Indoor Pickup Sports in Maine This Winter: Beyond Basketball

Late October is when Maine pickup moves inside. AllOutMaine lists 188 drop-in and open gym times across the state, and plenty of them are in gyms and rinks that stay warm all winter. This guide covers the indoor sports that get less attention than basketball and pickleball: volleyball, hockey, table tennis, badminton and curling, with the places and times we have on file.

Volleyball: Wednesday night is the big one

AllOutMaine has 15 volleyball drop-in listings, and a lot of them land on Wednesday evening. Most are run by town rec departments in school gyms, so expect a punch card or a season fee.

East End Community School Gym, Portland

Adult drop-in volleyball runs Wednesdays 7–9 PM, $5 for Portland residents and $10 for non-residents. There is also a women's open gym for volleyball on Sundays 10 AM–12 PM at the same prices.

Yarmouth Elementary School

Adult pickup volleyball on Wednesdays 7–9 PM, with a winter time slot listed for 8–10 PM. The fall/winter session is $25 for residents and $28 for non-residents.

York Middle School

Adult pickup volleyball twice a week: Sundays 8–11 AM and Wednesdays 7–9 PM. A punch card is $20 for 5 visits or $80 for 20, and a season pass is $200.

More volleyball around the state

• Wells Elementary School: coed open gym volleyball, Wednesdays 7:30–9:25 PM, $5 a night or $20 for a 5-visit pass.
• Sanford Pride Elementary School: adult drop-in volleyball, Wednesdays 7–9 PM, $4 for adults. Bring bills, not coins.
• Falmouth Elementary School Gym: Monday pickup, 7–9 PM, with a $40 10-visit punch card bought at the gym.
• Freeport High School: co-ed pickup, Sundays 6:30–8 PM, $25 for the season.
• Williams-Cone School, Topsham: women's volleyball, Mondays 6–7:45 PM, $25 residents / $30 non-residents for the season.
• Warsaw Middle School, Pittsfield: adult rec volleyball, Wednesdays 7–9 PM. Free, with sign-up required.
• Boothbay Region YMCA: adult pick-up volleyball, Wednesdays 6–8 PM. Free for members; non-members pay a guest fee.
• Mount Desert Island YMCA, Bar Harbor: rec volleyball, Tuesdays 6:30–8 PM and Sundays 10:30–11:30 AM.

Pickup hockey: rinks are back

Indoor rinks are running again, and several list adult pickup ice time. Bring full gear unless the listing says otherwise.

William B. Troubh Ice Arena, Portland

Adult co-ed pickup hockey (18+) is listed for Oct 28, 29 and 30, 1:40–2:40 PM, at $10 a session for residents and non-residents, with a 10-punch pass available. These sessions are posted a few dates at a time, so check the listing for what's next. The arena also hosts the Pine Tree Curling Club league.

Midcoast Recreation Center, Rockport

An indoor NHL-size rink with three adult sessions on file, each $17 with packages available:

• Dusty Pucks pick-up hockey (55+): Tuesdays and Thursdays 8–9 AM
• Noon Hour Hockey: Wednesdays 12–1 PM
• Tuesday Night Co-ed Hockey: Tuesdays 9:30–10:30 PM

More pickup ice

• Falmouth Family Ice Center: Women's Hockey Society drop-in scrimmage, Mondays and Fridays 9:30–10:30 AM, $10.
• Camden National Bank Ice Vault, Augusta: Weekend Warrior pick-up hockey, Saturdays 7–8 AM.
• Norway Savings Bank Arena, Auburn: shinny hockey, an organized scrimmage at $10 a person. No set time is on file, so check with the arena.

Outdoor rinks like Payson Park in Portland and Cornelia Warren Four Season Rink in Westbrook are seasonal. They open once it's cold enough, which isn't yet.

Table tennis and badminton

Both are quick to learn, and they're played in gyms you may already know.

Table tennis

• East End Community School Gym, Portland: adult drop-in table tennis, Tuesdays 7–9 PM, $5 residents / $10 non-residents.
• Bridgton Town Hall Gymnasium: table tennis open play, Sundays 1–4 PM. Free or donation-based, with registration required.

Badminton

• Mount Desert Island YMCA, Bar Harbor: badminton Thursdays 6:30–8 PM, Saturdays 10 AM–12 PM and Sundays 8–10 AM.
• Waldo County YMCA, Belfast: badminton in the gym, Tuesdays and Thursdays 8:30–11:30 AM. Members, or non-members with a day pass.
• Herbert E. Sargent Center, Old Town: seniors badminton on Nov 5 and Nov 19, 9 AM–12:30 PM, with a $5 day pass.

Curling: the winter sport to try once

Belfast Curling Club

Three indoor sheets, with a season that runs mid-October to March. Learn to Curl sessions are listed for October and January, so if October's have passed, January is your next window. Check the club for dates and how to sign up.

In Portland, the Pine Tree Curling Club plays a league at Troubh Ice Arena.

How to find a game

• Browse every drop-in and open gym time, or filter by sport: volleyball, hockey, table tennis, badminton.
• See indoor and outdoor spots on the map, or the full list of places to play volleyball.
• Check upcoming pickup games near you.
• Know a gym time we're missing? Add it from the app (+ → Add drop-in times).
• Have a few friends and a gym? Post a game. It takes about 30 seconds, and nearby players who play that sport hear about it.

Basketball and pickleball have their own guides: adult drop-in basketball in Maine and how pickleball open play works.

FAQ

Where can adults play drop-in volleyball in Maine?

AllOutMaine lists 15 volleyball drop-ins, including Portland's East End Community School (Wednesdays and Sundays), and Yarmouth, York, Wells and Sanford, which all have Wednesday night sessions. Most are run by town rec departments.

Is there adult pickup hockey in Portland, Maine?

Yes. Troubh Ice Arena lists adult co-ed pickup hockey for ages 18+ at $10 a session, posted a few dates at a time. Falmouth Family Ice Center, nearby, has a women's drop-in scrimmage on Monday and Friday mornings.

Can I try curling in Maine as a beginner?

The Belfast Curling Club runs Learn to Curl sessions in October and January, during a season that runs mid-October to March. Check the club for dates before you go.

Do I need to be a member to play at a YMCA drop-in?

It depends on the Y. Waldo County YMCA lets non-members join with a day pass, and Boothbay Region YMCA charges non-members a guest fee. Ask at the front desk.