"Uptown Jack's"
SOCCER CENTRE PICKLEBALL COMPLEX
ADDRESS & PHONE219 Primrose Drive
Saskatoon, SK, S7K 2J9 FACILITY SPECIFICS
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Fall Programming Information for Uptown Jack's willThe Board of Directors of Saskatoon Pickleball Inc. released a new policy for Indoor Play at Uptown Jack's, effective October 1, 2021
READ MORE on our COVID-19 Page 
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FALL PROGRAMMING SCHEDULE AT UPTOWN JACKS
Saskatoon Pickleball Inc. and our partner, Saskatoon Soccer Centre Inc., are pleased to offer SPI members exclusive access to pickleball programs at Uptown Jack’s. Courts are located at the Saskatoon Kinsmen/Henk Ruys Soccer Centre, located behind the Lawson Civic Centre.
What public health restrictions will apply to indoor play?
As of October 1st, entry to all activities organized by Saskatoon Pickleball Inc. are limited to SPI members who demonstrate they are fully vaccinated or can present a negative COVID-19 test completed within 72 hours before play. Players will be required to show this proof, along with valid identification, every time they come to play. Instructions on how to access and use the NEW SASK HEALTH QR CODE can be found HERE. Other permissible forms of Proof of Vaccination are outlined on the SPI website within the Member Policy For Indoor Covid-19 Precautionary Measures. Masks are not required on court for players who meet these requirements. Masks are required upon entry, exiting and in other common areas of the soccer centre. The Public Health Order states that masks are not required while seated and consuming food or a beverage in any location where food and beverages are being served.
How much is this going to cost?
Court costs for the fall and winter programs will be collected from every player for every session. As of October 12th, SPI members can opt to pay cash ($5.50 per session) or SPI members can purchase a 10-session punch card for a reduced cost of $50 or a monthly pass for $60. Some programs will have additional costs as outlined within the programming description.
How and Where Do I Pay?
Beginning October 12th all purchases (per session rate, punch card and monthly pass) can be made at the Soccer Centre using cash, debit or credit card.
What public health restrictions will apply to indoor play?
As of October 1st, entry to all activities organized by Saskatoon Pickleball Inc. are limited to SPI members who demonstrate they are fully vaccinated or can present a negative COVID-19 test completed within 72 hours before play. Players will be required to show this proof, along with valid identification, every time they come to play. Instructions on how to access and use the NEW SASK HEALTH QR CODE can be found HERE. Other permissible forms of Proof of Vaccination are outlined on the SPI website within the Member Policy For Indoor Covid-19 Precautionary Measures. Masks are not required on court for players who meet these requirements. Masks are required upon entry, exiting and in other common areas of the soccer centre. The Public Health Order states that masks are not required while seated and consuming food or a beverage in any location where food and beverages are being served.
How much is this going to cost?
Court costs for the fall and winter programs will be collected from every player for every session. As of October 12th, SPI members can opt to pay cash ($5.50 per session) or SPI members can purchase a 10-session punch card for a reduced cost of $50 or a monthly pass for $60. Some programs will have additional costs as outlined within the programming description.
How and Where Do I Pay?
Beginning October 12th all purchases (per session rate, punch card and monthly pass) can be made at the Soccer Centre using cash, debit or credit card.
WHAT PROGRAMS ARE BEING OFFERED? ..... several!
