KAMSACK — Beginning next week, Kamsack skateboarders will be sharing space at the cement-padded Kamsack Skateboard Park with pickleball players.
At its meeting of May 12, town council approved a request from Pickleball Parkland, a group of Kamsack and district pickleball players, to use a portion of the cement pad located at the skate park north of the RCMP building as a pickleball court.
The players would erect a net and paint the court as needed at their own cost, council was told.
“We plan to have a work bee next week to paint, establishing the courts,” Brenda Andrews, secretary of Pickleball Parkland, said on May 16.
“Each pickleball court is 20 feet by 44 feet (or about six metres by l3.4 metres) and we should have room for two or three courts,” Andrews said, explaining that for the past few years the group had been playing at the courts at Madge Lake in the summers and in the gym at Kamsack Comprehensive Institute in the winters.
Andrews said that the courts at the lake are good and well used, but it restricts some people.
“If you’re not a resident or a senior, you have to have purchased a park entry ticket.
“We’d like to see courts that are open to all, and we’re grateful that a method was found to make a pickleball court in Kamsack happen.
“Pickleball Parkland is part of the provincial and federal pickleball organizations, and we hope that all the players at the new courts will support Pickleball Parkland by purchasing a membership.”
Andrews said that the club appreciates a SaskLotteries grant it received to help develop the sport and KARB (Kamsack Area Recreation Board), which helped pay for windscreens at the courts at Madge Lake.
Windscreens are not very expensive, she said. “Most outdoor courts have windscreens, and we’ll probably be working towards obtaining fencing and windscreens at the Kamsack courts.”
In the past, the club had brought in certified teachers to help instruct new players and hold lessons, she said. “We also now have an in-club instructor who can give private or group lessons.”
The sport of pickleball is inclusive, fun, and easy to learn but challenging to master, said the Pickleball Canada website. “It has something to offer for every skill level and ability, and is unique from other paddle or racquet sports.
“Clubs can be a great resource for lessons, and many will run regular clinics for various skill levels,” the website said. “Reach out to local clubs to ask what they offer or if they know of any coaches in the area. Many certified coaches or instructors offer coaching outside of a club environment.
“While competition and skill development may be what some players are looking for on the pickleball court, others are looking for an opportunity to simply play and have some fun,” it said. “Recreational pickleball often focuses more on the social and fun elements of the sport that provide a supportive and light environment for all.
“Recreational play is often less strict with ratings than tournament play, but it is still important to have an idea of your skill level to ensure you participate in the right category should your club offer level-based play, and to more easily find other players near your skill level to play with.
“All you really need to jump into a game of pickleball is a paddle, a pickleball, and a pair of running shoes,” says Pickleball Canada. “We also strongly encourage that you always wear eye protection.”
“We plan to organize some friendly challenges at the courts with our pickleball neighbours at Canora and Yorkton,” Andrews said.
