Corey Loyd
As summer heat fades, travel winds down, and snowbirds return to SaddleBrooke, it’s the perfect time to head to the Robson Pickleball Center (RPC) and enjoy the excitement of pickleball. The SaddleBrooke Pickleball Association (SPA) provides everything residents need to participate in the fastest growing sport in America.
A great way to begin is with Drop In Community Play, offered daily at 10 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. on Courts seven and eight, reserved exclusively for SaddleBrooke residents. At 10 a.m., players can bring friends, join others, or meet new people. At 3:30 p.m., participants should bring three friends to form a foursome. Loaner paddles are available in the RPC Ramada, and pickleballs are provided free on each court, making it easy for anyone to get started.
Once you’ve discovered how fun pickleball can be, a SPA annual membership is the ideal way to enjoy the winter season. Memberships cost $130 per year, plus a one time $100 court construction assessment. Your membership begins the day you join and includes both social and competitive play, helping you grow your skills while meeting players at your level. SPA offers a wide range of activities designed to help members connect, improve, and enjoy the sport.
SPA also provides introductory lessons for all SaddleBrooke residents. Instructor Shawne Cryderman teaches rules, scoring, etiquette, positioning, and basic shot making—everything new players need to feel confident on the court. Residents can contact Shawne at sfcrydo@yahoo.com to be added to the lesson list.
For players seeking structured improvement, SPA offers a free Player Development Program featuring instructional sessions, skills, and drills. The program includes three levels: Pickleball Foundations (Novice), Fundamentals (Intermediate), and Progressions (Advanced). Sessions run monthly from October through April, with weekly classes over four consecutive weeks. The program helps players build confidence, meet others at their level, and find their place within the SPA community.
Social play thrives daily at RPC. Players can reserve courts with friends or join Single Paddle Drop In to play with a mix of skill levels. Those with a foursome can participate in daily Foursome Drop In to stay together. SPA also organizes structured play opportunities: Round Robins match players with others at the same skill level, rotating partners and opponents over six games. The SPA Ladder, reintroduced this summer, groups players of similar ability into foursomes that rotate partners, with winners advancing up the ladder. SPA also hosts Grand Mixers and holiday parties, offering relaxed opportunities to play and socialize.
Competitive players can participate in the Arizona Pickleball Players League (APPL), where SPA fields teams in Women’s, Men’s, and Mixed divisions. Teams compete against others in the APPL Southern Region. A favorite event is The Battle for the Saddle, a spirited competition between SaddleBrooke and SaddleBrooke Ranch—SaddleBrooke currently holds the trophy.
Residents curious about pickleball can explore the SPA website at sbpickleball.club, which provides comprehensive information about RPC, SPA programs, and membership benefits. See you at RPC.