Tennis/Racket Sports
Welcome to Fallsmead's Tennis/Racket Sports page! From this page, you can learn about the different racket sports you can play on the courts, see court hours and information, access current court rules, and make court reservations.
 
PLEASE NOTE - THE FOLLOWING SPECIAL RULES ARE IN PLACE FOR THE FALLSMEAD TENNIS/RACKET SPORTS COURTS DUE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC: 
 
Courts must be reserved on Fallsmead.org every time you use the tennis court. Upon reserving a court, the gate combination will be emailed to you. The gate combination is changed frequently.
 
  1. Court use is limited to tennis and pickleball only. Kids “wall-ball” is restricted at this time due to COVID concerns.
  2. Use of a glove, antiseptic wipe, or hand sanitizer is recommended when you handle the lock, gate, pickleball nets, or use the bench.
  3. Remove all balls, personal belongings, and trash from the court when you finish playing.
  4. Close the gate and lock the court when you finish playing.
  5. Use may be restricted if you do not reserve the courts each time you play or if you leave the gate unlocked following use!
 
Please contact the Racket Sports Committee directly at tennis@fallsmead.org or via the Contact Us page with any questions!
 
 
 
 

What Racket Sports Can I Play?

Fallsmead residents can play tennis, pickleball, and badminton on the Fallsmead tennis/racket sports courts. Kids “wall-ball” may be permitted on Court 2 when COVID concerns subside.
 
  • Court 1 (the court on the side of the entry gate) is only available for tennis. It is striped with white lines with regulation tennis court dimensions for tennis play only.
  • Court 2 (the court closest to the creek) is available for tennis, pickleball, badminton, and use of the practice wall. Court 2 is striped with white lines for tennis and with blue lines for pickleball and badminton. There are two pickleball/badminton courts on Court 2, one on each side of the net. The pickleball court is located on the pool side of the net on Court 2; the badminton court (which can also be used for pickleball) is located on the park side of the net on Court 2. Click here for a diagram showing the setup of the pickleball/badminton courts on Court 2 or visit the FAQ page for more information about the difference in the dimensions of the pickleball and badminton courts.
Visit the FAQ page to find out more information about how to play pickleball or badminton.

Court Hours and Usage

The tennis/racket sports courts are available for play from dawn to dusk each day. Courts can be reserved from 8:00 a.m. through 9:00 p.m. (see "Court Reservations" below). 
 
Once you arrive on the court, you will find the courts ready for tennis. However, to play pickleball or badminton, a net must be put in place for your game. The two pickleball/badminton nets are stored along the creek-side fence next to Court 2. After play, please move the portable nets back along the fence. 
 
Courts are to be locked at all times when there are no players on the courts. Please relock the courts after play on the courts has ended.

Court Rules

FALLSMEAD COURT REGULATIONS
 
  1. Courts must be reserved for each use at Fallsmead.org. Signup is on a first-come basis by yourself or a member of your family.
  2. Courts may only be used by Fallsmead Residents (who are current with their membership dues) and their guests. Players must be prepared to identify themselves as Fallsmead residents (or guests) if requested by a resident.
  3. Each family may sign up for a maximum of 4 hours of Prime-Time and 4 hours of Nonprime-Time per week; but no more than 2 hours on a single day. Additional time may be reserved on the day of use if the courts are available.
    ·       Prime-Time: Monday to Friday from 5:00 p.m. until dark. All day Saturday, Sunday, and holidays.
    ·       Nonprime-Time: Monday to Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
  4. Reserved courts must be claimed within ten minutes of the scheduled time or any Fallsmead resident may use the court for remainder of the hour.
  5. Please be courteous to players on the adjacent court. Wait for play to pause when crossing to Court 2 and do not retrieve balls while play is in progress.
  6. No glass or food should be brought inside the tennis court fence or on the courts.
  7. Please refrain from bringing items that present a risk, inconvenience, or distraction into the court area. (e.g., dogs, baby strollers, etc). They may remain at the bench outside the courts.
  8. Tennis shoes are recommended, but non-marking sneakers are acceptable. 
  9. Nonplaying spectators should remain on the benches inside or outside the courts.
  10. The courts are approved for use for Tennis, Pickleball, and Badminton. Wall-ball (with a soft ball such as tennis ball) may be permitted when COVID restrictions are lifted. Use of the courts or practice wall are not approved for lacrosse, street hockey, scooters, skateboards, bicycles, hoverboards, or roller blades.
  11. Please relock the gate after use. Failure to do so may result in restricted use of the courts.
  12. Please cancel reservations at least 2 hours prior to scheduled time if courts will not be used. Failure to do so 2 times in a 30-day period may result in restricted usage for 30 days.
 

Court Reservations

You can click on the Reservations page to reserve your Fallsmead court times. Just click on "View Availability"; select your preferred date, time, and court; and submit your choice to make your reservation. After you make an online court reservation, you will receive a confirmation email that will include the court lock combination. The lock combination is changed frequently and a new reservation is required every time you use the courts.
 
Each family may reserve court times for a maximum of 4 hours of Prime-Time and 4 hours of Nonprime-Time per week; but no more than 2 hours on a single day. Additional time may be reserved on the day of use if the courts are available. 
 
  • Prime-Time: Monday to Friday from 5:00 p.m. until dark. All day Saturday, Sunday, and holidays.
  • Nonprime-Time: Monday to Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Unless using the practice wall, consider reserving Court 1 if it is open so that Court 2 can potentially be use for pickleball or badminton.
 
If you will not need to use your court reservation, please cancel it so others can use the courts. You can track or delete your court reservation by clicking on "My Reservations" on the main Reservations page at Fallsmead.org.
 
Reserved courts must be claimed within ten minutes of the scheduled time or any resident may use the court for the remainder of the hour.

Court Access and Lock Combination

The tennis courts will be locked when they are not in use. In order to open the tennis court gate, use the four-digit combination on the gold-colored lock. 
 
Your online court reservation confirmation email will include the four-digit combination that you will need to unlock the courts, so be sure to hold onto your confirmation email. The combination is changed frequently, and a new reservation is required each time you use the courts.
 
Be sure to relock the gold lock when you leave the courts. The courts should always be locked when they are not in use. If you ever walk by the courts and see the court lock unlocked, please be sure to relock the gate. 
 
Tips for Locking the Gate Properly  
 
  • To Open the Lock: Turn the dials to the 4-digit combination. Push up and then pull down the gold part of the lock and it should open. If you just pull down, it may not open. Pull the lock out of the hole in the Y-latch, noting where it should be replaced when you lock the gate.
  • To Close the Lock: Close the Y-latch so that it straddles the opposing pole. Insert the lock through the hole in the Y-latch. Push the lock closed, and turn all of the number wheels. Pull down on the lock to make sure that it is secure.
 
 

Tennis Lessons

The Fallsmead courts are not to be used for recurring individual or group lessons. However, Fallsmead residents may schedule a tennis lesson at the Fallsmead courts with a certified instructor on an occasional basis provided that a notification is sent to the tennis committee. A court reservation is still required for each use. Please submit notifications to tennis@fallsmead.org.

Tennis/Racket Sports Activities

Tennis group events like “drop by Thursday night doubles” or “round-robin tournaments” may be planned by Fallsmead residents provided that a notification is sent to the tennis committee. A court reservation is still required for each use. Please submit notifications to tennis@fallsmead.org.

Court FAQs

Check out the FAQ page to see some frequently asked questions about tennis and racket sports in Fallsmead.