CROSS COURT PICKLEBALL WEEKLY NEWSLETTER | OCTOBER 21, 2026
FALL PICKLEBALL IS IN FULL SWING!
October is flying by, and things are getting busier at Cross Court!
With cooler temperatures, shorter days and unpredictable fall weather, there’s no better place to be than on the pickleball courts!
Whether you’re squeezing in a few games before work, joining an evening drop-in or getting ready for your next league, we’re excited to see so many familiar faces and new players enjoying our facilities.
Here’s what’s happening at Cross Court Pickleball this week!
NEW LEAGUES ARE COMING!
We’ve received some fantastic feedback through our League Interest Form, and we’ve been reviewing your preferred playing times, skill levels, league formats and DUPR preferences.
Rather than simply adding leagues and hoping they fill, we’re using your feedback to create programming that matches what our players actually want.
We’re excited to announce several new leagues starting over the next couple of weeks at both Bedford and Dartmouth!
Whether you’re a novice player looking to build confidence, someone who enjoys competitive DUPR-rated matches or simply looking for consistent weekly games, there’s something for you!
BEDFORD
WOMEN’S LEVEL 2 NOVICE LEAGUE (2.5–3.0)
Mondays | November 2 – November 234:00 PM – 6:00 PM
WOMEN’S REC/NOVICE LEAGUE (NR–2.5)
Wednesdays | November 4 – November 25 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
MIXED 3.0+ LEAGUE
Saturdays | November 7 – November 28 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
DUPR Rated Every Week Week
DARTMOUTH
MEN’S NR–3.0 LEAGUE
Tuesdays | October 27 – November 17 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
WOMEN’S NOVICE 2.6–3.2 LEAGUE
Mondays | November 2 – November 23 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
DUPR Rated Every Week 4 Weeks
WOMEN’S 3.0+ LADDER LEAGUE
Tuesdays | November 3 – November 2412:00 PM – 2:00 PM
DUPR Rated Every Week4 Weeks
LEAGUE PRICING
Casual Members: $53Serious Members: $43Pro Members: $35
All leagues run for four weeks, with two hours of play each week.
A Cross Court membership is required to participate.
IMPORTANT DUPR REMINDER
For leagues that are DUPR rated, players must fall within the advertised skill range.
If you need a substitute, please ensure their DUPR rating also falls within the appropriate range.
This helps us maintain balanced competition and ensures everyone has an enjoyable experience.
Registration is available through Mindbody!
Spaces are limited, so don’t wait to secure your spot!
IMPORTANT UPDATE: UPCOMING PRICING CHANGES
At Cross Court Pickleball, we’re committed to providing our members with quality indoor facilities, organized programming and an enjoyable playing experience.
As our facilities continue to grow, we’re also working to ensure we can maintain our courts, support our operations and continue offering the programs our members enjoy.
With that in mind, we’ll be making a small adjustment to our court rental and drop-in pricing at both our Bedford and Dartmouth locations.
We understand that pricing changes are never exciting, and we’ve worked to keep these adjustments as minimal as possible.
Both court rentals and drop-ins will increase by just $1.00.
Here’s a breakdown of the updated pricing.
🏓 COURT RENTALS (PER HOUR)
Membership | Current | New |
Pro | $10.50 | $11.50 |
Serious | $14.50 | $15.50 |
Casual | $23.50 | $24.50 |
🏓 DROP-IN PICKLEBALL (2 HOURS)
Membership | Current | New |
Pro | $6.00 | $7.00 |
Serious | $8.00 | $9.00 |
Casual | $14.00 | $15.00 |
These adjustments apply to court rentals and drop-in sessions at both Nova Scotia locations.
Our goal has always been to create a place where players of all skill levels can enjoy the game, meet new people and feel part of a welcoming community.
These small adjustments will help us continue maintaining our facilities and supporting the growth of our programming.
We truly appreciate your continued support and understanding.
Every court booking, drop-in registration and league signup helps Cross Court continue to grow.
Thank you for being part of our community and for choosing to play with us! ❤️
KNOW SOMEONE WHO WANTS TO TRY PICKLEBALL?
We all know someone who keeps saying they’re going to try pickleball.
Maybe it’s a coworker, a neighbour, a family member or a friend who has been hearing you talk about the sport nonstop!
Well, here’s their chance!
Our Intro to Pickleball sessions are specifically designed for people who have never played before.
