We run Social Doubles play sessions on a weekly basis throughout the year. The play is in a doubles format and the focus is to have fun and gain match experience
This is our most popular tennis program, and at busy times during the year will fill up within 5 minutes of registration opening each week.
The outdoor Summer season runs from approximately May to September each year.
Cancellations due to weather will be announced two hours before the session via the VTA WhatsApp Community (you will receive a link to join our WhatsApp when registered for a session). Latest updates on Stanley Park court conditions from Tennis BC.
The indoor Winter season run from approximately September to April each year.
Registration opens online @ 8pm one week before the session.
The focus of Social Doubles is fun and social play. Some photos from sessions throughout the years – we hope you’ll join us soon!
Players must be current members of the VTA to sign up for Social Doubles sessions ($50 per year: join here).
If the session is cancelled (due to weather), you will receive a credit for your next session.
Please arrive 10-15 minutes before scheduled start time for introductions and court assignments.
Stanley Park Tennis Courts (Outdoor Sessions):
North Vancouver Tennis Centre (Indoor Sessions):
The VTA groups will assemble at the lounges just inside the front doors.
This is a very popular program, with sessions often filling up within the first few minutes. Your best chance at securing a spot is signing up right as registration opens.
During the outdoor season, we have Intermediate and Advanced priority sessions.
For the first 24-hours of registration priority is given to those play levels. After 24-hours members of any level can register for remaining open spots.
Players are assigned to courts based on general skill level – with the goal that you will be on a court with other players of a similar levels. The coordinator for the session will announce court assignments 5 minutes before the session starts (see meeting points above).
Court assignments are at the discretion of our volunteer Play Director. The Play Director reviews scores (especially for new members) each week for future court placements.
It really depends who signs up that week and where skill levels fall – and where the court groupings or cut offs land. We have all been placed on courts with players at a higher skill level some weeks, but courts with players at a lower skill level (which we understand can be very frustrating).
The most important thing to remember is it is intended to be more social in nature (not intended to be competitive), and hopefully you’re having fun!
If you feel your court assignment is not right over several weeks, please email our volunteer Play Director: playdirector@vtatennis.ca
Keep in mind, overwhelmingly members believe they should be moved ‘up’ to higher level courts – it’s just not possible to move everyone up. Tennis delusion is real.
Yes! There is a waitlist available via Mindbody for up to 15 people.
Find the session you want to attend and add yourself to the waitlist.
We recommend you enable text message notifications when using the waitlist. You can enable text message alerts about your registrations, cancellations and waitlist via your profile.
If you are unsure if you are available and able to play in the session, we ask that you don’t sign up for that week. It takes countless volunteer hours to organize these sessions.
Credits will only be processed for valid exemptions done with enough notice.
No-shows to sessions mean that a court is left with just three people, which makes it impossible to play doubles – and a spot available that another member could have taken. Members who no-show (or late-cancel) to a session will receive a one-month ban from this program.
All members must pay for the Social Doubles sessions via Mindbody at time of registering.
You will only pay for the Play Sessions you sign up to play.
You must have an up-to-date VTA membership ($50 per year) to be able to register online each week for the Play Sessions.
Yes. During the outdoor season, there are multiple sessions running each week and you can play as many as you like. You will have to complete the signup form again to register for each session.
Keep in mind: If you have played one week in a row, we ask that you wait 24 hours after signup opens before registering the next week (for the same play day). You will be removed if you sign up earlier (with no refund issued for repeat offenders). This rule is to ensure more members have access to our court time in play sessions.
We do not offering trials (or guests) for this program. All participants must be a current VTA member.
VTA annual membership is open for all to join. Once you have joined as a member you will be able to register to play each week.
If you would like further information, or to understand these sessions more we welcome members of the public to spectate any of our Social Doubles play sessions to see if this program (and club) is suitable for you before joining. Please inform our volunteer Play Director you will be spectating (they can also introduce you to some of our members, and answer any questions about our club): playdirector@vtatennis.ca
These sessions are not meant to be for training or competitive play. Play is intended to be social and fun.
Members sign up as individuals and will be allocated a court of four players (with the intention that you will be with players of a similar skill level).
Each Social Doubles starts with a quick self-guided warm-up on the court; followed by three segments of timed play (all players will be on the court and playing doubles for the entire two-hour session).
For each segment, you will play doubles for 35 minutes. The play coordinator will keep time and call out “start play” or “last point” between each segment.
After each play segment doubles partners are rearranged (see “King’s/Queen’s Court vs Fixed Court” below for details).
The warm-up segment is open to our members on what they want to focus on. Players generally start closer to the net with easy soft hitting, focusing on footwork. When players are ready they move back to the baseline and continue to rally. Each player usually also spends a few minutes at the net practicing volleys and overhead shots.
After each play segment doubles pairings are rearranged – there are two ways we do this.
(same court, rotating partners)
At the end of each segment players will remain on the same court but rotate partners for the next segment. Meaning, in the three sets you will play doubles paired with each individual on your court.
You will be with the same group of four the whole session on the same court.
(moving court format)
For this format players will change courts after a segment is complete.
Doubles pairs must then split for the next doubles segment (the person you played with will now be one of your opponents). Winners on the highest court and losing team on the lowest court do not move courts.
The Play Director will confirm at the beginning of the session what format is being used.
