Pickleball Nova Scotia and our tournament committee have decided that in the interest of the safety of our participants and volunteers, our 2021 Provincial Championships and the 2021 Atlantic Regional Championships will be postponed until later this year.   We are currently anticipating new dates in the August – October time frame based on the current state of health restrictions related to vaccines and travel. As soon as new dates have been determined, this page will be updated and all members of Pickleball Nova Scotia will be notified. 

COVID-19/HEALTH/WELLNESS–New Restrictions to Reduce Spread of COVID-19
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To turn the tide of COVID-19 infections in Nova Scotia, Premier Stephen McNeil and Dr. Robert Strang, chief medical officer of health, announced new restrictions in Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) and across the province today, Nov. 24.

“We need to flip the switch on COVID-19 right now,” said Premier McNeil. “COVID-19 is moving quickly in Halifax, and we need to stop it from spreading further into Nova Scotia. We must bring COVID-19 under control before our health system is overwhelmed and it infects our most vulnerable citizens. Stopping the spread is fully up to us.”

New restrictions will come into force at 12:01 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 26, and continue for two weeks until midnight Dec. 9, with a possibility of extension.

Nova Scotians are being asked to avoid non-essential travel:

— in and out of western and central HRM (which is defined as HRM from Hubbards to, and
including, Porters Lake and the communities up to Elmsdale and Mount Uniacke in Hants County – see https://novascotia.ca/coronavirus/ for boundaries).
— to other Atlantic provinces

The following will apply to the parts of western and central HRM:

— the gathering limit in public is five (or up to the number of members of an immediate family in a household)
— mandatory masking now applies to common areas of multi-unit residential buildings, such as apartment buildings and condos
— restaurants and licenced establishments are closed for in-person dining but may provide takeout or delivery
— retail stores must restrict shoppers and staff to 25 per cent or less of allowable capacity
— wineries, distilleries and breweries cannot hold tastings or in-person dining and must follow retail rules in their stores (delivery and curbside pickup allowed)
— organized sports, recreational, athletic, arts and cultural activities, faith-based activities are paused
— profit and non-profit fitness and recreational facilities closed
— libraries and museums are closed, including the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia
— the casino and First Nations gaming establishments are closed
— stronger enforcement of illegal gatherings, including ticketing of all attendees (total fine of $1,000) Schools, after-school programs and childcare will remain open while certain personal services businesses such as hairstylists, estheticians and nail salons in western and central HRM can continue except procedures that cannot be done while a patron is masked.

The following new restrictions apply across the province:

— to protect our most vulnerable, there will be no visitors except volunteers and designated caregivers to long-term care facilities and Adult Residential Centres and Regional Rehabilitation Centres licensed by the Department of Community Services
— sports teams are restricted to local or regional play only
— no extracurricular activities between schools

To further protect our most vulnerable, staff, volunteers and designated caregivers at long-term facilities in HRM will undergo voluntary, bi-weekly testing. Testing will be phased-in starting Nov. 27.

“COVID-19 loves social and group activities because it can spread quickly and easily,” said Dr. Strang. “These measures are targeted to reduce the situations in which COVID-19 thrives. Go to work or go to school, then go home and stay there. One family member can shop for necessities. It will likely get worse before it gets better so don’t falter in following public health measures.”

Quick Facts:
— visit https://covid-self-assessment.novascotia.ca/ to do a self-assessment if in the past 48 hours you have had or you are currently experiencing fever or a new cough or you are experiencing two or more of sore throat, runny nose/nasal congestion, headache and shortness of breath
— testing numbers are updated daily at https://novascotia.ca/coronavirus
— a state of emergency was declared under the Emergency Management Act on March 22 and extended to Nov. 29
— online booking for COVID-19 testing appointments is available for Nova Scotians getting a test at all primary assessment centres or at the IWK Health Centre in Halifax

Additional Resources:

Government of Canada: https://canada.ca/coronavirus

Government of Canada information line 1-833-784-4397 (toll-free)

The Mental Health Provincial Crisis Line is available 24/7 to anyone experiencing a mental health or addictions crisis, or someone concerned about them, by calling 1-888-429-8167 (toll-free)

Kids Help Phone is available 24/7 by calling 1-800-668-6868 (toll-free)

For help or information about domestic violence 24/7, call 1-855-225-0220 (toll-free)

For more information about COVID-19 testing and online booking, visit https://novascotia.ca/coronavirus/symptoms-and-testing/

The COVID-19 self-assessment is at https://covid-self-assessment.novascotia.ca/
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Media Contact: COVID-19 Media Line
902-424-3310
Email: COVID19media@novascotia.ca

In support of Feed Nova Scotia

Where:

The Atlantic Tennis Centre at 50 Verdi Drive in the Bedford Commons.

