Pickleball Policies
Pickleball Policies
The Evelyn Rubenstein JCC (the J) pickleball policies and procedures have been established to ensure maximum enjoyment and usage of the pickleball facilities, which include outdoor courts at the Merfish Teen Center and indoor courts at the Oshman Gymnasium at the Main J campus.
The J’s pickleball program is committed to providing a safe and welcoming environment for all members and guests. To promote safety and comfort, all individuals are expected to act maturely, behave responsibly and respect the rights and dignity of others when on premises, utilizing our facilities or participating in programs.
The J reserves the right to refuse or revoke member/guest privileges to anyone who violates these policies and rules. In extreme cases, this may result in the permanent banning of a person from the premises.
NOTE: All guests and members of the Evelyn Rubenstein JCC of Houston agree that use of the facilities, services and programs shall be undertaken at their own risk and that the J shall not be liable for any injuries, accidents or deaths occurring to guests or members, arising either directly or indirectly from the utilization of the J’s facilities, services or programs. The guest or member for themself and on behalf of their executors, administrators, heirs and assigns does not hereby expressly release, discharge, waive, relinquish and covenants not to sue the Evelyn Rubenstein JCC of Houston, its officers, agents, for all such claims, demands, injuries, damage or cause of action with respect to the use of the Evelyn Rubenstein JCC’s facilities, programs and/or services.
All guests or visitors to the J are expected to abide by the same code of conduct as members.
J members are permitted to bring guests as a benefit to their membership. The J must protect the value for the membership and therefore must limit guest privileges.
- The following guest policies have been established:
- Guest fees are not intended to be a substitute for membership charges. Guests may use the Merfish Teen Center up to two times in one-month, not to exceed 12 times per year.
- Guests MUST be accompanied by a hosting J member.
- All guests utilizing pickleball facilities must check-in, pay any facility fees at the front desk and complete all registration procedures prior to entering the pickleball court area.
- Guest fee: $15 per guest
- Any paddles, pickleballs or additional J equipment issued to a guest or member becomes the guest and hosting member’s responsibility. Damage caused or failure to return J equipment may result in associated fees to repair or replace.
- Members are limited to a maximum of 3 guests per court visit.
- When reserving courts, members must sign-in each guest at the front desk prior to going to the court.
All members are required to scan or present their J membership credentials upon entering the Merfish Teen Center. This process is enforced and critical to ensuring the safety and security of our members, staff and guests.
Guests must sign in at the front desk, sign a liability waiver, communicate which member(s) they are playing with upon arrival and pay the appropriate guest/court fees before going to the court.
If you are playing at the Merfish pickleball courts, you will be required to pay guest/court fees prior to heading to your designated court, if applicable. This must be done via credit card or payment method on J membership account prior to the Merfish court reservation.
Unauthorized use of a membership by a person other than the member to whom the membership was issued will result in termination of membership.
The court reservation system provides for fair and efficient use of the courts and for the enjoyment of all J members. The actual amount of open court time made available daily is not guaranteed and is at the discretion of the Tennis Center director. The front desk may move members to a different court than originally reserved to optimize court usage.
Health & Fitness and Tennis members may reserve a pickleball court up to four days in advance.
Program members may reserve a court up to three days in advance.
Individuals may arrange one advanced court time per day. Additional same-day reservations may be made upon completion of the first reserved court time if space is available.
To make a reservation:
- Use the MyJ app online court reservation system or
- Call the Merfish pickleball desk at 832-408-3548 during facility operating hours.
Individuals who frequently cancel reservations, deliberately double book courts, arrive late or have a history of not showing up for reserved courts are subject to reservation sanctions or no-show fees of $25. A reservation is considered a “no-show” 15-minutes after the posted reservation time. At this point, the reservation is terminated and returned for general usage. A fee of $25 will be assessed for all late court cancellations and no-shows to the primary reservation holder.
To avoid cancellation fees, courts may be canceled through the MyJ app up to 24-hours prior to reservation start time. Please contact the Merfish pickleball desk at 832-408-3548 for day-of cancelations. Note: A $25 fee will be charged for any day-of reservation cancelations.
Visit www.erjcchouston.org/health-wellness/gymnasium/pickleball/ for detailed court schedule.
Merfish Pickleball Hours of Operation
Fall/Winter/Spring
Monday-Thursday
8:00 AM – 1:00 PM; 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Friday
8:00 AM – 1:00 PM; 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Saturday-Sunday
8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Summer
Monday-Thursday
4:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Friday
4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Saturday-Sunday
8:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Note: All court reservations are set for a 90-minute period.
Fees
- Open play court time – No fee for J member (guest fees apply)
- Pickleball court fee – $24/court reservation
- Guest fee – $15
General Rules
J members are expected to pay all court fees that apply before playing on the pickleball courts.
Any member or guest who willfully or neglectfully causes damage to J property shall pay for damage. Members are responsible for damages incurred by dependent children and/or guest.
Proper etiquette, language and courtesy are to be always observed. This includes proper conduct and relinquishing of the courts by scheduled time.
No smoking, tobacco products, guns, firearms or weapons are allowed on the premises.
It is understood it is in the best interest of the Evelyn Rubenstein JCC Tennis Center, members and guests to advertise and promote activities of the Tennis Center. All members, program participants and guests, therefore, authorize the use of any pictures, videos or audio taken on the Tennis Center premises by the Evelyn Rubenstein JCC to be used in advertising, promotion or general publications.