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OPEN BUCKET PLAY
Open Bucket Play provides an opportunity for members to play a social (and somewhat competitive!) game of pickleball with anyone who has registered. In these sessions, players of all levels will mix with one another, with no separation by skill level before play starts. Open Bucket Play begins October 12th. From that time on, there will be daily Open bucket play Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 1:00 – 3:00 pm and Tuesdays, Thursdays from 8:30 – 10:30 am. Registration will be done through SignUp Genius (SUG) beginning October 6th . Spots will be limited so pre-registration is encouraged. If there is space available on day of play, SPI members can just show up, pay at the door and play. To avoid disappointment, check on SUG to make sure there is room before heading to the courts. Why isn’t SPI offering Levelled Bucket Play? Throughout the summer season, Saskatoon Pickleball Inc. used a self-rating system for levelled bucket play in advanced, intermediate and recreational levels. This did not work well, with players in both intermediate and advanced groups complaining that people were playing at levels not appropriate for their skill set. To address this situation, SPI will be holding Fall Ladder Leagues to assist members in playing with their skill-alike group and getting a club rating. The club may also host ratings clinics if the opportunity arises. It is our hope that levelled bucket play will resume in early 2022. At that time, players would need a tournament, club or skills-rating to play in advanced or intermediate bucket play. Levels would be 3.5 and above for advanced and 3.0-3.499 for intermediate (no exceptions). No ratings would be required for recreational bucket play. |
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LADDER LEAGUES
The week of October 18th, three ladder leagues will begin: a men’s league on Mondays; coed league on Wednesdays; and women’s league on Fridays. All ladder leagues will run for four weeks in the 10:45 am - 12:45 pm time slot and are limited to 36 players per league. Registration for the ladder leagues will be done through Pickleball Brackets. Registration for all ladder leagues will open Wednesday, October 6th at 7:00 pm. Ladder leagues are open to players of any age, any level. The ladder league is NOT just for advanced players. The aim of the ladder league is for all players to enjoy playing pickleball with other players of a similar calibre. A secondary aim is to help players obtain a club rating in advance of levelled bucket play expected to start again in Winter 2022. In each ladder league, players are grouped with three others closest to their own level. After play is finished, players’ scores are entered into Pickleball Brackets. After each session, players ratings are recalibrated and new groups are put together for the next session, based on that new rating. Players make their way up and down the ladder according to their own level of play. To register for the leagues, you first have to sign up for a free account with Pickleball Brackets. Next, you need to go to “clubs” and scroll down to join the Saskatoon Pickleball Inc. club. After that, go to leagues and join the league you want to play in. Once registered, you still need to opt-in on a weekly basis so that organizers know who is coming. A step-by-step tutorial on how to sign up and use Pickleball Brackets is available on the SPI's Ladder League Web Page. Additional to court fees, ladder league registrants must pay $10.00 per ladder league to cover Pickleball Brackets’ administrative fees. |
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SKILLS AND DRILLS CLINICS
This fall, SPI is introducing Skills and Drills Clinics in a variety of session blocks. These clinics are designed for beginner/novice and intermediate players who would like to work on specific aspects of their game. The clinics are 120 minutes long, with 60 minutes of instruction followed by 60 minutes of game play. Clinics are limited to 8 participants. There is no additional cost to SPI members for these clinics but those registered are asked to commit to the entire teaching block. Registration is done through SignUpGenius. Beginner/novice – 3.0 players will receive 3 two-hour sessions with Dennis Boyle and Nina Henry (once a week for three weeks). Intermediate 3.25 - 3.5+ level players will receive 2 two-hour sessions with Lionel and Mike Fauchoux (twice within one week). Clinics topics will be geared to the skill level of players and may include: ** Introduction to Pickleball ** Mastering the Dink ** Perfecting the 3rd Shot ** ** Tuning Up Your Serve ** Attacking With a Purpose ** How To Beat The Bangers ** ** Lobbing & Lob Defense ** Strategy and Court Positioning ** |
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RESERVE-A-COURT
Reserve-a-court is available on a pre-paid basis through to October 8th. The option to reserve courts will continue to be offered throughout the fall and winter season but the way you book courts and pay for them for will change. Beginning October 12th, court costs will be collected individually, on site at the soccer centre. Members must register individually through SignUp Genius and can then pay in cash or with either a punch card or monthly pass on arrival at the soccer centre. Pre-registration is encouraged but if there is space available on day of play, SPI members can just show up to register, pay at the door and play. Reserve-a-court times are available daily – times vary. |
A few reminders to our players:
- All SPI members will be subject to a maximum of three signups for first four days of booking period (Wednesday 7:00 pm to Sunday 7:00 pm) and unlimited after that.
- Please adhere to the court start and end times so that there is sufficient time for court sanitization and physical distancing.
- Masking is required when players are off the courts.
- Please wear non-marking indoor footwear.
- Player belongings must be stored in the player boxes or locker rooms (not on court).
- No food or drink (other than water) is allowed on the courts
SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE INDOOR PROGRAMMING SCHEDULE MAY VARY FROM WEEK TO WEEK DEPENDING ON ladder league start and end dates, skills and drills sessions and other special programs that may be implemented. The schedule below is a general overview of how programs are blocked.
