OKM TENNIS AND PICKLEBALL COURT RULES

Old Keene Mill Swim & Racquet Club (OKM) is a members-only facility. There are 3 full tennis courts each with Pickleball court lines on either side of the net (total of 6 Pickleball courts). At this time, the “reservation system” simply identifies the type of usage for each court, and court usage is on a first-come/first-serve basis. OKM may start using actual reservations in the future if needed. OKM offers Junior Tennis programs for players 5-18 years old. OKM also offers Men’s and Women’s tennis teams.  Both Junior and Adult teams  participate in the Northern Virginia Tennis League. 

From May pool opening to September pool closing, Members are allowed to bring up to three (3) guests per visit/reservation. Court only guest passes must be purchased prior to play through the OKM Store. Courts only guest passes expire at the end of each day. More than three guests will require club approval. During pool hours, a Regular guest pass will allow a guest to enter the pool and tennis courts. The courts are not available during junior and league play as designated in the Online Calendar/Reservation System. 

• Who Can Play.
  • Only Club members and their guests are authorized to use the courts.  Guests are permitted on the courts only when accompanied by a member after purchasing a guest pass. Guests must remain with the member at all times. 
  • Guests must sign into the registration system either (a) at the pool front desk during pool hours or (b) through purchase of a tennis guest pass in the off-season.
  • Members bringing children in the tennis court area will supervise their children to ensure that they do not disturb play.
  • Children are not permitted on the courts if they are not playing tennis or pickleball. Children 7 & under  are permitted inside the court enclosure only when playing tennis or pickleball with adult members.
  • Children age 8 to 12 are permitted to play without an adult member in attendance from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM Monday through Friday, except holidays. Such children may play only with an adult in attendance at all other times. Access is gained through the electronic system and requires a member 13 and older to access the courts. A parent or older sibling may allow access but is not required to stay at the courts. 
  • Children 13 & over may play tennis or pickleball without an adult in attendance. At least one playing child must be a member, others playing (up to 3)  must have purchased a guest pass.
  • OKM courts may not be used for commercial, profit-making, not-for-profit,  or fund-raising purposes unless authorized by the OKM Board.
• Membership Account.
  • Membership accounts will be used to verify the identity of persons using the tennis and pickleball courts. Members’ names will be given upon request to verify pictures in the membership system. Members must be in good standing to have access to the facility.
• Locked Facilities.
  • In order to provide security for the OKM courts and equipment, an electronic entry system will be used to secure the gate year round.  Gates will not be left open during the summer. Junior Tennis Practice times will allow access to all participants. 
  • Electronic Access will be provided free of charge through a downloadable app.  Members can request access for household members 13 and older who have sub-accounts in the membership system. The initial household instructions on the website have instructions on how to create a sub account.
  • Access may be gained by completing the Tennis Court Access Form on the website
  • The gate must be kept closed and locked at all times. Entry to the courts by any means other than the gate is prohibited.
  • The electronic access will open the main gate from the parking lot. The gate will remain locked and closed year round. The side gate will be exit-only. Neither gate should ever be left open, and doing so could result in a suspension/termination of members’ court privileges.. 

• Restrictions.
  • Courts are for Tennis and Pickleball play only.
  • All other activities, such as bicycles, skateboards, roller skates, scooters, soccer balls, and lacrosse balls, are prohibited.
  • Violators will be responsible for damage and may have their user privileges revoked.
  • In order to prevent vandalism and unauthorized use, the entrance gates shall be kept closed and locked at all times. Access to the courts during off season will be through the main entrance using an electronic entry system and application.-The side gate is an exit only gate. Members will need to request electronic access to enter year round. 

• Preventing Court Damage. 

• ALL players, including Junior Tennis players, must wear smooth-soled non-marking tennis or pickleball shoes on all courts. Dark soles that will mark the surface are not allowed on the courts.  

• • Glass bottles are not permitted on the courts. No food or drink other than water is permitted on the courts. During board approved social events, drinking of beverages other than water must be done in the pavilion area only. 
  • Trash shall be deposited into trash receptacles in the pavilion area or in the trash receptacles at each court.
  • Smoking is prohibited on or near the courts. 
  • Pets are not allowed on the courts.

The use of portable lawn or camp chairs or any other seating other than the provided benches is not permitted. Please use the pavilion seating area while you wait for your turn at tennis or pickleball.. This also applies to the “paddle drop” for pickleball players during the open play period.

