There are very few approved plans for adult indoor sport but the Nanaimo Pickleball Club has restarted sessions at Oliver Woods Community Centre. (Nanaimo Pickleball Club)

By Dan Marshall

Back Indoors

Nanaimo Pickleball Club among first groups to implement plan for safe indoor play

Jan 21, 2021 | 7:07 PM

NANAIMO — Indoor sessions have returned to the Oliver Woods Community Centre for the Nanaimo Pickleball Club.

Eight people allowed in the gym at one time with six different 90-minute singles slots for members.

Club president Anna Edgar said COVID-19 cancelled any tournaments and scaled back opportunities to play locally, but these sessions are a step in the right direction.

“To be able to come back and play after everything that’s happened in this past year I’m so thankful. There are other places where people aren’t allowed to play.”

Since last March, opportunities for indoor pickleball were limited for the Nanaimo club’s more than 330 members. A small window in health restrictions meant some games could be played from mid-September until Dec. 1.

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Edgar said the first few days of court time this month have been mostly filled. There’s even been a waiting list for some time slots.

Most indoor sports for adults haven’t been allowed under current health restrictions but the club was able to come up with an approved return to play plan to get participants back in action.

“We went to Pickleball BC and Pickleball Canada to see if there were guidelines and they didn’t have much for indoor play. We came up with our own plan and our players been very positive about it.”

A large percentage of the Nanaimo Pickleball Club is made up of players 50 years and older. Edgar has observed the returnees being very cautious and following all of the health rules currently in place.

She admitted COVID concerns have forced some people to make the decision not to come back yet.

Outdoor pickleball was largely unaffected through 2020 aside from restrictions on doubles play.

The Nanaimo Pickleball Club hosts an annual tournament every summer at Oliver Woods. It’s the biggest event for the club but it wasn’t able to run in 2020.

Edgar is optimistic the event will continue as soon as provincial health rules will allow.

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dan@nanaimonewsnow.com

On twitter: @danmarshall77