What belongs on your pickleball team page

Start with what people come for

Most visitors to a team page want one of three things: when and where the next game is, how the team did recently, or how to join. Put those at the top, in that order, and keep everything else below. A page that answers the first question in five seconds will get reopened.

Use plain language and full dates. Write a date as a weekday plus month and day, add a time zone if you play across regions, and name the location as the facility calls itself. Avoid inside jokes and shorthand that only existing members understand.

Schedule and results

List upcoming dates with time, place, and what kind of night it is, such as practice, ladder night, or a match against another group. Mark changes clearly and remove canceled events instead of leaving them to confuse people. If the schedule depends on weather or court availability, say how updates will be announced.

For results, post the date, the opponent or format, the score, and a one-line note. Keep the tone factual and kind. Results are a record, not a verdict on anyone, and they should never single out one player for a bad day.

Archive older results by season rather than deleting them. Over time that record becomes the team history, which new players enjoy reading.

Roster, with consent

Only list a person when they have agreed to be listed, and only in the form they agreed to. A first name or a nickname is often enough. Ask each player what they want shown, and let them change their mind at any time without explanation.

Do not publish contact details such as phone numbers or home addresses on a public page. Route inquiries through a single team contact or a form. If a player has stepped away, move them to an alumni or past-members list only if they are comfortable with that, or remove them.

Skill levels are optional. If you show them, make sure the player agreed, and describe the system you use generally, such as a self-rating or a calculated rating, rather than implying an official ranking.

Photos, with consent

Photos make a page feel alive, but they need permission. Ask people before posting, tell them where the photo will appear, and take it down quickly when asked. A sign-up form with a simple yes or no for photos makes this easy.

For anyone under 18, get a parent or guardian to agree before showing a face or a full name. When in doubt, choose a photo of the courts, the equipment, or players from behind. Add short alt text describing what is in the photo so the page works for everyone.

Keep photo credits honest. If someone else took the picture, name them, with their permission, or leave the credit generic.

The captain's note

A short note from the captain gives the page a human voice. Two or three sentences is plenty: what happened this week, what is coming up, and a thank-you. Sign it with the name the captain uses publicly, and date it so readers know it is current.

Rotate who writes the note if the captain is busy. Make sure every note is written by the person who signs it, since a team page is a place where readers should be able to trust who is speaking.

Review the page at the end of each season. Remove stale items, update the roster, and confirm that everyone shown still wants to be.