We had a few net issues for the Monday morning pickleball social session up at the University. I walked up to the sports centre to find an army of sports centre staff, as well as seasoned pickleballers, trying to put a pickleball net together.
It came close to a Krypton Factor style test gone horribly wrong. Not only did we have too many poles, we also had far too many cooks. I took the strategic decision to step aside as the frustration was clear for all to see.
It also didn’t help that one of the sports centre staff trying - and failing - to erect a pickleball net was one of the lovely Rebels players. Never meet your idols, etc. It’s quite a stretch from cheering on the Rebs, week in week out, and then offering ineptitude advice as to how to assemble a pickleball net.
No worries, a compromise and a solution of sorts was found. We resorted to playing with the badminton nets and dropping these by a metre or so. Job’s a good ‘un.
Game on!
We had eight players - the perfect number for a couple of games of doubles, as winners stayed where they were and losers moved down the court. I found myself staying stationary rather than moving down.
I did find myself partnered up with a half-decent pickleball player for one particular game. We managed to actually pickle our opponents 11-0. I don’t think I actually touched the ball.
I somehow managed to blag myself a spot for the second hour despite not actually being booked in. We had four players remaining, leading to some very competitive games. My calf held up and didn’t ping.