Relishing Pickleball

David Zapatka, USAPA Rating Committee member

Last month in this column, I made the barn-busting announcement that the Indian Wells Tennis Garden located near Pam Springs, CA, signed a five-year agreement with USAPA to host the USAPA National Championships 2018-2022. I also stated we knew very little about the details. That changed April 1 when the following announcements were made:

Registration begins August 1, 2018.

Registration requirements:

* Must have participated in at least one USAPA-sponsored tournament 11-15-17 through 10-31-18.

* Must be rated 5.0 to compete in the Open events.

Events are Skill/Age – Singles, Doubles, Mixed Doubles

Under 35 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5, 5.0

35-49 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5, 5.0

50-59 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5, 5.0

60-69 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5, 5.0

70-79 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5, 5.0

80+ 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5, 5.0

In addition to the Skill/Age Events:

Open Singles, Doubles, Mixed Doubles

Senior Open (50+) Singles, Doubles, Mixed Doubles

Junior Singles, Doubles, Mixed Doubles 8-12, 13-15, 16-18 years of age

Here’s the big announcement everyone has been wondering about. There will be 24 fully-painted, cushioned, Plexipave courts; 15 cushioned, Plexipave temporary-lined courts and one-fully painted, Plexipave Championship court.

Lodging and accommodations details are to be announced later.

Schedule of Events:

Saturday, November 3 – Mixed Doubles Skill – 4.0. 4.5, 5.0 – all ages

Sunday, November 4 – Women’s Doubles Skill – 4.0, 4.5, 5.0 – all ages

Monday, November 5 – Men’s Doubles Skill – 4.0, 4.5, 5.0 – all ages

Tuesday, November 6 – Singles Skill – 3.0 – 5.0 – all ages

Wednesday, November 7 – Mixed Doubles Open/Sr. Open – played up to the semi-finals

Thursday, November 8:

Mixed Doubles Skill – 3.0, 3.5 – all ages

Mixed Doubles/Open/Sr. Open – semi-finals through gold

Friday, November 9:

Men’s Doubles Open/Sr. Open, Women’s Doubles Open/Sr. Open – final four matches including main draw matches to bronze and gold

Junior Boys/Girls Doubles – all ages to completion

Saturday, November 10:

Men’s Doubles Skill, Women’s Doubles Skill – 3.0, 3.5 – all ages

Men’s Doubles Open/Sr. Open, Women’s Doubles Open/Sr. Open – semi-finals through gold

Junior Mixed Doubles – all ages to completion

Sunday, November 11:

Singles Men’s Open/Sr. Open, Singles Women’s Open/Sr. Open – all brackets to completion

Singles Junior – all brackets to completion

Have a question about pickleball? Want to know more about the sport, the rules, equipment or have some pickilicious news you would like to share with our pickleball community? Email David Zapatka at [email protected].