• Etiquette.
  • Dual-lined courts are intended to be shared among tennis and pickleball players. Designated times for use of each court are posted on the OKM website. Use of an online calendar/reservation system will allow sufficient time for both sports to play at designated time slots.
  • Players are requested not to walk behind players when play is in progress and not to retrieve balls from the adjacent courts until the conclusion of the point being played.
  • Loud, boisterous, obscene, or vulgar language is not permitted on the tennis or pickleball courts. Good sportsmanship is expected at all times.
  • Music is only allowed when played at a moderate level and when it is approved by all players on other courts of active play.
  • All waiting players must remain outside the enclosure and use fixed benches for seating or wait in the Pavilion area.
  • Players are requested to keep the courts neat in appearance, free of leaves, trash, etc.
  • No food or beverage other than water is allowed inside the court area.
  • Players must relinquish their court without hesitation to the people with the next reservation at the end of the reservation period or after an hour play for pickleball and singles and two hours for doubles when courts are used on a first come first serve basis. 
  • The Director for Tennis, tennis independent contractors of the Club, or any Officer of the Club, shall have final and conclusive authority to enforce all matters relating to health and safety at the tennis facilities.
    • They may eject any persons failing to observe health and safety rules or otherwise conducting themselves improperly.
• Rules of Play – Tennis. Players should refer to The Rules of the U.S. Tennis Association Rules of Play – Pickleball. As a recreational sport, players should refer to the USA Pickleball rules at USApickleball.org. Access an abbreviated form of the rules for a quick overview of how the game is played here at The USA Pickleball Rules.  
• Play Time.
  • The courts are open for play:
    • Tennis 7:00 AM to 10:00 PM
    • Pickleball 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM
  • The online calendar shows when courts are in use by Junior Tennis lessons or Women’s and Men’s teams. 
  • Unreserved time is when the courts have not been reserved.
• Playing Season(s)
  • Regular Season: Memorial Day through Labor Day
  • Off Season:  Pool closing in September to May pool opening
• Maintenance.
  • The tennis and pickleball courts will be maintained for play during the regular pool season.
  • During the off season, the tennis and pickleball courts will be maintained on a best‐effort basis by the OKM Board of Directors or their designee.
  • The courts may be closed at the discretion of the OKM Board  due to unfavorable tennis weather.
  • Individual practice may not reserve time and should release courts to a pickleball, single or double play if all courts are full. 
• Reservation System/Online
• OKM will utilize the reservation portion of the online calendar as court use warrants.
  • As it is not practical to have an employee in attendance at the courts to regulate tennis and pickleball court use, the reservation system is designed to be self‐run and self‐implementing.
  • Members in good standing may only have ONE reservation per day.  When making a reservation, all names of members playing must be given. Members participating in open play pickleball or one of the Tennis teams are permitted to have one additional reservation above those events.
  • Reservation period is for 1 hour for Pickleball, Singles play and 2 hours for Doubles starting at the top of the hour.
  • Members may make reservations through the online registration system. Reservations cannot be made more than 24 hours in advance. 
  • Reservations are forfeited if players do not arrive in time to commence play by 10 minutes after the hour. If two hours have been reserved, the second hour is forfeited when the doubles match is not started within 10 minutes after the hour. The first hour may be retained if singles play is started on time.
  • If no reservation, courts will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis.  Such play must terminate at the beginning of the next reservation period. 
  • OKM Adult Tennis Teams recognized by the OKM Board are authorized to reserve 2.5 hours of practice time during prime hours during the team season only. Hours will be posted on the online schedule. 
  • Members are required to cancel reservations as soon as possible after it becomes apparent that the reservation will not be used.
  • Eligibility to make prime time reservations is restricted to adults (18 and above). As long as an adult member makes a reservation in their name and is playing, the other players may be children.
  • Pickleball Open Play. During “open play”, in which players take turns rotating onto the court for one game at a time. Players wishing to join the “open play” must make a reservation, upon arrival will hang or stack their paddles in an orderly manner and wait in the pavilion area until it is their turn to play. 
• Rules Enforcement.
  • Tennis and Pickleball members are expected to generally supervise court use.
  • All Club members are requested to take action when rule violations are observed. The action taken will depend on the nature of the problem. Members observing rule violations are asked to notify the Director for Tennis (or any Board of Director member).
  • The rules are intended to be member-enforced, and members have the right to “query” other members to ensure  that reservations or play is in accordance with Club rules. Members are urged to “query” in an appropriate, courteous manner and those being queried are requested to respond in the sameway.
  • The OKM Board or its designee will, during the regular and extended season, be responsible to keep the tennis and pickleball courts in good playing condition and under general surveillance to prevent damage to property or misuse.
  • Pool staff will not adjudicate disputes, make or delete reservations, or supervise the rules of play on the tennis or pickleball courts.
  • Recommendations for Change. Written recommendations concerning these rules should be directed to the OKM Board or Tennis Director through the contacts feature on OKMpool.com.
• Lessons.
  • Tennis lessons are offered within the competitive tennis programs.
  • Non-members are not permitted to conduct  paid lessons to members without the approval of the OKM board.
• Violations.
  • Violations of these rules may result in restrictions of an individual from court use at the discretion of the OKM Board of Directors
• Court Lights.

Please be aware that the last person leaving the courts must TURN THE LIGHTS OFF, even if members remain to socialize on the pavilion.  NOTE: Be sure to switch off the lights upon completion of play.