Pickleball’s meteoric rise has brought with it a surge in tournaments, each presenting unique challenges for organizers. To shed light on the intricacies of running a successful pickleball event, we’ve tapped into the expertise of Kurtis Campbell, founder and president of Pickleball Manager. From keeping tournaments on schedule to leveraging cutting-edge software, Campbell offers invaluable insights for both novice and seasoned organizers. Dive into this Q&A to uncover the secrets of hosting a standout pickleball tournament that players will rave about.
What tips can you share on organizing and running a pickleball tournament. What are potential challenges and solutions?
One of the most important things you can do when running a pickleball tournament is to try to make sure things stay on schedule as much as possible. When tournaments get behind schedule, there are a whole host of problems and complaints that will come after that. One way you can help mitigate schedule problems is making sure players know how to view their bracket and know the procedure for when they are up for a match. This can be accomplished via posting the brackets at various places around the facility — or QR codes that take a user to the brackets — using software with notifications, and/or a PA system where someone is announcing matches.
What are the biggest mistakes you’ve seen operators make when it comes to hosting a tournament?
The biggest mistake I have seen operators make when running a pickleball tournament is not delegating tasks well. There are thousands of things to do when hosting a tournament, so it’s important to have people you trust running certain sections of operations so you can focus on organizing all of it. Whether it’s running the check-in desk, making sure water jugs are filled, or managing referees and reported scores, you want to make sure you have trusted people in charge of those things so they run smoothly, and you don’t have too many things on your own plate.
What should organizers look for in a tournament management software? What features are important?
Tournament organizers should look for a tournament management software that is user-friendly, and requires as little manual intervention as possible. With the Pickleball Manager software, one of our biggest focuses is to provide a user-friendly user interface to make things as easy as possible for pickleball players of all ages. It is also very important to find a software that fits the needs of your tournament. Not all tournaments need to have notifications for court assignments or referee management, but some do. Finding the right set of features for the right price is essential for having a good experience with your tournament software.
How can organizers create an efficient registration process?
The easiest way to create an efficient registration process is to use software to manage registration. Nothing can turn people away quicker than finding a tournament advertisement online, and having to go somewhere else — especially completing physical forms, or submitting physical payment — to complete the registration or payment process.
What advice can you share for organizing a tournament for people with varying skill levels/experience?
The best way to make sure your tournament can accompany players with varying skill levels is to consult local players or ambassadors of those differing skill levels and find out what kinds of tournaments are common. In some areas, 3.0 players might like to play round robin tournaments, but in another location 3.0 players might generally like to play double elimination. Higher level players generally like more competitive formats like double elimination or pool play/round robin followed by a single elimination playoff, but that is not always the case.
Any other advice for operators on this topic? What must operators know?
As pickleball has exploded in popularity around the country lately, so has software to accompany your pickleball events. Staying up to date on new technologies and ideas in the pickleball software can help you provide the best user experience to your players and volunteers.
With over a decade spent covering the business side of sports and fitness, Rachel Chonko brings a wealth of experience and a true passion for active communities to Peake Media. As Editor-in-Chief, she’s focused on helping pickleball clubs and fitness facilities thrive, from guiding growth strategies to showcasing the latest industry trends. Rachel also hosts the Club Solutions Magazine Podcast, where she interviews leaders in fitness and pickleball to share insights and success stories with the wider community to give her listeners a competitive edge.
After taking up pickleball herself, Rachel has come to appreciate the sport’s unique blend of social connection and active living — a mix that’s perfectly in line with her editorial philosophy. Connect with her on LinkedIn, or check out her articles below for a deep dive into the energy and culture driving pickleball’s rapid rise.
