From the Support Desk: 

Invite-Only Session FAQs

What’s the deal with sessions marked “INVITE”?

Session bubbles marked "INVITE" are invite-only sessions. Only those included on the invitation list can view players' names and other session details. To everyone else, the names will appear as "Hidden" and they will not be able to add their name to the session. Think of an invite-only session as the equivalent of a group text or email, where you are inviting specific friends to play with you at a certain location and time. 
 

Is an invite-only session the same as a court reservation?

An invite-only session does NOT equate to a court reservation. Your group must follow all the usual court rotation and sharing rules when you arrive at the venue. Exactly the same as if you had arranged the play date by text or email, or randomly showed up to play at the same time as one another.
 

How do I create an invite-only session?

While using the Add Session form, check the "Invite-Only" box and then click the "Edit Invite List..." button to bring up a box where you can search for players by name, email, skill/gender (Premium feature), or load a previously used list. If you decide to invite more players at a later time, view the session and click "Edit List." You can also manage or create lists under the My Player Lists section of the site. Click here for a video tutorial.
 

Aren't invite-only sessions bad for pickleball communities?

We understand and cherish the idea that pickleball has flourished under a welcoming "open play" culture. It is at the very heart of the genesis, and continuing success, of PlayTime Scheduler! Please do not take invite-only sessions as an attack on pickleball culture, or a slight to anyone personally. There are many valid reasons why someone would want to create an invite-only session. Some players simply feel more comfortable playing with smaller groups of friends. They may be looking for a specific mix of skill sets, play styles, or genders. Court over-crowding is also a problem in many areas of the country, and smaller closed-play sessions help re-distribute court usage to less crowded times.
 

Why am I shown invite-only sessions on the calendar that I’m not invited to?

We promise we are not trying to cause drama or hurt anyone's feelings! By default, we show all sessions publicly on the calendar so you can get an idea how busy the courts might be. (For example, if you see there is an invite-only session with 30 people at one location, you might choose to play elsewhere that day.) If you are a Premium or Power User you can choose to hide invite-only sessions from your calendar, if you prefer.