Youth Membership

YOUTH MEMBERSHIP CRITERIA (NEW, as of June 2024)

The BVPA welcomes youth players (aged 13-17 as of December 31 of the current year). Youth who want to play with the BVPA must meet both of 2 criteria:

Youth must play at a 3.0 level or higher.

A 3.0 player has the skills set out in the Pickleball Canada Skill Level Guidelines. These can be found at https://pickleballcanada.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Pickleball-Canada-Skills-Self-Assessment-Chart.pdf.

Youth must be accompanied by a pre-authorized responsible adult (RA) at all times when they are playing in a BVPA event.

The RA will vigilantly monitor and ensure that the youth is safe from physical harm, sexual abuse and mental harm. The RA will coach the youth in court etiquette. The RA must be able to authorize emergency medical treatment if needed. The RA must have a copy of their RA Form with them at all times when the youth player is playing with the BVPA.

Two forms must be submitted to the BVPA (admin@bowvalleypickleball.org) before acceptance into the association:

Youth: General Registration Form – outlining information about the prospective youth member, pickleball experience, and confirmation that the youth understands the BVPA policies and agrees to comply with them.
Responsible Adult (RA) Form – information on who is the responsible adult for the prospective youth member and confirming that the responsible adult understands the BVPA policies and agrees to comply with them.

YOUTH: LEVEL ASSESSMENT

Youth must currently play at a minimum level of 3.0 to play with the BVPA.

To progress and play at higher levels beyond the initial placement, youth will follow the same criteria as set out for adult players at the BVPA. Youth are only allowed to play at a level approved by the BVPA.

In the event a youth has a background in pickleball prior to joining the BVPA, the association will take into account several different parameters to ensure that the youth member participates at an appropriate level. Considerations may include discussions with the Responsible Adult with respect to the youth member’s pickleball background, discussion with a BVPA member who is familiar with the youth’s pickleball skill level, as well as a review of the following, if available:

Formal rating, performed by an external organization;
DUPR (Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating) and number of DUPR games played; and,
Tournament results.

Should the BVPA determine, at a later date, that its placement of the youth into a specific level was inappropriate, the association has a right to move the youth to a higher or lower level.

YOUTH: MEMBER APPLICATION PROCESS

Follow these steps for each youth member application:

Review the BVPA website to understand how the club works, where they play, what times different levels play, and rules that must be followed.
Print the following two forms:
1. Youth General Membership Form
2. Responsible Adult (RA) Form. A separate form should be completed for each adult who intends to take the role of Responsible Adult.
Complete these forms and submit them to the BVPA (admin@bowvalleypickleball.org).
A member of the BVPA will contact you to confirm acceptance into the BVPA, at which time the BVPA youth membership fees must be paid by completing the registration on the BVPA website that includes the electronic signing of a MEMBER RELEASE OF LIABILITY, WAIVER OF CLAIMS, ASSUMPTION OF RISKS AND INDEMNITY AGREEMENT and a CODE OF CONDUCT ACKNOWLEDGMENT.

Note that every year, the youth member will need to re-register and pay the annual membership fees for BVPA.