Welcome, THE SPIRIT is a tournament celebating THE SPIRIT of Pickleball as a social / community engagement and wellbeing activity. The tournment is also being held as a memorial to the late Michelle Gibson who is credited along with her family for formally introducing pickleball to the "Shire" in founding the Sutherland Shire Pickleball Club, who will Host the event.

Register here

The Promoter and Major Sponsor - Clever Care Now is a not for profit (registered charity) organisation providing home nursing and allied health support to aging Australians in South & Eastern Sydney. Clever Care Now recognises that active ageing promotes better health and wellbeing for older Australians and supports the role of Pickleball as a possitive experience for physical and mental health. All proceeds from the The SPIRIT will flow back into Clever Care Now's charitable community activites.

We particularly encourage first time tournament entrants to participate at their appropriate ability level.

To enter, participants must be a current member of an organisation affiliated with Pickleball Australia, and register for their participation on the Pickleball Brackets (PB) software platform.

As a sanctioned tournament with Pickleball Austalia Association competitors will play under current USA Pickleball (USAPA) rules and compete for Gold, Silver and Bronze medals in each division. In addition the winners of each division will receive a Michelle Gibson Memorial Trophy. Players should avoid wearing yellow clothing during play as the ball will be yellow. (refer USPA Official Rulebook 2023)

By entering and participating at the event you will have the chance to share in over $5,000 in prizes awarded through random "lucky door" draws during the event culminating in a "surprise" major prize drawn at the closing presentation. Come and have a go in THE SPIRIT you could be a lucky winner just by participating with us in The SPIRIT of pickleball !

Additional Information

The competition will be held in doubles format only. Males, Females and Mixed.

The SPIRIT competition format is for preliminary "Round Robins" in each division. Round robin game winners will be determined by first to 11 and win by 2. At the end of the round robin matches the third seed will automatically get the Bronze Medal. The Top 2 seeds will then play for Gold and Silver Medals by winning 2 out of 3 games with each game first to 11 and win by 2. Referees will be scheduled for all gold medal matches.

Registration for The SPIRIT is $50.00 which includes 1 event, with an additional fee of $10 for each additional event entered up to a maximum of 4 different events.

Registrations will close on Sunday 7th January at 11.55pm or earlier if events limits are reached.

There are TWO AGE DIVISIONS based on the sum of the ages for each team competing as at 31st December 2024. Within each age division there are THREE SKILLS DIVISIONS. (The Tournament Director may modify event team limits, divisions and formats as needed depending on registrations received either before or after the close of registrations.)

AGE DIVISIONS

Division 1 is 105 years to 129 years (combined age of team members)
For example a team could comprise of a 53yo and a 52yo = combined age of105yrs or two 64yo = 128yrs or any other combination of ages that fit within the division limits. Again for example a 45yo could partner a 60yo = 105yrs, equally a 70yo with a 35yo = 105yrs would also qualify.

Division 2 is 130 years plus (combined age of team members)
For example a team could comprise of two 65yo = 130yrs or any other combination of ages that fits this criteria. Again for example a 55yo could partner a 75yo = 130yrs, equally a 70yo with a 61yo = 131yrs would also qualify. Two 80+yo competing would be most welcome in The SPIRIT of pickleball.

TEAM SKILLS DIVISIONS

Division A - 2.50 and Under
Division B - Over 2.5 and Under 3.25
Division C - 3.25 and Over

Pickleball Brackets database holds 3 skills ratings for players who have previously entered tournaments and The SPIRIT will be using the Player Doubles Ratings Only (separate ratings for same sex and mixed);

The Tournament entry software allocates the rating for individual player entries in the following priority,

1) Pickleball Australia Rating
2) Pickleball Brackets Statistics Rating
3) Self Rating (see PANSW Link play/self rating guide)

THE TEAM SKILLS DIVISION WILL BE BASED ON THE AVERAGE OF EACH TEAM MEMBERS INDIVIDUAL PICKLEBALL BRACKETS DOUBLES RATING PLUS THE CAVEAT THAT THE GREATEST DIFFERENCE BETWEEN EACH TEAM MEMBERS INDIVIDUAL DOUBLES RATING CANNOT BE GREATER THAN 0.5 for Divisions A & B. Divison C is excluded from the 0.5 caveat.

Examples:

Team Member X rated 2.7 with Team Member Y rated 3.1 - Average of 2.90 would be eligible to play in the 2.5 to 3.25 skills division

Team Member P rated 2.2 with Team Member Q rated 3.7 - Average of 2.95 would be ineligible to play in the 2.5 to 3.25 skills division because the difference in the team members individual rating is greater than 0.5. In this case the Tournament Director suggests each player finds alternate partners to participate at an appropriate level.

Overall the combinations of AGE and SKILLS divisons facilitates 18 events and in the case of individual players the possibility of playing a maximum of four different events with four different partners depending on the combination of ages and skills.

If not registering at the same time as your partner you have 4 days for them to confirm the team registration before you are placed on the Wait List.

If you do not have a partner, you can book under "Players Needing a Partner" to find a partner.

If you have any questions click on "Contact Tourney" and they will be answered into your email.

Health & Safety

Clever Care Now is a not for profit organisation providing home nursing and home allied health support.
Nurses and Physiotherapists will be present during competition to provide first aid assistance as well as general wellbeing monitoring.

Refund Policy

Player requests for withdrawals will be accepted until Sunday 7th January 2024 at 11.45pm will a full refund less a $5 administration fee per event entered.

After this time there will be no refunds.

Venue Information

Menai Indoor Sports Centre

98-150 Allison Crescent

Menai

New South Wales 2234

Australia

Surface Type: Hardwood

Play Area Type: Indoor Air Conditioned

Net Type: Portable

Ball Used: Franklin X-26

Number of Courts: 8

Parking: No Fee

Free Parking on site or in Menai Marketplace shopping centre 100mtrs away - The venue has a small cafe providing limited food and drink options and the nearby Menai Maket Place has a Food Court.

Full change room facilities are on site also.