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Slideshow of the court resurfacing project at Uptown Jack's
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February 10, 2021
CONSTRUCTION COMPLETE
Eight New Indoor Pickleball Courts!
Saskatoon Pickleball Inc. has great news! The Soccer Centre flooring upgrade is complete and looks fantastic!
The floor was completed on February 10th and after a further week of curing will be ready to go. This was pretty much on schedule, as there were only a few days lost due to the extreme cold weather and the effect that had on drying times between coats.
Once the existing tiled surface was removed by our volunteers, there were more repairs required to the existing floor than we first anticipated, but the soccer center facilities staff and Dex Wyse (SPI’s site representative and former soccer center facilities manager) were able to make the needed repairs in sufficient time for the installation crew arrival on January 18th.
The installation went well and our up-front planning paid huge dividends, as layout issues were resolved well in advance resulting in only minor changes along the way. A special thank you to Dex who was at the site virtually every day to make sure that any installer needs were attended to. This was very helpful in keeping things moving and making sure identified issues were resolved promptly.
Our choice of colors turned out very well as all sports enjoy maximum contrast. Our pickleball courts, with black lines and blue kitchens, look great and are easily discernable. There will be ample room at the back of the courts and between courts, as we made the most of the available space given the dimensions of the soccer pitch. Dex did some bounce tests and he advises that the bounce on the floor is pretty much equivalent to a concrete surface.
There is a curtain that divides the soccer pitch in half and we have purchased some temporary barrier nets that will further isolate the end courts that are at a 90-degree offset from the others. This should help to keep stray ball interruptions to a minimum.
All in all, it has been a huge success, and I am very proud of the team that brought it all together, from inception at our September board meeting – to landing a significant grant from the Jack Adilman fund – to ultimate completion, all within five months during a pandemic. We now have a first-class facility and a first-class partner which will ensure pickleball enjoyment for our members for many years to come.
SPI continues to work at plans to ensure our pickleball community will be able to access the courts in a safe manner. Stay tuned for logistical details on facility protocols, program options, online booking, fee schedules and volunteer opportunities. SPI will keep you up-to-date, so that you will be ready to play, once Saskatchewan Health restrictions allow us to hit the new courts!
Ray Basler, Project Manager
The floor was completed on February 10th and after a further week of curing will be ready to go. This was pretty much on schedule, as there were only a few days lost due to the extreme cold weather and the effect that had on drying times between coats.
Once the existing tiled surface was removed by our volunteers, there were more repairs required to the existing floor than we first anticipated, but the soccer center facilities staff and Dex Wyse (SPI’s site representative and former soccer center facilities manager) were able to make the needed repairs in sufficient time for the installation crew arrival on January 18th.
The installation went well and our up-front planning paid huge dividends, as layout issues were resolved well in advance resulting in only minor changes along the way. A special thank you to Dex who was at the site virtually every day to make sure that any installer needs were attended to. This was very helpful in keeping things moving and making sure identified issues were resolved promptly.
Our choice of colors turned out very well as all sports enjoy maximum contrast. Our pickleball courts, with black lines and blue kitchens, look great and are easily discernable. There will be ample room at the back of the courts and between courts, as we made the most of the available space given the dimensions of the soccer pitch. Dex did some bounce tests and he advises that the bounce on the floor is pretty much equivalent to a concrete surface.
There is a curtain that divides the soccer pitch in half and we have purchased some temporary barrier nets that will further isolate the end courts that are at a 90-degree offset from the others. This should help to keep stray ball interruptions to a minimum.
All in all, it has been a huge success, and I am very proud of the team that brought it all together, from inception at our September board meeting – to landing a significant grant from the Jack Adilman fund – to ultimate completion, all within five months during a pandemic. We now have a first-class facility and a first-class partner which will ensure pickleball enjoyment for our members for many years to come.
SPI continues to work at plans to ensure our pickleball community will be able to access the courts in a safe manner. Stay tuned for logistical details on facility protocols, program options, online booking, fee schedules and volunteer opportunities. SPI will keep you up-to-date, so that you will be ready to play, once Saskatchewan Health restrictions allow us to hit the new courts!
