Are you thinking of organizing a local pickleball tournament and feeling discouraged, coming to the realization that there’s a lot work ahead or maybe your not even sure where to start? Organizing this kind of event takes a lot of work but don’t worry – we’ve prepared a shortlist of tips for you, to help make this process as easy as possible and help you pull off a successful tourney.
Top 10 tips to successfully planning and runninga pickleball tournament:
Start planning early!
This procedure could be very long and several unexpected problems and complications could arise so it is best to be safe than sorry! Sit down and make a list of all of the tasks regarding the tournament organizing. Calculate how much time you would need for completing all of them and thenadd 2 weeks!
From experience, even small local tournaments take longer than you would expect, especially if it’s the first one at that venue. Annual events at the same of course get easier – especially if you keep organized records of from year to year (all contact names- also write down a record of all the people involved and their contact details for future reference).
If you finish everything on time and all goes smoothly, you will be happy you left yourself some time to rest and prepare for the tournament so that you can have fun with the rest of the participants.
Decide on the date early on:
In order for you to calculate how much time you’ll need for the process, it would be best to decide on the date of the tournament first and communicate the time frame with other people included in the process.
Also, if the date is defined early on, it makes it easier to deal with any delays or changes without any serious consequences for the contestants and other people included. It is best to set the date 2-3 months in advance so that you have enough time to promote the event and leave enough buffer for unexpected problems.
Select a tournament commissioner:
A commissioner (or a tournament director) is a person responsible for advertising and promoting the tournament. It’s best to select the person for the role at least 2-3 month prior to the event. The bigger the tournament you’re organizing- the more time you should leave for the commissioner to advertise it. This person is also responsible for receiving registrations and setting up the ladders a week prior to the tournament.
Tournament Brackets / Ladders
You might find the following link helpful, it’s a FREE resource toPrint Your Tournament Brackets.If you are planning a larger tournament, consider using a software program to organize the event.You can use the USAPAtournament software. The program can be used to seed teams (doubles) and players (singles). You can create double-elimination tournament brackets based on age or skill level.
If you are running a large tournament (100+ participants) you’ll want to take a look at Pickleballtournaments.com Software which allows you to set up and manage the entire tournament, gives participants the option to sign-up online and post the draw sheets to the USAPA site. You can also advertise your tourney on their site to increase exposure to your event.
Decide on a venue for your pickleball tournament
You can look over the USAPA rules to check for the minimum court size needed for your tournament. On average, matches take between 40 and 60 minutes. They can be shorter in the beginning of the tournament and longer towards the end. These are all of the things you will need to take into account when considering the size of the venue and duration of venue reservation.
Select the type of your tournament
If this is your first tournament, it would be best to make it a promotional one. Since you are still learning and getting to know the process, it might be good if there are no consequences to how successful the tournament is- the contestants don’t receive Tournament Points. Once you learn how to best organize the tournaments, you can change the type to “sanctioned” and there will be a number of requirements you will have to fulfill.
Calculate the overall cost of the tournament
This step is the most important one since this is where you make most of the decisions that will define the final result- your pickleball tournament. Some of the questions you might want to ask yourself and your staff is:
- Will you serve food and drinks for free or set up stands where people could buy them?
- Will you hire the staff or seek volunteers?
- Will you charge for tournament participation or give participants an option to donate?
- Will there be cash prizes, medals, participant T-shirts?
- Do you have enough pickleball nets for all the courts? If not you may need to rent or contact sponsors to supply them.
Once you decide on these questions you can calculate your incomes and expenses. If you conclude that your incomes are not enough to cover the expenses you can find sponsors for your pickleball tournament. Pickleball equipment brands might be interested in sponsoring the tournament in return for advertising their merchandise and setting up stands where they could sell their products.
Plan some fun activities aside from the pickleball tournament
While participating in the tournament is the main reason people will visit your event, it would be a more enjoyable experience for everyone if you planned a few fun activitiesfor people to meet and socialize. Participants might be motivated to visit your future tournaments if they have a pleasant experience and make new friendships.
