As fun as it is, frustrations abound in recreational drop-in pickleball.
This discussion on Reddit last year is just a taste of thousands of others on this subject easily searched on Google.
While everyone attending drop-in pickleball wants to play pickleball, they’re not all seeking the same experience. Some want to play hard. They want to compete. They want to be challenged.
Others are there for a social experience. Competition is not their top priority and the very last thing they are seeking is a challenge.
So what to do? How do you resolve this issue?
Most community clubs will defer to the second group. They will say that drop-in programs are primarily social occasions. They will tell people seeking a challenge to go spend thousands of dollars to join a private club.
Fortunately, for players in southwest Calgary who can’t afford to spend thousands of dollars on a private pickleball club membership, the Cedarbrae Community Centre offers leagues for all levels from beginner to Future Pros.
Each of the seven leagues offered at Cedarbrae is carefully curated to ensure that every player is competitive with every other player.
| League Name | Level | Rating | Days/Times |
| Friendly Folks | Beginner | 2.00-2.50 | Various |
| The Wild Bunch | Beginner/Novice | 2.25-2.75 | Various |
| Almost Intermediate | Novice | 2.50-3.00 | Various |
| Pickle Pals | Novice/Intermediate | 2.75-3.25 | Various |
| Halfway Heroes | Intermediate | 3.00-3.50 | Various |
| Happy Hour | Advanced Intermediate | 3.25-3.75 | Various |
| Future Pros | Advanced Intermediate | 3.50-4.00 | Various |
By ensuring that each of their leagues is filled with players of a similar level, Cedarbrae is able to create a fun and competitive environment for like-minded pickleball players.
Beginners play with beginners. Novice play with novice. Intermediate with intermediate. And anybody who improves has a chance to move up.
Check out their LEAGUES page to find out more.