Ray Basler, Project Manager
To view over 400 images of the entire resurfacing project, click HERE
Original tiled floor in the Saskatoon Kinsmen/Henk Ruys Uptown Orthodontics Soccer Pitch
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Tiles and rubber mat underlay were removed by Soccer Centre Staff and SPI volunteers
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Floor was prepped and new rubber underlay was installed by Centaur
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Gallons and Gallons of pulastic flooring and paints were used to create the new surface!
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Centaur staff "rake" the pulastic flooring product on top of two prep coat
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The kitchens were taped, rolled and back rolled in "pigeon blue" paint
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The base colour "stone grey" was painted and the measure and taping of court lines began
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Line painting - strong attention to detail. White = volleyball, red = soccer, black = pickleball
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Completed courts. Five months from concept, to partnership building, to grant writing and deliberation to court construction - Go Team!
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Great viewing area from the open bleachers
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Concession and indoor viewing area - the soccer centre has great amenities!
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December 29, 2020 News
Construction Update
SPI is pleased to report that the flooring project at the Saskatoon Kinsmen/Henk Ruys Soccer Center continues to progress. Unlike the Fr. Basil Markle project which was a dedicated pickleball facility with an abundance of space, we are confined to a predetermined field of play that must be shared with three other sports (soccer, volleyball and ball hockey). Accordingly, we have had to determine the optimum placement of courts while at the same time avoiding line duplication with other sports. The color scheme had to be navigated in such a way that trade-offs were made so that each sport could enjoy sufficient line contrast without negatively impacting that of other sports. The overall layout and color scheme have now been finalized in conjunction with the other user groups.
The upgrade of the floor will encompass a poured floor using a product called Pulastic manufactured by Robbins Sports Surfaces. The supply of the product and installation will be through their local representative Centaur Products Inc. The product is similar to the surface in the Warman Legends Centre, although it will be installed over a “sprung” floor. It is very durable and carries a 25-year performance warranty.
The overall project budget, including flooring, nets and ancillary items is approximately $185,000, a sum that could not have been supportable by SPI on its own. We submitted a comprehensive and compelling proposal to the Jack Adilman fund and were able to secure almost $139,000 in funding. Jack Adilman, 1920-1992, prominent businessman, sportsman, and tireless supporter of amateur sports in Saskatoon established the fund through his estate in order to support amateur sport organizations in Saskatoon. The fund is administered by the City of Saskatoon on behalf of the estate. The remainder of the funding requirement was split between SPI and our partner Saskatoon Soccer Center Inc. (SSCI). Our respective investments will be recovered through an allocation of user fees after providing for incremental operating costs at SSCI.
Scheduling such an upgrade is no easy task. In normal times, accomplishing an upgrade in the early part of the year is difficult as this is the busiest part of the year for SSCI. When you add in the impact of Covid-19, the unknown variables become even more daunting. On the one hand the Covid-19 restrictions have offered a unique period of downtime in what would otherwise be a very busy time. However, these same restrictions could play havoc with material deliveries and site team availability. Assuming that materials and labour become available as planned, we are anticipating a start date of January 18th. A project of this size usually involves an installation time of 2 1/2 - 3 weeks with a further week for curing before use. Therefore, if all the stars line up, and Covid-19 restrictions are lifted, we could conceivably be looking at a mid-February availability date for pickleball play.
We cannot emphasize enough the cooperation and support we have been given by SSCI. They have been a critical partner in the selection and planning process and we have every confidence that this strong relationship will continue as we evolve into operations at their great facility in the Lawson Heights area.
Over time, we will be looking to develop programs for pickleball play. Our programs group is currently working to determine demand, operational alternatives and investigate best practices used by other clubs with indoor facilities. This is a complex exercise that will take some time to perfect so we anticipate a “soft start” with drop-in play until other desired alternatives can be investigated, planned and instituted. The fee structure will be determined in due course after consideration of expected operating costs and consultations to be held with SSCI.
There are lots of moving parts and many unknowns related to Covid-19, so we will keep you updated as the project progresses.
