate termination of club membership without a refund.
Severe Infractions: Immediate, permanent club bans for physical violence, threats, or discrimination.
I have read and understood this Player Code of Conduct, and commit to upholding these principles as a member of Port Macquarie Pickleball Club.