****************************PORT ST. JOE is in the EASTERN TIME ZONE!!*************************************
We hope you read all of the following, but especially section 3!
1 -Thank you for participating in the 7th Annual Pickleball for Sea Turtles Tournament FEBRUARY 18 - 21, 2027. We are excited to host another quality tournament using all 6 lighted courts with permanent nets at Frank Pate Park in downtown Port St. Joe, FL. Tournament days will begin at 8AM EASTERN and run through 9 -10PM EASTERN daily.
2 -100% of ALL registration and event fees go directly to the Florida Coastal Conservancy and the Port Saint Joe Sea Turtle Center to support continuing visitor education and the maintenance and expansion of the turtle center located on 10th street in Port St. Joe.
3 -THIS YEAR, we have also set up a separate donation link in the honor and memory of former head referee Norman Clinkscales. Most of you know and remember Norm and his passion for pickleball. The USAPA has set up a scholarship program in Norm's name to aid in helping to offset the training and certification expenses for USAPA referees. From Thomas Tadler, USA Pickleball Managing Director of Officiating, "USA Pickleball will fund a scholarship for a referee education endowment in your name. The 2025 Norm Clinkscales award will be given to a USAP referee that needs support to attain that next higher
level. The goal is to have training available for a referee so that they become a legacy to the outstanding
training you have provided for so many referees."
We were blessed to have Norm and his crew call our tournament games the past two years and wish to also help raise funds for this scholarship program. We, along with the 2027 referee crew, will miss Norm and his quick wit being here, but we intend to keep his memory alive by facilitating the training of new USAPA referees in this manner.
4 - Format: Round robin pool play, then semifinals, then medal matches. The top 4 from each event advance from pool play to the semifinals (4 total into the medal bracket). Doubles, Mixed, and Moneyball: 1st vs 4th and 2nd vs 3rd in the semis; the two winners play for gold/silver and the two losers play for bronze. Singles is different: 1st vs 2nd for gold/silver and 3rd vs 4th for bronze (no semis). Pool/RR games are 1 to 11 win by 2; Doubles/Mixed/Moneyball medal matches (semis, gold, bronze) are best 2 of 3 to 11 win by 2; Singles medal matches are 1 to 11 win by 2. USAPA certified referees call most regular and all medal matches. Register by your current DUPR and age on 12/31/26. Scores are recorded and entered into DUPR. The tournament director may split or fill brackets as needed. One bracket per day.
5 - WAITING LISTS will kick in when a bracket is full. Likewise, if your partner doesn't register within 7 days of your registration, you will be moved to the waiting list.
6 - Parking: please park anywhere except at Hotel Saint Joseph unless you have booked a room there.
7 - Bayside Bites Food Truck will be onsite again this year offering breakfast, lunch and dinner items including coffee and drinks.
