THE SPIRIT 2027 Pickleball Tournament is being held from 8-10 January 2027 at the Sutherland Basketball Stadium Waratah Park, Rawson Avenue Sutherland NSW. The Tournament is held and hosted by Sutherland Shire Pickleball Club Inc as a memorial to Michelle Gibson & Family who founded the club.
Any member of Pickleball Australia can enter.
Players can enter only one event in each session AM or PM session on each day over the three day tournament (i.e. a maximum of 6 events) in combination with partners applicable to the event category and skills grouping. e.g. Mixed Doubles, Gender Doubles and Spilt Age Doubles. For clarity players can play down in age or up in grade within these categories. Skills levels for doubles will be determined by the skill level of the highest rated player.
Your age group is your age as at Dec 31 2027.
DUPR ratings used for skills category will be player ratings at the close of registrations. No changes will be permitted to DUPR player profiles after the close of registration.
This is a Tier 5 Pickleball Australia SANCTIONED tournament.
This tournament will use the current (2026) Global Pickleball Federation rules. They can be found at: https://globalpickleballfederation.org/pickleball-rulebook/
Registration is $80, which includes entry into one event. Each additional event costs $20.
Registration closes on 22nd December 2026 or earlier if event capacity is reached.
To register you will need to have or create a free Pickleball Brackets login and profile. Your profile must contain your contact number, email, PAA ID number and be connected to DUPR.
Notifications for court allocation will be send via the pickleball brackets app. Please ensure you have notifications switched on and your mobile number is correct within the app.
This tournament will also adhere to the PA Participant Code of Behaviour Policy. This can be found at: https://www.pickleballaus.org/tournaments
Players are guaranteed minimum three games per event. Medals will be awarded to gold, silver and bronze winning competitors in each bracket.
Players entering without nominating their partner do so at their own risk and take their own responsibility for finding a suitable partner. The organisers are not responsible for or guarantee the finding of a partner under any circumstances.
Teams who have both players entered in the event, will be prioritised over a player who fails to secure a partner and these teams will be moved to the main draw first.
TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR DISCRETION
The tournament director reserves the right to:
- Review, and possibly alter the rating of players who self-rate below or above their actual rating.
- Move players and teams between skill level brackets if on verification the wrong event has been entered.
- Merge Events with 4 or less entries with another event of closest possible standard.
- Change start times to facilitate smooth running of the tournament.
- Modify events and/or schedules as required due to influences beyond our control (ie. extreme weather).
- Accept/reject waitlisted player entries after registration close based on venue capacity at any given time.
