Pickleball is one of the rapidly growing sports in the country. The game is being followed by people across the United States with an increasing player base and the popularity of professional organizations, such as USA Pickleball (USAP) and Major League Pickleball (MLP). Since the number of players and fans following pickleball has increased, so does the demand for high-quality indoor pickleball facilities as well.
Indoor pickleball facilities offer courts with year-round protection and help people save money on frequent upkeep, and ensure play can continue during any weather. For those looking into building an indoor pickleball facility, it’s essential to understand the necessities of the sport and the kind of structure that needs to be created for an enjoyable pickleball experience. This guide will help them create a premium indoor pickleball facility so that they can develop into an ultimate pickleball destination in their region.
Designing The Structure for Your Indoor Pickleball Facility
To start, one must plan out the structure that will accommodate your courts. Indoor pickleball facilities have unique designs than other athletic buildings, and various factors must be considered before construction. For clubs and facilities willing to cover pickleball courts, they first have to decide the number of courts to be covered, whether they want pickleball-only courts or a combination of tennis and pickleball having blended lines. In the case of combination courts, they must decide on the size of the structure and take care of the different dimensions.
Indoor pickleball facilities will differentiate depending on the location and the playing environment they plan to create. In the case of the four-season climate where every facility is located, it is necessary to decide whether the facility should be open-air, with partially open sides and ends, or a fully enclosed and insulated indoor court.
After finalizing the size and design of their structure, operations need to choose the ideal cladding to cover their facility. Consider insulated metal panels while building an indoor facility in more extreme climates. Fabric cladding is another effective option that helps create a comfortable, natural-feeling space for the game to continue year-round.
With energy-efficient LED or indirect lights, the owners can provide players with nighttime access to indoor pickleball facilities. Businesses can also consider incorporating other essentials, such as netting, entry gates, and fencing to separate different courts for their indoor pickleball facilities.
Court Considerations
Ultimately, the courts are one of the most important factors while constructing indoor pickleball facilities. Building courts that are sized correctly and comfortable enough to play on is essential to delivering a superior pickleball experience.
Court Surfaces
Concrete and asphalt are affordable and durable surfaces that are the most widely used types for pickleball courts. Courts in an indoor pickleball facility gain protection against inclement weather. It also indicates that one can worry less about resurfacing their courts. Indoor pickleball facilities are recommended to use a 100% acrylic coating for surfacing their courts. This helps limit slipping and player injury while providing a true pickleball bounce and minimizing wear and tear on the actual pickleball.
Another important factor is court colors since surface colors can affect ball visibility. It’s better to have contrasting colors for the courts based on the color of the pickleball. Usually, a pickleball is yellow, orange, or lime green, which makes blue courts a popular option.
Court Dimensions and Layout
Indoor pickleball facilities need to follow the guidelines given below while constructing courts to create a consistent experience across every playing area.
- Sidelines– These cover the length of the court, totaling 44’
- Baselines– A baseline sits at every end of the court, spans 20’ in length, and runs parallel to the net
- Centerline– The centerline separates the service areas while running directly down the middle and ranges from the baseline to the non-volley zone
- Service Areas– Formed by the centerline, these are two 15’ long service areas on each side of the net
- Non-volley zones– Commonly called “the kitchen,” these two 7’ broad non-volley zones are situated on opposite sides of the net. They run parallel to the baselines while separating the service areas from the net
- Net Height– Pickleball nets span the entire court width and are 36” at the sidelines, which slope down to 34” at the center of the court
Although these are the actual court dimensions, they don’t make up the entire playing area in pickleball. The court and its surrounding space must measure 30’ wide and 60’ in length for casual and open games. In competitions and tournaments, the preferred dimensions are 34’ wide and 64’ in length.
Court Quantity and Spacing
While building a permanent indoor pickleball facility, one must plan thoroughly how to organize the space. By deciding the number of courts needed, they can size out their building to accommodate each playing area comfortably.
Number of Courts
Court quantity is an important design element that one must try to finalize beforehand. Regardless of the strategy the operations chose, their indoor pickleball facilities must employ a minimum of eight courts. This offers them enough flexibility to host a variety of games ranging from smaller tournaments to a sizeable recreational pickleball club in and around New England, USA.
Court Spacing
For any number of courts one decides on, one needs to make sure their indoor pickleball facility has appropriate spacing. If they attempt to build too many courts inside their infrastructure, it likely means they aren’t following the necessary guidelines for the size of every play area. Consequently, players may end up too close to the walls, fencing, and even each other during play. This may lead to potential injuries. If businesses construct an indoor pickleball facility that serves as an all-in-one type of venue, their court spacing will affect the remainder of the structure. These indoor pickleball facilities must leave ample room for other amenities, including concession and rest areas, locker rooms, spectator sections, or even a pro shop.
If you are interested in building an indoor pickleball facility for your operation or want to add a pickleball surface to an indoor facility in your structure, reach us at Pickleball Courts of New England located in the New England USA