The warm-up segment is open to our members on what they want to focus on. Players generally start closer to the net with easy soft hitting, focusing on footwork. When players are ready they move back to the baseline and continue to rally. Each player usually also spends a few minutes at the net practicing volleys and overhead shots.
Further information on location facilities is available on our Play Locations page.
Members are responsible for getting to the sessions on time. We want all tennis lovers to participate and we welcome everyone.
Not having a car or transport option to a venue should not be a barrier to participating. Many of our members share rides to the venues. If you need a ride (or can offer another member a ride), please share in the VTA WhatsApp Group – you will receive a link to join in your signup emails.
The VTA is a 2SLGBTQ+ association that welcomes everyone who enjoys the game of tennis to participate. To play in these sessions you are expected to understand the rules of doubles tennis at a skill level of NTRP 2.0 or higher.
We have members from 18 to 80+ join us (minors will need permission from a guardian).
We do not accept discrimination or harassment of any kind, including based on age, gender, sexual orientation, physical appearance, body size, race, or religion. Read our code of conduct.
No. You will register as an individual. You will be assigned a court and doubles partner for the first segment.
If you are joining for the first time you can request to be placed on a court with a friend of the same level for the first doubles segment.
At the end of each doubles segment (35 minutes), there is some rearranging of players/partners before the next segment (it’s confusing to explain, but easy to understand when you’re there – so just as an experienced member what court to move to between segments).
Play Sessions follow standard doubles rules. We do not play short-deuce or other adaptations.
Some groups will play “first-of-five” (or “first in”) for each player’s first service (this is usually when very little or no serves are practiced in the warm-up segment). For the first service, each player is given five attempts to get their serve in. Playing “first-of-five” must be announced and agreed upon by all players before any play begins. First-of-five will only be played for the first 4 games in segment 1.
You are expected to be your own ballpersons. This includes returning balls to other courts that may find their way to your court. Each court will be given one can of balls (three balls).
In order to have a quick game, you should be able to hold a second ball when you are serving (in a pocket or otherwise). If your partner is serving you are expected to hold the third ball.
The Play Director will update players when the weather is iffy. Two hours before the session they will post to our WhatsApp Group if the session is cancelled or not. You can also see updates on court conditions on Tennis BC Hub @ Stanley Park Weather page.
In the case there is no message to VTA WhatsApp Group, it is assumed the session is going ahead.
You will also receive a text/email notification from Mindbody when cancelled (provided you have them enabled). If you have paid for a session that was cancelled you will receive a credit to use for your next session.
Indoor sessions proceed when it is raining.
There is no maximum or a minimum number of games played within each 35-minute play segment. All players will be on court for the full two hours of play.
Courts should play as many games as you can in that time. Some sessions can get up to 12 games, whereas others only have 5 – it all depends on how quickly the games are won.
All of the completed games should be recorded on the scorecard (provided by the Play Session coordinator)
At the end of each doubles segment, there is some rearranging of players/partners before the next segment.
The way we play depends on a few factors – as a general rule during the outdoor sessions we use “King’s/Queens Court” format and indoor sessions “Fixed Court”. Due to COVID-19 concerns and to limit exposures we have moved towards “Fixed Court” more often.
If you are unsure which format, please confirm with the Play Coordinator on the day. Our experienced members will also help in directing where you should move to.
Fixed Court (rotating pairs)
With this format you will be with the same group of four players the whole session, and remain on the same court.
At the end of each segment, players rotate partners for the next segment. In the three segments you will play doubles paired with each individual on your court.
King’s/Queen’s Court
During outdoor sessions players move courts, when that happens:
Winning pair on the highest court and the losing pair on the lowest court stay on the same court.
Doubles pairs must then split for the next doubles segment (the person you played with will now be one of your opponents). To decide pairs for the next segment:
The new pairs then decide between themselves who plays deuce-side and advantage side.
If you are unsure of your new court assignment between segments – any of our members will be happy to help you.
No, there is no instruction or coaching at Social Doubles. Players are required to understand the rules of doubles tennis to play.
The VTA will often run some Novice play sessions and Intermediate Drill sessions during the outdoor tennis season which is run by coaches. Gord and Gayle (friends of the VTA) also offer a range of lessons and coaching, contact them on 604-605-8224.
The cost of the sessions includes the court rental and tennis balls. We suggest you bring:
As we play in public locations, do not bring valuables.
Check with the Social Doubles coordinator. Each week and location has different restrictions. If there are players on the court please be courteous and do not enter the courts before the scheduled time. Make sure you are back at the meeting/assembly point promptly before starting time for announcements.
Tennis balls do not need to be returned at the end of Social Doubles. Players are welcome to take the used balls after the session and we hope that they go to good use.
If you are a school, charity, community group, or member of the public that would like to collect free tennis balls in Vancouver please contact our Play Director (playdirector@vtatennis.ca).
Make yourself familiar with tennis etiquette and our code of conduct. Apart from that, introduce yourself to people, have fun, and ask questions – we look forward to meeting you!
If you have any other questions or concerns please contact our Play Director (playdirector@vtatennis.ca) or any of our volunteer Board Members.
We understand that joining the VTA and a new program can be intimidating but our members will be glad to help and answer any questions at any stage (we’ve all been through the same thing and understand!).
If you have any questions or want more information about our Social Doubles please contact our volunteer Play Director: playdirector@vtatennis.ca
