Navigating UCLA's Pickleball Courts: Availability, Reservations, and Access at Sunset Canyon Recreation Center

UCLA students and members seeking to enjoy a game of pickleball on campus have access to courts at the Sunset Canyon Recreation Center (SCRC). Understanding the availability, reservation procedures, and policies governing these courts is essential for a smooth and enjoyable experience. This article provides a comprehensive guide to navigating pickleball court access at UCLA's SCRC.

Staying Updated on Facility Operations

To stay informed about the latest news and updates regarding SCRC facilities and programs, individuals can sign up for SCRC and Aquatics Updates. This ensures they receive timely notifications about facility updates, program announcements, and any potential impacts on court availability due to construction or other events. For instance, while the SCRC Seismic Project is underway, the facility, including both swimming pools, will largely remain open during construction.

General Facility Policies and Access

Before heading to the SCRC pickleball courts, it's important to be aware of the general facility policies:

Age Restrictions: Individuals must be at least 16 years of age to enter Sunset Canyon Recreation Center without a parent or guardian. All adult members must have a valid photo on their profile in order to access Recreation facilities.
Prohibited Items: No glass (including water bottles, food storage containers, etc.) is allowed. Alcohol and pets (except service animals) are also prohibited.
Photography/Video: No photography or video recording is allowed, unless approved by UCLA Recreation management.
Transportation: Bicycles, electric scooters, and non-electric scooters are not permitted inside the facility. Skateboards and scooters (that can be folded up) may be walked inside the facility, but must be in the possession of the owner at all times. These items cannot be locked to any structure, rails, or other equipment inside the facility. At no time should these items be ridden inside the facility.
Usage: SCRC is for independent leisure recreation. Group gatherings, events, and/or other activities require an advanced facility reservation.
Weather/Events: Some spaces may be closed in inclement weather, unsafe conditions, or for scheduled events or programming.

Pickleball Court Specific Policies

In addition to the general SCRC policies, specific rules apply to the tennis and pickleball courts:

Eligibility: Must be a registered UCLA student or have UCLA Recreation membership to use tennis courts.
Reservations: Participants must have an appropriate booking reservation to enter the facility. Each booking made is valid for up to 3 additional recreation members.
Check-In: All users should check in at the Sunset Canyon Recreation Center front desk. If you have not checked in, please be prepared to have you membership and reservation verified during your reservation time.
Players Per Court: Limit 2 people per court (singles play) and 4 people per court (doubles play).
Equipment: Limit 6 balls per court. No ball hoppers. No baskets. Private lessons are prohibited.
Prohibited Items: Food and drink is prohibited (water bottles okay). Glass and other breakable objects are prohibited on the courts. Intoxicants are prohibited on the courts.
Conduct: Intoxicated persons are prohibited on the courts at any time. The use of profane or obscene language is prohibited.
Activities: Courts are to be used for their intended purpose only. Play equipment including skates and skateboards, toys, play pens, wheeled vehicles, including bicycles (except wheelchairs), scooters or motorized vehicles are prohibited on the courts.
Personal Belongings: Please keep all personal belongings in a secured location as there are no lockers or other storage available on the courts.
Pets: Pets (except service animals) are prohibited on the tennis and Pickleball courts.
General Conduct: Use of the tennis and Pickleball courts must be conducted in a safe manner with due respect and consideration for others who are in the nearby areas. Tennis and Pickleball courts rules and courtesies apply at all times.

Making Reservations

To secure a pickleball court, follow these steps:

Visit reserve.recreation.ucla.edu.
Click “Welcome Guest” in the upper right-hand corner of the webpage.
Click “Sign In”.
Choose “Request An account” and fill out information fields.

While a space may appear to be available, your request does not constitute an automatic approval or reservation as multiple requests for the same date could be pending. Your reservation time is your venue access time. Be sure your request includes enough time for catering, vendor, and your set-up/clean-up needs. Your requested set up will be completed before you arrive. Include a general event itinerary with times and activities and a brief description of how the room should be set-up. Be sure to request tables, chairs, and any audio/visual needs you have for your event space. If you are requesting a reoccurring reservation or multiple space request please add all spaces/dates on one request (for instructions, please contact our office).

Reservation request processing can take up to 2-3 business days, longer during peak times and can be subject to approval by facilities managers that may need additional information. Once your request is made, it will be assigned to an event manager who will contact you with additional questions to ensure we give you a proper cost estimate. You event manager will submit a Major Event Application on your behalf if deemed necessary for review. All reservations are reviewed on a first come, first served basis with the exception of the Student Activities Center which follows the Student Activities Center Charter. Please wait for confirmation of your reservation prior to making any further arrangements including any advertising or marketing. UCLA Registered Groups and Departments will be sent an online confirmation application and cost estimate. Off Campus Groups/Individuals must wait until they received a fully executed contract. Please note that a reservation request does not constitute as a confirmed reservation.

Reservation Request Timeline

UCLA Registered Campus Organizations and UCLA Departments:
- Meeting Rooms/Studios: 5 business days
- Event Venues: 20 business days
Off-Campus groups and individuals: All spaces 30 business days.

Pauley Pavilion Arena is not available for request online.

Meeting Rooms and studios: spaces that have an existing set up and do not require additional special permissions such as fire and/or food permits, additional tables or chairs, etc.

