Ever thought about signing up for a tournament – and then immediately wondered what you just got yourself into?

How do you prepare? What gear do you bring? What if you lose every match? (Or win one... or all of them?)

I had all those questions too.

A few weeks ago, my partner Anthea and I played in our very first pickleball tournament. We signed up for the 2.5–3.0 bracket, but due to some last-minute shuffling, we got bumped into a group full of 3.5s 😅 The nerves were real. We lost our first four matches – but we didn’t get pickled (our one goal), and we had a blast. We laughed, stayed positive, and honestly had a great time just being part of it.
 

Then came our final game... and we won! Because we beat the only other team from our original bracket, we ended up walking away with gold medals. Totally unexpected, totally unforgettable.
 

One thing that really helped me? Reading Pickleball For Dummies. No joke – the chapters on Playing Tournaments and Strengthening Your Mental Game made a huge difference. Who knew a book could actually help calm nerves, boost confidence, and improve your play?!
 

So if you're thinking about entering your first tournament – do it. Bring your snacks, your sunscreen, and your sense of humor. Win or lose, it's about showing up, supporting your teammate, and finding the joy in the game.
 

🎉 And if you're ready to take that next step... stay tuned! We're launching a brand-new tournament series with our friends at UTR Sports, and it's designed to be fun, approachable, and perfect for rec-level players looking to level up and have a good time.