When:

There will be a Men’s and Ladies’ doubles event on Saturday December 5th from 2:00 pm to 8:00 pm and it will be followed by a Mixed doubles event on Sunday December 6th from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm.

Tournament Details

There will be 2 divisions – 3.5 and up and under 3.5 but no age division due to time limits

Format will be 8 teams per division, and you will play everyone in your division – that’s right you will be guaranteed 7 games. There will be a play off but how many teams make the play off will be determined based on time.

It will be open to Nova Scotia residents only. 

There will be no spectators and only 64 people per day as there is just enough space to allow social distance at all time while not playing.  We will provide rules and regulations closer to the date as we know things are constantly changing. 

We will follow all provincial guidelines.  There will be no food provided. 

We will have a donation money box for Feed Nova Scotia.

Ball:

Franklin

Cost:

$15.00 per event 

How to register:

Please email Marita Winaut at Marita_Winaut@hotmail.com

Details to provide:

Your Name, phone number,  your team’s level of play (3.5 and up or under 3.5) ladies/men’s partner name, email address and phone number. Same for the mixed doubles events you need to provide your partners name,  email address and phone number.

Please register by November 13, 2020 and we do expect this to fill up quickly so the earlier you register – the better. You will receive a confirmation email.

BREAKING NEWS

Plans for New $200,000 Tennis & Pickleball Courts at Sport Pugwash

Northumberland Tennis & Pickleball Association [NTPA] plans to build a “State-of-the-Art Tennis & Pickleball Facility” at Sport Pugwash – the home of the fastest growing Recreational Complex in Cumberland County.  Sport Pugwash located at 349 Miller Road within 2 km of the Village limits makes this an ideal location for sport enthusiasts.

“We are excited about this new Partnership between NTPA and Sport Pugwash.  Tennis is now rated the 6^th fastest growing sports in Canada and Pickleball is # 1 in North America. These sports are a great addition to our existing facilities that include horse racing, baseball, softball, disc golf and walking trails” says Sport Pugwash Chairman Rocky Irons.

We [NTPA] believe this project is timely and, in the spring of 2021, we will be reaching out to the local schools and people of all ages with our focus on growing these sports through youth and adult programs that include coaching, training, clinics, and periodic learn-to-play events.  Tennis and Pickleball, similarly to golf and curling, promote bringing people together, provide opportunities for social networking, help to prevent cardiovascular diseases and diabetes, and reduce obesity.  Moreover, they are sports mostly played outside that can be readily accommodated to physical distancing requirement in this time of Covid- 19.  As racquet sports that do not involve expensive equipment, both are also readily accessible across income groups when public courts are available.

“NTPA has done its homework” says Rod Young Chairman of NTPA’s “Courts & Communities in Action” committee.  Competitive estimates obtained by NTPA indicate a new facility including washrooms and outdoor lighting for night-time play will cost $200,000. We will be applying for grants from the Village of Pugwash; Municipality of Cumberland; the Province of Nova Scotia and the Federal Government for roughly 60% of the costs, with the balance to be raised by our association through fund-raising initiatives and community outreach.  NTPA hopes to begin construction in June 2022 for a grand opening on July 15, 2022.

On a final note, you may be asking why build new courts?

“For each of the past 4 years, we have been repairing a multitude of cracks of up to 1” on both courts within the Village on Prince Albert Street. These cracks and uneven playing surfaces result in unsafe playing conditions that interfere with fair, competitive play. After much investigation, it was determined that building new courts on the existing site would be more costly than building on a new site at Sport Pugwash. The playing surface on the old courts also falls short of the required playing area for both sports,” says NTPA Chair Diane Burnham.

The Pickleball Nova Scotia (PNS) board is reaching out to express our well wishes to you during these unprecedented times. The coronavirus (COVID-19) is impacting all of us in different ways and we hope that you and your families are safe and healthy.

With that being said, following guidelines sent out by Pickleball Canada, PNS is suspending for now and potentially cancelling in the future, the 2020 Pickleball Provincial Championships.

Special thanks go out to the Eastcoast Provincial Tournament Committee for all their hard work and efforts in preparing for this event.

Hope to see you all on the courts in the very near future.

Sincerely,
Daniel Smith
PNS President

Certainly, the coronavirus (COVID-19) has had a big impact on your daily activities, including your ability to play pickleball.

One way to keep you involved in our sport while staying off the courts is to take part in a FREE Virtual Pickleball Summit organized by CJ Johnson of Better Pickleball.

