Topic How To Physically Prepare for a Pickleball Tournament

As much as playing singular games can take a toll on the body, a tournament will certainly test its limits. Physical preparation is paramount in a game such as pickleball, which requires great endurance, agility, and determination. Fortunately, we’re here to help you learn how to prepare for a pickleball tournament physically. 

Picking a Tournament 

You must first find a tournament to play in before physically preparing for a pickleball tournament. Because of its massive popularity growth, numerous pickleball tournaments now occur worldwide. However, there are a few factors that should play into your decision.

Trying your luck at a sanctioned USA Pickleball tournament is your best bet that you will have a positive tournament experience. The USA Pickleball Association has uniform rules and procedures, so you aren’t always adjusting to accommodate for little differences in the unofficial games. 

Standard USA Pickleball tourneys of 300 or more participants must have a referee present for every match. On the other hand, no-referee-sanctioned tournaments have a USA Pickleball referee on the grounds to handle discrepancies and educate inexperienced players. 

If you’re serious about pickleball, you know your pickleball rating, so finding a tournament that recognizes your pickleball rating ensures that you play against individuals with similar skills. Otherwise, you could be going up a wringer who’s near the top of the food chain and makes mincemeat of everyone at an unsanctioned tournament.

Getting the Goods

You’re in for a rude awakening if you don’t come with the goods necessary to dominate a pickleball tournament. Packing for a tournament slightly differs from packing for a few games with a friend. The matches are longer, extending your day by multiple hours.

For tournament play, you’ll want extra paddles, comfortable shoes, extra tops, and women’s pickleball skirts. But you should also pack a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen to fend off the sun’s beaming rays. 

Physical and Mental Preparation

You’ve circled the tournament on the calendar and counted the days before mixing it up with your area’s best picklers. You also have the items and equipment necessary to leave it all on the pickleball court. But it’s going to be a tall order to find success in tournament play if you don’t physically prepare for the bout beforehand.

Have a Gameplan 

Planning for your tournament all willy-nilly is like going on a vacation without an itinerary. You must know your scheduled beginning time and the required arrival time at the competition venue. The next step is to inquire about the availability of warm-up courts. Some folks need extra time to be at their best, making it imperative they can take advantage of practice courts. 

When you pencil in the times and places you need to be, you won’t be confused about where to go, allowing you to focus solely on your performance. 

Eat a Hearty Meal the Night Before

You want to feel light on your feet the day of the tournament, but that can be challenging if you stuff yourself a few hours before your first match. Instead, you should have a big meal to satisfy a rumbling tummy the night before and stick to snacks as you fight on during the tournament day. 

Jerky, granola, and freeze-dried fruits are popular snacks amongst pickleball players. However, anything that’s protein-enriched and gives you a jolt of energy should prepare for the rigors of tournament play. 

Communicate With Your Partner 

It’s crucial to select a doubles partner that you click with and whose game complements your own. Find a partner at the same ability level as you, who has a different but complementary playing style and attitude, and who you really like. It helps to have a partner you feel comfortable talking to freely, both on and off the court, because communication is the foundation of being a great doubles competitor.

Spend time before the tourney to get on the same page with your partner. It would help to find another pair to train against and work on your court communication. Playing exhibition matches is an effective way to prepare for real competition. 

Suppose you’re looking for a place to meet new people and hone your skills. Consider signing up for a clinic at a local club or recreation facility. Check out our court finder to discover a pickleball court near you for additional practice time.

During the Action

Preparation is necessary to find success during game action. But mentally preparing for what can happen in a match can better prepare you for what you should physically do in one. 

Use Your Time-outs

Calling a time-out can save the day when things are getting out of hand (or you simply need a breather). Some players may not even realize they have these in their back pocket. A player or team gets two time-outs in an 11- or-15-point contest, whereas competitors receive three for an unconventional 21-point game. You can’t take time-outs home with you, so you might as well use them when you feel the momentum shifting. 

Hit Them With Your Best Shots

When trouble is a-brewing, you should have a style of play you can lean on to get you through a rough patch. Hit your best shots when you keep the ball in play. Many basketball players who are scuffling need to see one go through the hoop to get back on track, and this is how you can do it for pickleball. 

Forgive and Forget 

Overthinking past mistakes can lead to physical errors throughout the match. You may need to prepare to think about past plays less, ensuring you don’t let a small error deter the match even further. 

Learning to prepare for a pickleball tournament physically also requires your mental preparation to remain sharp. Fromuth Pickleball is proud to partner with MLP to provide our avid pickleball players with the best gear, equipment, and attire the pros wear.