Pickleball Magazine 5-1 WD | Page 28

around the post By Jennifer Lucore & Alex Hamner SO MANY TOURNAMENTS, SO LITTLE TIME! Which Tournaments to Play? I t’s no surprise for those of us who play that pickleball is exploding in popularity and growth throughout the world. With this continued upsurge of FUN comes more players as well as the business of fun—building new courts, new manufacturers and suppliers, player sponsorships, tournaments for fun, tournaments for charities, tournaments for prize money... the list goes on. We’ve had the opportunity to compete and enjoy this ride of growth for more than 10 years, and with that experience comes knowledge, right? So, to help you with tournament selection for 2020, consider these tips: 1. Location. Is it a new place for you to play and explore? Is the location on your bucket list? Or maybe it’s an old favorite venue you want to continue to support. What is the weather/ temperature like at that time of the year? Is it indoor or outdoor? 2. Cost vs. Benefit. Will you get your money’s worth to enter this tournament? Travel, lodging, eating out, entry fees—these costs add up. But there are also benefits: personal challenge, different competition, meet new and see old friends, find potential future partners—all priceless! 3. Prize money. Do you need or wish to win money? Does the payout align with your desires? For example, if you’re over 50 (senior), the payout is less than for non-seniors. What if the payout is different for gender? Tournaments typically make money. So where does the money raised for the tournament go? Is it to support a charity of your liking? Maybe to help build new courts? Or is it primarily a fundraiser for the director? 4. Tournament format. Are you looking for the fun round-robin format, which is to play as much as you can? Do you support our sport’s traditional double elimination format? What if it’s a hybrid format—will that work for you? 5. Read the fine print. Understand and ask the “what ifs.” What if not enough players enter your division? What if it’s rained out? What if your partner has to cancel? What percentage of the monies raised goes to charity, players, or the cause? Is the prize pool that’s advertised guaranteed? Ask those questions so you’re not surprised. While we love that there are so many tournament options and cool locations to compete in, this is your “player beware”—know the specifics and pick tournaments that are “equal” to you. All players, male or female, under 50 or over 50, YOU have the choice to support or not support a tournament and what it represents. To continue this discussion, check out Jennifer’s pickleball blog at www.Allpickleball.com. • Jennifer Lucore and Alex Hamner’s prizes from 2014 Nationals—both champions in Open Doubles, Open Singles (Pro and Senior Pro) and more! A good haul for six days of continuous play—Ladies Got Game! 26 TO SUBSCRIBE, CALL 888.308.3720 OR GO TO THEPICKLEBALLMAG.COM Jennifer Lucore and Alex Hamner started playing pickleball in 2010, and have competed in numerous tournaments in the U.S. Jennifer has competed internationally and is a 2019 Pickleball Hall of Fame inductee. Jennifer and Alex have 26 national titles, but are best known for winning gold in Women’s Open Doubles at Nationals for four consecutive years (2011-2014). They live with their respective families in North San Diego County.