If there will be kids, remember to set up something that will keep them occupied since they may eventually get bored with the hours of tournament play- you couldorganize a film screening or marshmallow roasting or have volunteers organize kiddy races, competitions, etc. Or better yet, some up ajunior pickleball clinic or fun drills to learn how to play.
Create a website or at least a dedicated Facebook page for the tournament
Setting up a website might be beneficial for different reasons.
It is easier to promote your pickleball tournament if you have a website with all the relevant information. Share the link of your website to different social media platforms.
If you provide a place for relevant information about your tournament you will reduce the chance of misinformation among the participants.
By creating a registration form and putting it on the website you are making the process much more simple and easy. You can add the option of paying for the participation fee online and not worry about the staff handling the money or losing it.
Hire a photographer
An important part of promoting your tournament is documenting the event and sharing the photos and videos after. If participants like the photographs taken at the tournament, they are more likely to share them and give your tournament a free promotion as a result.
You may be thinking it’s not really necessary since now everyone has cell phones and lots of photos will be taken and shared anyway but from experience, I would say that having a dedicated, professional photographer really does add to the tournament and quality photos make a big difference. You can use them to promote future tournaments, build a social media following and create great memories for participants.
Many budding professional photographers would be happy to spend half a day shooting action shots for their portfolio for a fair fee so it can be a win-win.
Don’t forget about the prizes for the winners!
A nice way to make sure participants remember the tournament is to give them an award.You can check out these pickleball medals made by Crown Awards, a company with a long history of supplying awards for business and youth sports since 1978 in the U.S. I think they are the best pickleball medals out there if you are looking for a generic medal, unless you need a custom made medal with your logo, tournament name, etc.
For smaller local tournaments, some clubs give away less formal prizes, such as a pickleball t-shirt, a book on pickleball or a pickleball themed gift.
There you have it! 10 tips for organizing a pickleball tournament successfully. Good luck!
I've spent years deeply involved in the pickleball community, both as a player and an organizer. From arranging local tournaments to understanding the intricate logistics required, I've gathered substantial first-hand experience.
Planning a pickleball tournament involves meticulous attention to detail. Early planning is crucial, accounting for tasks, unexpected delays, and time for rest before the event. I've learned that keeping organized records from year to year simplifies subsequent tournament planning significantly.
Selecting the right venue is pivotal; adhering to court size regulations and estimating match durations is essential in ensuring a smooth event flow. Also, the tournament type matters—starting with a promotional event for familiarity before transitioning to a sanctioned one minimizes pressure and allows for learning.
Financial planning is paramount. Calculating costs and income streams, considering options like sponsorships, and deciding on aspects like food, staff, and prizes shape the tournament's final outcome.
Beyond the tournament itself, creating engaging activities for participants, especially for kids, and establishing an online presence through dedicated websites or social media pages enhances engagement and communication with attendees.
Finally, a crucial aspect is capturing the essence of the event through professional photography and offering memorable prizes, be it medals, themed gifts, or customized awards, to commemorate participants' achievements.
As for the concepts covered in the article:
- Early Planning: Importance of scheduling and accounting for unexpected delays.
- Setting Dates: Deciding on the tournament date to facilitate planning and communication.
- Tournament Commissioner: Role and responsibilities of a person responsible for tournament promotion.
- Tournament Brackets/Ladders: Tools and resources for organizing tournament brackets and software recommendations.
- Venue Selection: Considerations for selecting a venue based on court size and match durations.
- Tournament Type: Differentiating between promotional and sanctioned tournaments based on experience and requirements.
- Financial Planning: Calculating overall costs, income, sponsorships, and decision-making regarding expenses.
- Engaging Activities: Importance of additional activities aside from the tournament for enhanced participant experience.
- Online Presence: Benefits of creating a dedicated website or social media page for efficient communication and registration.
- Photography and Prizes: Significance of professional photography and memorable prizes for participants to commemorate their achievements and promote future events.
