If you have been playing pickleball for some time, you may hear a lot of talk about tournaments. If you’re considering playing in a pickleball tournament, here are the basics that you should know from different leagues to how much they cost.
What To Know About Entering A Pickleball Tournament
There Are Different Pickleball Leagues
There are different leagues when it comes to pickleball tournaments. The main ones are the Association of Pickleball Professionals (APP) and the Professional Pickleball Association (PPA). So what is the difference between these pickleball leagues? The PPA in general seems to be more popular with more funding. They are featured to be watched on ESPN and many of the pros are signed exclusively with them.
You do not have to have a USA Pickleball membership to register for a PPA pickleball tournament, which is a bit of a savings. What is a USA Pickleball membership? USA Pickleball “is the national governing body for the sport of pickleball in the US and provides players with official rules, tournaments, rankings, and promotional materials.”
The PPA is NOT USA Pickleball sanctioned. The APP on the other hand is USA Pickleball sanctions. So to play with the APP tour, you will need a USA Pickleball membership. A USA Pickleball membership is $35 for one year, $95 for 3 years, or $150 for 5 years.
The number of people registered for PPA versus APP tournaments also varies quite a bit. For example, a tournament held in Mesa, Arizona a month apart sees more than twice the amount of registered players for the PPA. With more people, you will see more competition. Keep that in mind when you’re looking to plan your pickleball tournament calendar.
There are also other tournaments hosted locally or by different associations. To know upcoming tournaments in your area or in places you may be interested in, check out pickleballtournaments.com.
There Are Costs To Play
You may already know that each pickleball tournament costs money. However, you should know that it costs money to enter the tournament AND additional costs to enter each event.
So if you’re signing up for an APP tournament, it will cost $35 (if you get a one year) for a USA Pickleball membership, $80 to $85 for registration, and an additional $35 for each competition. So if you’re entering a singles men event and a mixed doubles event, for example, it will cost $192 with PayPal fees.
Example APP tournament fee: $35 (one time cost for the year) + $85 + $35 + $35 + $2 = $192
If you’re not playing one of the days but you would like to watch any of the events, there is a fee (usually $5) that is not included in your registration. So if you’re showing up to support friends or a significant other, you should expect to pay.
For the PPA tournament, you won’t need a USA Pickleball membership but the same registration and each event fee applies. PPA tournament registration fees are a bit cheaper at $70 to $75. These prices are current as of 2022, however, they may go up in the future. So if you want to register for the same two events, here is what the cost breakdown would be.
Example PPA tournament fee: $70 + $35 + $35 = $140
For pro and senior pro players, the per-event fee is even higher. However, they are eligible to win cash prizes. There are no cash prizes for those that are not pro or senior pro levels. You will get a medal and bragging rights.
If you’re traveling from out of town, you may have to factor in flight tickets, gas, car rental, lodging, and food. These are all costs to keep in mind when you’re planning your tournament trips.
Mental Preparation Is Key
Many people that have played in any sports tournament may tell you how important your mental game is. Playing in a pickleball tournament is no different. You may be perfectly comfortable and even thrive in your home court. However, playing in a different town, weather, and environment that you’re not familiar with can be challenging for many people.
Added pressure to win can also add extra stress that you may not be used to. If you’re playing doubles, your partner could be feeling the same. It is important to prepare yourself mentally in addition to your physical skills.
Read Next: Playing Your First Pickleball Tournament? 8 Tips For Success
Last Tips
There is a certain excitement in participating in a tournament with others who have the same love for the sport. Participating in tournaments will allow you to network with fellow pickleball enthusiasts. Many become friends that some even offer lodging accommodations for future tournaments that are in their cities. Pickleball tournaments can be a great place to socialize, even with a competitive spirit.