Hey Pickleball players! Are you wanting to play in the Pickleball Tournament at the Austin Tennis and PIckleball Center this St. Paddy’s Day? Well you came to the right place.
My name is Calvin Keeney and I teach Pickleball along with organizing events such as this. I setup and ran the New Year’s Eve Pickleball tournament as well and wanted to thank everyone for coming out to that.
People have had some questions about this upcoming Pickleball tournament on St. Paddy’s Day weekend so I wanted to answer those questions here.
Last Updated:
3/13/19 – Updated Starting Times and Divisions
3/4/2019 – Updated the Balls that will be used and the Divisions
Frequently Asked Questions for the 2019 St. Paddy’s Day Weekend Pickleball Tournament in Austin, Texas
Here is answers to some of the popular questions I have been getting about the tournament.
How do I Sign up for the Tournament?
You can register for the 2019 St. Paddy’s Day Pickleball Tournament here. [PLEASE put your division(s) that you are wanting to signup for in the comments section at the bottom of the registration form].
Once you signup, you should receive emails from me regarding the tournament and your registration within a few days.
The deadline for registration is Monday, March 11th at 4 pm.
How Much Does the Tournament Cost to Play?
The first event entry is $27 per player.
Each additional event entry is $15 per player.
Where do I Pay for this Pickleball Tournament?
I will be emailing you an invoice to pay for your entry(s) online. You can also choose to pay me in person with cash, check or credit card if that is easier.
Payment is due on the deadline date of the tournament (Monday March 11th at 4 pm).
Where is this Tournament Going to be Played?
Austin Tennis and Pickleball Center
Address: 7800 Johnny Morris Rd, Austin, TX 78724
When Will this Tournament be Played?
Saturday and Sunday, March 16-17.
What Kind of Pickleballs are We Using?
Onix outdoor balls will be used for divisions 3.5 and below.
Durafast outdoor balls will be used for divisions 4.0 and above.
How Many Divisions are There?
Here are the divisions that will be played and the start times of each (Note- Doubles teams have been placed in their appropriate division based on the average of their team. So a team can have a 4.0 and a 3.0 on it and compete at 3.5 and below for example because their average rating is 3.5).
Saturday Divisions:
- Womens Doubles levels 3.5 and below – 10 am start time
- Mixed Doubles levels 4.0 and above – 12 pm start time
- Mixed Doubles levels 3.5 and below – 12:30 pm start time (a few of the play in teams will start early at 11:45 am. Stay tuned for final email with round 1 opponents)
- Mens Doubles levels 4.0 and above – 2:30 pm start time
- Mens Doubles levels 3.5 and below – 3:30 pm start time
Sunday Divisions:
- Womens Singles levels 3.0 and below – 11 am start time
- Open SIngles – 12 pm start time
- Coed Beginner Doubles for new players – 1:30 pm start time
Each division should take an average of 2-4 hours to complete based on format and how long your individual games last.
What is the Format or Bracket for the Tournament?
There are several types of formats that could be used based on number of participants. I will update you with a more final version of the format for your division as the tournament gets closer.
But in general we will have these different types of formats:
2 Match Guarantee Format for Divisions with Enough Teams (8+ Teams)
This format gives all teams a minimum of 2 matches. It’s like a double elimination bracket except a team from the loser’s bracket can’t win the whole thing.
If you lose round one, you will still be playing for 3rd place by winning out in the losers bracket. 1st and 2nd place are given to the top two teams in the winners bracket.
This allows more court time for more players while still giving the losers bracket something to play for. Thanks to everyone that gave feedback on last tournament to help me decide on this updated version of the format.
Round Robin Format for Divisions with less than 7 Teams Signed up
The round robin formats will play 1 match against everyone in their division. The match length will vary based on participants but will likely be one of the following:
- 1 game to 11 points. Switch sides at 6 points.
- 1 game to 15 points. Switch sides at 8 points.
- 2 out of 3 games to 11 points. Switch sides after games 1, 2 and halfway through game 3 (6 points).
My goal is to get all players as much court time as possible and hopefully against a variety of teams.
Are you Going to Have Food and Drinks at the Tournament?
We will have snack foods at the tournament that are complimentary for players. Snacks such as oranges and bananas along with jugs of water.
The pro shop should also be open during the tournament. They have snacks, sodas and sports drinks available for sale there as well.
We will not be ordering lunch for this event like we did for the New Year’s Eve Pickleball tournament.
You are able to bring your own coolers with food and drinks if you would like.
Additional Questions about the 2019 St. Paddy’s Day Pickleball Tournament?
Please let me know any other questions through email (calvin@calvinkeeney.com) and I look forward to seeing you out at the courts soon! And here are some Pickleball tips that I learned from one of the all time great Pickleball players.
Also, If you haven’t registered for the tournament yet and want to play, then you can sign up here. [PLEASE put your division(s) that you are wanting to signup for in the comments section at the bottom of the registration form].