Pickleball

All levels are welcome at drop-ins, but it helps if you have played before. To learn how to play or improve your skills, register for a pickleball program.

Beginners

Beginner programs will help you learn the rules and develop skills.

Intermediate

For experienced players with skills including paddle control, ball placement, serving and returning.

Advanced

For those who have completed Intermediate programs and understand game strategy with strong fundamental skills.

Competitive

Pickleball Ladder offers competitive games each week at a consistent level. You could also consider joining the Oakville Recreational Pickleball League.

Seniors

Pickleball Beginner 50+ and Outdoor Beginner 50+ will help you learn the rules and develop skills.

Pickleball Intermediate 50+ and Outdoor Intermediate 50+ are for players who have taken the Beginner level or have other experience, want to improve their game and work on game strategy.

Pickleball Advanced 50+ is for players who have taken previous levels, plus can carry a rally, dink, serve and return with few errors.

How to Join

Drop-in

Given the popularity of our programs, pre-registration is recommended to avoid disappointment. We welcome walk-ins if spaces are available.

If a program is fully registered (as is often the case with pickleball), spaces will be offered to those waiting 15 minutes after the program start time.

Residents can register for drop-in programs eight days in advance. Non-residents can register seven days in advance.

Register for a program

You can add yourself to the waitlist for seasonal pre-registered programs that are full. If a spot opens for that activity or additional sessions are added in advance, you will be contacted by email.

If you do not respond within 48 hours, your spot will be offered to the next person on the waitlist.

Indoor

There are currently 16 courts in multipurpose gymnasium spaces across five locations:

• Glen Abbey Community Centre – three courts
• Oakville Trafalgar Community Centre – four courts
• Queen Elizabeth Park Community and Cultural Centre – three courts in the Double Gym, one court in the Single Gym
• River Oaks Community Centre – two courts
• Trafalgar Park Community Centre – three courts

We offer select pickleball programming at all of our community centres. Levels available vary. Only seasonal lessons are currently provided at Iroquois Ridge Community Centre, no drop-ins.

The Oakville Recreational Pickleball League runs out of Oakville Trafalgar Community Centre.

Outdoor

The town has public outdoor courts in 35 parks, with 12 locations offering evening play. There are 13 dedicated courts and 30 shared courts.

Coming soon:

• two dedicated outdoor courts at Glenashton Park (late May 2025)
• seven dedicated lit outdoor courts at Sixteen Mile Sports Park (Fall 2025)
• six indoor courts at Sixteen Mile Community Centre (Fall 2025)

Visit our Tennis and Pickleball Court Renewal page for updates.

In the summer, Pickleball – Beginner 50+ Outdoor and Pickleball – Intermediate 50+ Outdoor lessons are offered at Glenashton Park (near Iroquois Ridge Community Centre).

In the fall, Pickleball – Beginner 50+ Outdoor and Pickleball – Intermediate 50+ Outdoor lessons are offered at William Rose Park (near Dundas Street East and Eight Line).

For the most up-to-date rules of the game, please visit the Pickleball Canada website.

Safety

The following are strongly recommended:

• protective eyewear
• guards, and
• court shoes

Respect others

• We welcome players of all abilities. Please play responsibly and treat everyone with respect.
• Aggressive and/or inappropriate conduct, including offensive/vulgar language is not permitted. Such behaviour in the facility or park will not be tolerated.

Playing indoors

• Please use the whiteboard where applicable to be added to the rotation for court availability.
• Help keep our facilities clean. Bring indoor shoes to change into when outdoor paths are wet and/or salted.
• If speaking on a cell phone, move to the lobby.
• Taking videos/photos in the change room is strictly prohibited.

Playing outdoors

• Authorized programming by the Recreation and Culture department is prioritized over open play.
• If others are waiting to play, players must relinquish court after 30 minutes of play.
• Private lessons are not permitted.
• Tennis ball machines are not permitted.

Coaching or teaching

• Only Town of Oakville staff, approved partners, and clients paying the commercial/CORE/residential rental rate are permitted to provide formal lessons or personal training services in our facilities.
• Structured guidance, instruction, or any transactional training services are not permitted during drop-in or reserved recreational programs. Casual pointers or tips are allowed, but they must remain informal and incidental to recreational activities, without resembling ongoing instruction.
• Town staff may use discretion in determining whether an activity qualifies as teaching or is simply informal assistance.

Registration notes

If you are unable to attend the session within the first 15 minutes, please refrain from registering as this prevents others from joining a fully booked session. Simply drop-in later and you will be permitted once there is capacity in the gym.

As of May 1, we have launched a pilot to improve access to high-demand drop-in programs and the 15-minute grace period has been removed for select programs, including pickleball.

To avoid losing your spot, we encourage you to arrive a few minutes early to check in and get ready for your activity. If you are not checked in by the scheduled start time, your reserved spot will be given to someone waiting to participate. No refunds will be issued for missed or late arrivals once a spot has been reassigned.

This change is being tested to shorten wait times and help more participants take part in their favourite programs. This pilot applies only to the programs listed and will be reviewed based on participation and operational feedback.