The SPC Erne

Creating a consistent experience our members can count on is one of our core values as a club. We believe in running well organized and efficient events. You can show up and play and leave the organizing to someone else. That someone else is who we call our “Erne”.  There is an Erne assigned to each event played in the club. He/she is responsible for keeping the event running smooth, which includes making announcements, calling out matches, tracking scores, announcing winners, making decisions when needed throughout the event and is our clubs Public Relations representative on the courts at all times.

Our Erne Program is critically important to the success of our club, therefore we have a number of requirements each Erne must meet prior to becoming an Erne. If you are interested in becoming an Erne please contact Larysa Santiago or Venu Kovela via Discord DM.

The Erne is responsible for organizing the order of play using a club-specific score sheet and an app called "PB Play" to initially assign members to a court. This app may also be used throughout an event if there are more players than available courts. Our Erne Director’s are in charge of assigning Ernes to each event, and you can find the name "Erne" next to a member's name in SignUp Genius.

When Should I Arrive To Play?

When playing in an event, please arrive and be ready to play at least 5 minutes prior to start times. These events cannot start until everyone who is signed up arrives.  or to talk about important news.

How Do I Cancel a Playing Slot?

If you sign up for an event and need to cancel, please cancel at least 24 hours in advance by first deleting your name on SignUp Genius. Then, post on the SPC-Chat on Discord to inform the club that there is an available spot. However, if you cancel more than 24 hours in advance, there's no need to post on Discord.

IMPORTANT! We urge you to avoid cancelling within 24 hours of your event. Such short notice can make it difficult to find replacements. Kindly anticipate and plan accordingly!

If you must cancel within 12 hours of the event, the same applies as above, notify the club through the SPC-Chat on Discord AND we ask you help find someone to replace you. Your spot might be filled quickly, but if not, please work hard to find someone to take it.

We get that unexpected situations arise, but if you frequently cancel within 24 hours of events you're registered to play in, your membership may be at risk of suspension.

No Show/Late Arrival Policy

NO SHOW POLICY EFFECTIVE 1/12/24

If you sign up, you must show up. Regrettably, we have no choice but to revert to this policy due to the frequency of recent no-shows and members showing up late to play.

Within a 6-Month Period:

1 no-show or late arrival: You will receive a warning.

2 no-shows or 2 late arrivals: Your membership will be suspended for 1 week.

3 no-shows or 3 late arrivals: Your membership will be suspended for 1 month.

4 no-shows or 4 late arrivals: Your membership will be suspended for 6 months

If you must cancel, please read the “How do i cancel a playing slot” rule above.  Thank you!

*Late arrival is 10 minute or more

Southside Serves

The first serve in every game begins with the team on the Southside of the court unless playing in an event where you do a coin toss.

Side-Out and Rally Scoring

All games in our club begin with “traditional” Side-Out scoring play to 11, win by 2, unless otherwise posted in the event title. As we often occupy multiple courts simultaneously during our events, it's crucial to maintain a smooth flow of play. To minimize downtime between matches for our members, we switch to the Rally scoring format once either 1 or 2 games have ended. This is decided by the Erne at the beginning of an event.  

Let’s say the Erne has decided to switch to Rally scoring after 1 game is complete.  If three games are being played simultaneously and one of them concludes, someone from that match will call out, "Rally." Rally scoring will begin after a dead ball and all 4 players recognize rally scoring has now started. If the 1 server’s ball is in play at the time Rally is called and the serving team loses that point, the serving team would then be serving using rally scoring on the correct side of the court (either odd or even). From that moment on, the scoring will switch to Rally scoring, allowing the other games to conclude more swiftly and ensuring the next round of games starts within a reasonable timeframe. This system enables us to efficiently manage our events and make the most of our court space while keeping everyone engaged in the games.

Max 15

When someone yells "Rally," the unfinished game(s) will continue to play until one team reaches 11 points, win by 2 points, using the Rally scoring method.  If neither team is ahead by two points at 11, the teams will go into "overtime" until a team wins by two or reaches 15 points, whichever comes first. This approach ensures that the games keep moving smoothly, maintaining an exciting and dynamic pace for all members.

The “Let” Rule

This is a common rule but might not be known to everyone: Temporary nets have a frame with a bar at the bottom. Occasionally, a net ball might barely roll over and fall straight down, making contact with the net frame before hitting the court surface. When this happens, it is considered a "let" and the point is played over again.

“Out” Calls

We have observed that the handling of "out" balls varies from place to place. After careful consideration, we have decided to adopt the recommendations by the USPA. Here's how it works: When a team is receiving the ball, they have priority over the call. If they confidently say "out," then it is considered out. However, if they ask their opponents, "what did you see," the call goes to the team that hit the ball. An "out" ball should be called if the ball is clearly "outside" the line.

We kindly request that you give your fellow members the benefit of the doubt. If you are unsure whether a ball is out, it should be considered in. The important lesson here is to respect the call. We all make judgment errors from time to time, and arguing over an out call only wastes time and energy. Let's foster a positive and supportive atmosphere on the court by being understanding and respectful of each other's calls.