Over two hours, participants will learn the fundamentals of the game, including serving, scoring, court positioning, basic shots and the rules.
Our goal is to make that first experience fun, welcoming and completely stress-free.
No experience required!
We provide the paddles and balls, so participants just need comfortable athletic clothing and indoor footwear.
No Cross Court membership is required for Intro to Pickleball!
UPCOMING INTRO SESSIONS
BEDFORD
Monday, October 19 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
DARTMOUTH
Thursday, October 227:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Registration is available through Mindbody.
And to our experienced players, here’s a challenge for you this week:
Introduce one new person to pickleball!
You never know. You might just help someone discover their new favourite sport.
MORE PICKLEBALL, LESS PLANNING: JOIN A DROP-IN!
We know coordinating four players can sometimes feel harder than actually playing pickleball!
Between work schedules, family commitments and last-minute cancellations, organizing a game isn’t always easy.
That’s why we love drop-ins!
Our organized drop-in sessions give players an opportunity to enjoy games with others at a similar skill level without having to organize their own group.
They’re also a fantastic way to meet new players and become more involved in the Cross Court community.
BEDFORD DROP-INS
Tuesdays
6:00 PM | Youth
7:00 PM | 3.0–3.5
Wednesdays
6:00 PM | Rec/Novice
Thursdays
10:00 AM | 3.0–3.5
Fridays
1:00 PM | 3.0+
Saturdays
10:00 AM | 3.0–3.5
Sundays
5:00 PM | 3.0+
DARTMOUTH DROP-INS
Wednesdays
5:00 PM | Any Gender Novice
7:00 PM | Any Gender 3.0+
Thursdays
7:00 PM | 3.0+
Saturdays
9:00 AM | 3.0+
A FRIENDLY REMINDER
All drop-ins require advance registration through Mindbody.
Please don’t arrive expecting to join without registering, as sessions may already be full or may not have enough participants to run.
We recommend checking the schedule regularly and registering early to secure your spot.
WANT TO IMPROVE? PRACTICE WITH A PURPOSE!
Here’s something we see all the time.
Players spend hours on the courts, playing game after game, but eventually feel like their progress has stalled.
Sound familiar?
While playing games is important, there’s a big difference between playing pickleball and practising pickleball.
During a game, you’re focused on winning points.
During a drill, you’re focused on developing a particular skill.
Both are important!
Our Skills & Drills sessions are designed to help players improve their technique, consistency, shot selection and overall understanding of the game.
Whether you’re struggling with third-shot drops, working on your resets or trying to become more comfortable at the kitchen line, structured practice can make a noticeable difference.
WEEKLY SKILLS & DRILLS
BEDFORD
Tuesdays | 5:00 PM
DARTMOUTH
Wednesdays | 9:00 AM
Register through Mindbody.
Remember, improvement doesn’t always come from playing more games.
Sometimes it comes from slowing down, focusing on one skill and putting in the repetitions.
PRIVATE & SEMI-PRIVATE LESSONS
Want to take a more personalized approach to improving your game?
Our private and semi-private lessons allow you to work directly with a coach on the specific areas where you’d like to improve.
Maybe you’re preparing for your first tournament.
Maybe you’ve been playing for a while but feel stuck at your current level.
Or maybe you just want someone to help you understand what you could be doing differently.
Whatever your goals, our coaches can help you work toward them.
LESSON PRICING
Private Lesson: $60/hour
Semi-Private (2 Players): $40 per person/hour
Small Group (3–4 Players): $30 per person/hour
Lessons are available for players of all levels.
Interested in booking?
Email info@crosscourtpickleball.ca for more information.
PICKLEBALL TIP OF THE WEEK: STOP BACKING UP!
Have you ever found yourself standing at the kitchen line when your opponent sends a ball high and deep?
Your first instinct might be to start backing up while trying to hit it.
But here’s the problem.
Moving backward while swinging often puts you off balance, making it difficult to control your shot.
Instead, try to recognize the ball early.
If you need to move back to play a deep ball, turn your body and use controlled steps to get into position rather than stumbling backward.
Whenever possible, establish your balance before making contact.
And remember, you don’t have to attack every ball! Sometimes a controlled defensive shot is the smartest option.
This week’s challenge: Pay attention to your footwork and balance during your next game.
You might be surprised how much your shot consistency improves when you’re hitting from a stable position.
DID YOU KNOW? THE MIDDLE OF THE COURT CAN BE YOUR BEST FRIEND!