The goal of the Virtual Pickleball Summit is to help pickleball players cope with this time away from the courts by helping them to create new habits to play better, get healthier, and lessen injury risk when they return to pickleball.

The Virtual Pickleball Summit will be a FREE 3 Day event held online between 4:00 pm and 6:30 pm Atlantic time on Monday, March 23, Tuesday March 24 and Wednesday March 25.

To register for the event simply click here and provide your name and email address to reserve your seat.

For more information about this event including a list of the presenters and their topics along with the daily schedule, click here.

From your friends at Pickleball Nova Scotia

As stated in the document below from Pickleball Canada, unless circumstances change, the National Championships plus all Regional Championships will be cancelled no less than six weeks before the date of the events. As for the fate of our Nova Scotia Provincial Championships scheduled for May 8, 9 and 10, a formal decision will be made by noon on Friday March 27th

March 17, 2020

COVID-19 UPDATE — Challenging Times and Tough Choices for All

Your health and safety are at the heart of everything we do at Pickleball Canada.
Therefore, Pickleball Canada supports all Canadian Federal and Provincial Health Authorities’ recommendations in their efforts to abate the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

Among the latest recommendations are those to limit, or suspend entirely, large group gatherings especially those where “seniors”, a designated vulnerable group, are involved.

It is incumbent on us, and all Canadian sport organizations, to exercise caution and comply with the relevant recommendations and applicable laws.

Therefore, unless circumstances change or an event has a prior cancellation, the following will be implemented immediately:

• Pickleball Canada will cancel its Regional and National Tournaments in 2020 on the date that is six (6) weeks prior to the planned start date of such tournament, and
• Pickleball Canada recommends to Provincial/local pickleball organizations the cancellation of all other 2020 Canadian pickleball tournaments on a similar 6-week prior basis, or sooner if felt appropriate.  If any such tournament does in fact proceed, the Tournament Director must ensure it is conducted in full compliance with the then current and relevant Health Authority Laws, Guidelines and Recommendations, and
• Pickleball Canada will remove tournament sanctioning from all previously sanctioned tournaments that are cancelled or should be cancelled, and
• Pickleball Canada requires that any local play that continues must only be undertaken if there is full compliance with all then current and relevant Health Authority Laws, Guidelines and Recommendations, including those described in our March 12 communique with respect to:
  •  group size limitations, and
  •  considerations regarding participation by a preponderance of seniors or other vulnerable groups, and
  • having an effective infectious disease containment and response plan in place that is well articulated throughout the players.

Tough measures for tough times.  We need to all pull together during these fast changing and challenging times. Please contact your Provincial/Territorial Association with questions and comments.  We will continue to update you as major changes occur.

Yours truly,
Pickleball Canada Board and the Interprovincial/Territorial Advisory Council

East Coast Games

Pickleball Saint John and KV Pickleball Club are pleased to bring Pickleball to the East Coast Games for the first time 

Location:  Thistle St. Andrew’s Curling Club 49 Dufferin Ave, Saint John

Dates:       June 20, 21

To register, please visit: https://forms.gle/MU9cmatX2q1MtdqV9 – Registration deadline is May 15, 2020.

For more information please contact pickleballsaintjohn@gmail.com

 The Nova Scotia Provincial Championships are coming to the RBC Centre in Dartmouth on May 8, 9 and 10th and Registration is opened today!

For more tournament details and to register, click here   

What :  OpenPickleball Tournament

Where :  Riverview East School , 49 Chambers St., Riverview, NB, E1B 0P5 (6 courts)

When :  Saturday April 4 and Sunday April 5 from 9 am to 5 pm (registration 8 – 8:30)

Cost :  $25 per person per category (pay at the school the day of the tournament)

Categories : minimum of 4 teams per category

Saturday

Men’s Doubles

Division 1 (3.5 & over) age 60 & under,

Division 1 (3.5 & over) age 61 & over,

Division 2 (3.0 & under)

Women’s Doubles

Division 1 (3.5 & over) age 60 & under,

Division 1 (3.5 & over) age 61 & over,

Division 2 (3.0 & under)

Sunday

Mixed Doubles

Division 1 (3.5 & over) age 60 & under,

Division 1 (3.5 & over) 61 & over,

Division 2 (3.0 &under)

Format : 

Round Robin in the morning and double elimination during the afternoon.

Ball : Onix Fuse 2 orange indoor ball

Registration : names, ages, phone #s and e-mails of both partners to riverviewpickleball@gmail.com

Registration Deadline: March 29, 2020