Event Venues: spaces that require but, are not limited to… set up of tables or chairs, A/V, staffing, food and fire permits, fire marshal approval, etc.

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Please note that a reservation request does not constitute as a confirmed reservation.

Hours of Operation

The hours of operation for SCRC, including the tennis and pickleball courts, vary depending on the time of year. Below are the standard hours of operation for SCRC. Please check the hours section for quarterly hours and any modified hours.

Typical Hours:Monday-Friday: 6:00AM - 8:00PMSaturday: 8:00 AM - 8:00 PMSunday: 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM

SCRC Tennis CourtsMonday - Friday: 8:00 AM - 8:00 PMSaturday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM*Sunday: 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM

Fall: September - December 2025Special Hours:11/8-11/11,S-Tu, 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM11/26, W, 6:00 AM - 4:00 PM11/27 - 11/28,Th-F, CLOSED11/29-11/30, -Su, 10:00 AM - 4:00 PMFall Finals12/12, F, 6:00 AM - 4:00 PM12/13-14, S-Su, 10:00 AM - 4:00 PMWinter Break12/15 - 12/19, M-F, 10:00 AM - 2:30 PM12/20 - 12/30, CLOSED12/31-1/4, Su, 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM

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Winter: January - March 2026Special HoursMLK Weekend1/17, S, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM1/18, Su, 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM1/19, M, 10:00 AM - 6:00 PMPresidents' Day Weekend2/14, S, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM2/15, Su, 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM2/16, M, 10:00 AM - 6:00 PMWinter Finals & Spring Break3/20,Th, 6:00 AM - 6:00 PM3/21-3/29, F-Su, 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM

Spring: April - June 2026Special Hours5/23 - 5/25, S-M, 10:00 AM - 6:00 PMSpring Finals6/6 - 6/7, S-Su, 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM6/8 - 6/11, M-Th, 6:00 AM - 8:00 PMCommencement Weekend, Juneteenth, & Summer Interim6/12, F, 6:00 AM - 6:00 PM6/13 - 6/14, S-Su, 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM6/15 - 6/19, M-F, 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM6/20-6/21, S-Sun, 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM

Addressing Overcrowding and Prioritizing Student Access

Overcrowding is a common issue at UCLA recreational facilities, including the SCRC pickleball courts. UCLA students pay a mandatory fee every quarter, granting them access to amenities like Sunset Recreation. While non-student members also contribute to the facility's upkeep, a debate exists regarding priority access.

Some argue that students should have priority access to their own residence’s facilities. The current reservation system, while intended to provide guaranteed playtimes, can create competition for court bookings.

One suggestion to mitigate this issue is to implement student-only times during weekends and evenings when academic classes are less frequent. This would ensure that students have dedicated opportunities to utilize the pickleball courts without competing with non-students who may have other recreational options in Los Angeles.

General Rental Guidelines and Potential Charges

Any event considered by UCLA Sports Venues & Event Operations to be potentially harmful to the public image of UCLA in any way will not be allocated space. UCLA Sports Venues & Event Operations reserves the right to determine the potential harm to facilities and may reject said request. The scheduling of events will be based on facility availability and approval by UCLA Recreation Sports Venues and Event Operations. There may also be a review by other department-supported committees. All events will be negotiated by UCLA Sports Venues & Event Operations, which will determine the extent of personnel required to safeguard event attendees, as well as the University's interest. UCLA Sports Venues & Event Operations must have the appropriate contact for each request. Groups renting a facility will be held financially responsible for any special cleaning, maintenance or repair resulting from the event or activity. Groups renting a facility are required to observe all applicable policies of UCLA Sports Venues & Event Operations and UCLA, and all local, state and federal laws. UCLA Sports Venues & Event Operations is not responsible for any lost, stolen or damaged property belonging to those who attend an event while within our facilities.

Registered Campus Organizations and UCLA Student Affairs Departments: Will be responsible for all direct costs incurred by UCLA Recreation that are necessary for the proper operation and maintenance of the facility. These costs include, but are not limited to, equipment rental, facility operations staff (set up/strike and event staff), environmental services staff, lifeguards, paramedics, security, traffic personnel, sport officials and scoreboard operators. The amount of staff assigned to an event will be determined based on the size and nature of the event. Groups will also be charged for any special cleaning, maintenance or repair resulting from the event or activity.

Departments and Off Campus Groups/Individuals: In addition to the space rental fee, the rental group is responsible for all direct costs incurred by UCLA Recreation that are necessary for the proper operation and maintenance of the facility. These costs include, but are not limited to, equipment rental, facility operations staff (set up/strike and event staff), environmental services staff, lifeguards, paramedics, security, traffic personnel, sport officials and scoreboard operators. The amount of staff assigned to an event will be determined based on the size and nature of the event. Groups will also be charged for any special cleaning, maintenance or repair resulting from the event or activity.

Definition of Space Rental Fee: The length of the rental period includes preparation, set-up and strike/clean-up times.

Definition of After-Hours Charges: In addition to the rental and event operation fees, any group that schedules an event outside of a facility's regular operating hours must pay the personnel costs incurred in keeping the facility open beyond its’ regular operating hours.

Conclusion

By understanding the policies, reservation procedures, and hours of operation for the SCRC pickleball courts, UCLA students and members can maximize their access to this popular recreational activity. Staying informed about facility updates and advocating for student-friendly policies will further enhance the pickleball experience for the UCLA community.

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