BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT
Find a Court,
Organize a
League!
I
n 2007, Trevor Meier started GlobalTennisNetwork.com to
help tennis players find a partner, locate courts, and set up
leagues and tournaments. The site has since grown to more
than 80,000 members and growing fast. Now, Meier has set
his sites on doing the same for pickleball.
“Like a lot of people, I ended up catching the pickleball bug.
I soon realized the tennis software we have been developing
for the past 12 years, was exactly what the sport of pickleball
needed. From finding a court, or looking for a partner, to
organizing ladders, leagues and tournaments. We already had
everything built!”
Global Pickleball Network (or “GPN” for short) was soon
born, and released at the end of 2018. “Since pickleball and
tennis are so similar, it was a really easy development. It is
now just a matter of getting people to use it.”
The most popular feature on the tennis version, is the
ladder leagues, where players challenge each other to a
match. “It is like king of the mountain. The goal is to get to the
top.” Players submit their scores, and the points and statistics
are calculated automatically. “Once you get a ladder league
started, they basically run themselves.”
Along with ladder leagues, any member can create and
run their own team leagues or tournaments. All of which
can be created for free in minutes. “You can even take online
payments if you want to charge an entry fee.”
To keep all your events and players organized, you can
create an online community called a “network”. Networks give
you many additional tools to manage your members, charge
yearly fees, organize repeating events, post news, and even
take court reservations. “Networks are great for clubs, or
groups of people who play regularly. They are very similar
to a Meetup group, but with tools designed specifically for
pickleball.”
The site also calculates your singles and doubles playing
levels. This is done using all the matches you have played on
GPN (including practice matches). The algorithm itself took
years to develop and perfect.
“It’s a very accurate algorithm, and it gets more accurate
the more matches you play.” Meier says. “What’s more, it
automatically updates nightly, so if you’re playing daily, your
calculated levels can change daily as well.” You can even
track your playing levels over time, to see how much you
have improved.
Landing at the site, all you need to do is enter your zip
code to see all the pickleball players, courts, and events
Landing at the site, all you need to do is enter your zip code to see all
nearby. There’s also a video demo on
the home page that
courts, and events nearby. There’s also a video demo on the home pa
complete rundown of all the functionality the site provides. Registration
gives players a complete rundown of
all
the functionality the
free. The website is also 100% mobile friendly, eliminating the need to
site provides. Registration is fast, and
completely
free. The
For more information, or to test drive the website for yourself, go to:
GlobalPickleballNetworks.com
website is also 100% mobile friendly,
eliminating the need to
Or, scan this image with your phone’s camera:
download an app.
For more information,
or to test drive the
website for yourself, go to:
GlobalPickleballNetworks.com
Or, scan this image with your
phone’s camera: ››››››››››››››››››››››
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MARCH/APRIL 2019 Name:
MAGAZINE
Global Pickleball Network
75
Website:
network) https://www.globalpickleballnetworks.com
Colors: Blue: #325163
(please no