When players think about winning points, they often focus on hitting sharp angles or finding the sidelines.But sometimes the most effective shot is right down the middle! Why? Because the middle can create confusion between opponents. Both players may think the other person is taking the ball.
It can also reduce the angles your opponents have available for their next shot.
And because you’re aiming away from the sidelines, there’s often more room for error.
Of course, communication is important, and experienced teams will usually have a plan for who takes middle balls.But the next time you’re struggling to find an opening, try directing a controlled shot between your opponents.
Sometimes the simplest strategy is the most effective!
GOOD PARTNERS MAKE GREAT PICKLEBALL!
One of the things we love most about pickleball is that it’s a team sport. And being a great doubles partner involves much more than hitting good shots. We’ve all had games where things just aren’t going our way. Maybe your partner is missing a few returns. Maybe you’re struggling with your serve. Maybe the other team seems to be hitting every ball perfectly. It happens to everyone!
But how you respond can make a huge difference. A little encouragement can go a long way.
Instead of focusing on mistakes, focus on the next point. Instead of showing frustration, offer support.
And instead of worrying about who made the last error, think about what you can do together to improve the next rally.
Remember, you’re on the same team!
Some of the best doubles partnerships aren’t necessarily the ones with the strongest individual players.
They’re the ones who communicate well, support each other and know how to work together.
Be the kind of partner you’d want to play with!
A REMINDER ABOUT BOOKING THROUGH MINDBODY
As our fall programming continues to grow, we want to remind everyone that court rentals, drop-ins, leagues and coached programs are booked through Mindbody.
Using Mindbody allows members to view upcoming sessions, check availability and manage their bookings.
A few reminders:
COURT BOOKINGS
Members can book up to two hours of court time per day, subject to their membership benefits and booking policies.
CANCELLATIONS
We require at least 24 hours’ notice for cancellations.
PROGRAM REGISTRATION
Drop-ins, leagues and Skills & Drills require advance registration.
MEMBERSHIPS
An active Cross Court membership is required for regular bookings and organized programs, with Intro to Pickleball being an exception.
If you’re having trouble navigating Mindbody or aren’t sure how to register for a particular program, please reach out.
We’re always happy to help.
DON’T FORGET ABOUT PRIVATE COURT RENTALS!
Sometimes the best pickleball sessions are the ones you organize yourself. Maybe you have a regular group that enjoys playing together every week. Maybe you want to practise with your doubles partner before an upcoming tournament. Or maybe you simply want to spend an hour hitting balls and working on your technique. Whatever the reason, our courts are available for private rentals!
With fall weather becoming increasingly unpredictable, booking an indoor court means you never have to worry about rain, wind or chilly temperatures interfering with your games.
We encourage everyone to book ahead, particularly for evenings and weekends, as these are popular playing times.
Check Mindbody for available courts at Bedford and Dartmouth.
BUILDING A STRONGER PICKLEBALL COMMUNITY, ONE GAME AT A TIME!
As Cross Court continues to grow, one of our biggest goals is to make sure our facilities remain welcoming places for everyone.
We have players who are picking up a paddle for the very first time. We have recreational players who come out simply because they love the game. And we have competitive players working hard to improve their DUPR ratings and prepare for tournaments. There’s room for everyone!
We encourage our members to continue supporting one another, welcoming new faces and helping create the kind of atmosphere that makes people excited to come back. If you see someone new at a drop-in, introduce yourself. If you notice a player struggling to find a group, invite them to join a game when appropriate.
And if someone is having a tough day on the courts, remember that a little encouragement can make all the difference.
Pickleball may be what brings us together, but it’s the people who make our community special.
ANOTHER WEEK, ANOTHER REASON TO PLAY!
As we head into the second half of October, we’re looking forward to another busy week at Bedford and Dartmouth. With new leagues on the horizon, plenty of drop-in opportunities and lots of ways to improve your game, there’s something for players at every stage of their pickleball journey.
We’re continuing to work on expanding our programs, listening to member feedback and creating more opportunities for everyone to enjoy the sport.
Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to complete our interest forms, participate in our programs and share Cross Court with friends and family.
Your support means so much to us!
Whether you’re joining us for a league, a drop-in, a lesson or a casual game with friends, we look forward to seeing you on the courts this week.
Keep playing, keep improving and most importantly, keep having fun!
See you on the courts!
Cross Court Pickleball
Bedford & Dartmouth
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