Hey there, pickleball Tournament Directors!

I’ve recently embarked on a thrilling adventure to join your ranks as a Tournament Director, and let me tell you, the journey has been both enlightening and exhilarating. I volunteered to direct a fundraiser tournament coming up this weekend (March 2nd) and wanted to share some of the valuable lessons I’ve learned using our PickleballBrackets.com tournament software by Pickleball Play Solutions (formerly PickleballTournaments.com). I’m sure many of you have been there, done that, but there may be some insights that you might find valuable when running your next tournament.

1. PT Perks Makes You Look Good!

One of the first things I discovered in my role was the power of PT Perks. It’s like having a backstage pass to a concert – it connects you with sponsors and elevates your tournament to a whole new level. Thanks to PT Perks, I was able to partner with fantastic sponsors like ONIX, Pickleball Pro, Pickleball Central, and Jigsaw Health. Not only did this attract more players, but it also added a special touch to the tournament experience. Who doesn’t love complimentary and discounted goodies, right? It’s like running a pro-level tournament without the stress (well, mostly).

2.  Use the built-in Simulator Early and Often.

Here’s where I confess to a slight hiccup in my planning process. While the Pickleball Brackets software’s built-in simulator is a godsend for estimating court capacity and scheduling, I may have accessed it a tad too late. Picture this: me, frantically running the simulator as registration numbers climbed, only to realize we were at risk of running matches into the wee hours of the morning. Luckily, I was able to make some adjustments to our scoring models, but it was a big lesson learned. Use that simulator early and often, folks! It’s a lifesaver, trust me.

3.  It’s worth it to Advertise!

Ah, the age-old conundrum of advertising versus fundraising. In my quest to keep expenses low and donations high, I made the decision to keep our tournament “private” and forgo advertising on platforms like Pickleball Brackets. While this saved us some pennies, it also led to a flurry of administrative tasks as players struggled to find the registration link. Let’s just say, I became intimately familiar with the phrase, “Have you checked your spam folder?” Lesson learned? Sometimes, a little advertising goes a long way in saving your sanity.

As I gear up for the big day, I’m eager to hear from other tournament directors. Share your best tips and tricks using Pickleball Brackets software and help future newbies like me (leave comments below). After all, we’re on this pickleball journey together.

Stay tuned for Part 2, where I’ll dish out the juicy details of running the tournament itself. Until then, happy pickle-ing!

Casie Caldwell
Pickleball Play Solutions