Ray Basler, SPI Project Manager
Project management team
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Artist rendition of the multi-sport floor at the Saskatoon Kinsmen/Henk Ruys Soccer Centre
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Removal of the old floor begins
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December 8, 2020 News
SASKATOON PICKLEBALL INC. SECURES NEW PARTNERSHIP
8 NEW INDOOR PICKLEBALL COURTS COMING TO SASKATOON!
Saskatoon Pickleball Inc. is very pleased to announce that we will be adding 8 new indoor pickleball courts in Saskatoon. We have partnered with the Saskatoon Soccer Centre (SSCI) to upgrade one of the indoor soccer pitches to accommodate pickleball at the Saskatoon Kinsmen/Henk Ruys Soccer Centre. In the past we had looked at the soccer center as a potential venue for pickleball, but the tiled floor was not conducive to pickleball as it produced erratic bounces or no bounce at all.
We have since investigated flooring alternatives and have recently partnered with the SSCI to pursue the installation of a seamless poured floor that will satisfactorily accommodate 8 pickleball courts while at the same time satisfy the needs of the existing volleyball and soccer programs. This flooring is similar to the floor in the Warman Legends Center and will go over top of the “sprung” floor at the soccer centre providing a cushioned product that will be very easy on muscles and joints. This flooring upgrade is very expensive and will involve sizeable investments by both SPI and SSCI. In addition, we were able to secure a substantial grant from the Jack Adilman Fund which is administered by the City of Saskatoon. Without this significant financial support from the Jack Adilman Fund, the project would not have been feasible.
Saskatoon Pickleball Inc. will be working with SSCI and the flooring contractor to finalize details and determine the best time to start installation given existing programming commitments and Covid-19 related restrictions. SPI volunteers will be required to remove the old tiled flooring prior to commencement of construction activities associated with the new flooring. In the meantime, we will be looking at programming options and user fees for the hours that have been dedicated to pickleball (daytime hours on Monday to Friday). Once operational, this new venue will require a lot of volunteer work for set up/tear down of nets, administration, monitoring play etc. so please be prepared to volunteer some time in order to make this new facility a huge success.
The Saskatoon Kinsmen Henk Ruys Soccer Centre is located just behind the Lawson Heights Civic Centre. It is an ideal facility with lots of parking, bright lighting and high ceilings. It has four indoor soccer pitches along with associated locker rooms and washroom facilities. It also has a large lounge on the second floor with seating that will overlook the pickleball courts. Most importantly, the management and staff at SSCI are keen to expand their user community and have worked well with SPI. They will be an excellent partner! More details will be forthcoming as things progress and we will keep you posted.
Saskatoon Pickleball Inc. Board of Directors
We have since investigated flooring alternatives and have recently partnered with the SSCI to pursue the installation of a seamless poured floor that will satisfactorily accommodate 8 pickleball courts while at the same time satisfy the needs of the existing volleyball and soccer programs. This flooring is similar to the floor in the Warman Legends Center and will go over top of the “sprung” floor at the soccer centre providing a cushioned product that will be very easy on muscles and joints. This flooring upgrade is very expensive and will involve sizeable investments by both SPI and SSCI. In addition, we were able to secure a substantial grant from the Jack Adilman Fund which is administered by the City of Saskatoon. Without this significant financial support from the Jack Adilman Fund, the project would not have been feasible.
Saskatoon Pickleball Inc. will be working with SSCI and the flooring contractor to finalize details and determine the best time to start installation given existing programming commitments and Covid-19 related restrictions. SPI volunteers will be required to remove the old tiled flooring prior to commencement of construction activities associated with the new flooring. In the meantime, we will be looking at programming options and user fees for the hours that have been dedicated to pickleball (daytime hours on Monday to Friday). Once operational, this new venue will require a lot of volunteer work for set up/tear down of nets, administration, monitoring play etc. so please be prepared to volunteer some time in order to make this new facility a huge success.
The Saskatoon Kinsmen Henk Ruys Soccer Centre is located just behind the Lawson Heights Civic Centre. It is an ideal facility with lots of parking, bright lighting and high ceilings. It has four indoor soccer pitches along with associated locker rooms and washroom facilities. It also has a large lounge on the second floor with seating that will overlook the pickleball courts. Most importantly, the management and staff at SSCI are keen to expand their user community and have worked well with SPI. They will be an excellent partner! More details will be forthcoming as things progress and we will keep you posted.
Saskatoon Pickleball Inc. Board of Directors
Eight court layout on the Uptown Orthodondics Soccer Pitch
