This or That: Maine Pickup Sports, October Edition

Late October in Maine is a fork in the road. The leaves are mostly down, the car thermometer says something different every morning, and every pickup player quietly picks a side on a dozen small questions. No wrong answers here, only strong feelings.

Make your picks as you go.

1. Indoor or outdoor?

Indoor means a roof, lines that don't move and no leaves on the court. Outdoor means fresh air and the bragging rights of playing in a fleece. This is the month the question gets real.

2. Early bird or night owl game?

Some people love a 6 AM start, like the early pickleball open play at the Mount Desert Island YMCA. Others think anything before coffee should be illegal. Both groups are welcome, just rarely at the same time.

3. Doubles or singles?

Doubles: more talking, more laughing, more "yours!" Singles: more running, and nobody to blame but yourself.

4. Hoodie or short sleeves?

There's always one person in short sleeves when it's 45 degrees. There's also always one person in a hoodie when it's 80. Pickup has room for both.

5. Mud season or black fly season?

A trick question, since neither is a sport. But if you had to play through one, which would it be? Muddy shoes or a cloud of tiny company?

6. Post-game Italian or whoopie pie?

One is a meal. One is a reward. Some players argue that after a long game you've earned both, and it's hard to argue back.

7. Winners stay on, or everyone rotates?

Winners stay on keeps things competitive. Rotating means everyone gets the same number of games and nobody stands around getting cold. In October, standing around getting cold is a real factor.

8. Call the score out loud, or trust the vibes?

Calling it every point keeps things clear. Trusting the vibes leads to the classic "wait, what's the score?" debate that somehow takes longer than the point did.

9. Your own ball or whatever's in the bin?

Some players bring a favorite ball like a family pet. Others grab whatever's closest and hope it holds air.

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That's the list. Now we want your picks, and your reasons, especially for number 6.

If indoor won for you, there are drop-in and open gym times across Maine to keep you moving all winter. If outdoor won, you can host a game and see who else is brave enough.