Tips to Prepare Your Indoor Pickleball Facility for a Tournament
Are you planning on hosting an indoor pickleball tournament soon?
Hosting an indoor pickleball event requires careful preparation. It takes months of work to get everything set up properly. But once you do, you'll find it's well worth the effort.
We've put together a comprehensive guide with tips and tricks for every aspect of preparing your indoor pickleball facility for your next tournament. Keep reading to learn more!
9 Tips to Prepare Your Indoor Pickleball Facility for a Tournament
1. Make sure there are enough courts for everyone.
Many facility managers think the more players they have at their venue, the better. While this might be true for bigger facilities, the fact is smaller venues can only handle so many people. So before the tournament, it's essential to know how many players will attend.
If the number of players exceeds what your facility can accommodate, consider renting another facility. Expanding your facility is also an option if you have extra space and a budget to invest.
If expansion and renting are not possible, you may need to adjust your plans accordingly. Be more strategic in scheduling games than just having them all during one day. Doing so will prevent overcrowding and ensure that each player has ample time to play.
2. Upgrade your facility with new posts and nets.
It might not sound like much, but having new posts and nets before a tournament can go a long way toward making your facility feel more welcoming and updated. Because let's face it: worn-out nets and posts can somehow affect the game experience for players and spectators.
You probably already noticed how a ball bounces differently when it hits a worn-out net or how difficult it can be to attach netting to an old post. So, if you want to avoid these problems, replace those things as soon as possible.
Besides, having newer posts and nets could help lessen the chance of injury among players. Injuries caused by tripping, falling, or even having players' clothes caught in the netting and posts are not unheard of. So it's often best to keep your equipment in good condition.
3. Check your lighting levels.
Lighting makes a big difference to indoor pickleball games, but it can be difficult to come up with an artificial lighting system that's as good as natural light. Make it too bright, or you'll end up with glare and eye strain for players, which is something you don't want. Make it too dim, and players won't be able to see the ball very well.
When choosing lights, you'll have to balance between providing sufficient illumination while keeping the brightness low enough to reduce eye strain. Talk to a professional if you need clarification on choosing the correct lighting system.
Or, if you already have an idea of what to install, check out some of the best lighting equipment we carry at Pickleball Court Supply.
4. Equip your courts with dedicated scoreboards.
If you don't have scoreboards for your courts yet, you should get them ASAP. Dedicated scoreboards are great because they allow you to track scores easily and quickly. They also make it easier for players to see where they stand compared to competitors.
5. Set up a separate area for refreshments.
Pickleball is serious business for most players, which is why they play hard to win. But after a challenging game, many of them may take a break and relax to prepare for the next one.
Having a place set aside for refreshments helps players unwind for a while. A bunch of cooler stands in strategic locations will often do the trick. Better yet, equipping your refreshment areas with tables can create a fun atmosphere for both players and even spectators.
6. Install indoor backdrop curtains.
Because let's face it: when noise bounces in an enclosed space, it amplifies and becomes much louder than usual. Background curtains can help minimize noise and help prevent distractions from happening during matches.
Besides, backdrop curtains make for a nice visual effect and are designed explicitly for racket games like pickleball.
7. Install court dividers.
As mentioned earlier, distractions are a common problem in most indoor games. And there’s one more distraction we haven’t covered yet: the possibility of another court’s ball ending in yours!
So how do you deal with all these problems?
One way is by installing court dividers. The primary function of court dividers is to divide two adjacent courts. This way, the balls won’t cross to another court, and vice versa. In other words, you can enjoy playing your game without worrying about someone else’s ball getting in your court.
8. Add ball carts.
Ball carts are underrated, but they're extremely handy, especially when you have multiple courts or large fields to cover.
Ball carts offer convenience for players who need to move balls around during games. Besides, ball carts allow players to store balls safely away from the field. So if you plan to host more pickleball tournaments in the future, consider getting a few ball carts.
9. Don't forget about seating!
Last but not the least, having enough seating for both players and spectators is essential. People will flock to your facility not just to play but to watch their friends or families play too.
So don't think twice before investing in adequate seating. If possible, add some benches on each side of the court to accommodate spectators.
Alternatively, you can buy portable chairs instead of buying permanent ones.
If you want to check out your options, please visit our shop here. You'll find excellent options for both player and spectator seating.
Conclusion
We hope this article has given you some tips on what you should look for to prepare for an indoor pickleball tournament facility.
As always, we'd love to hear your thoughts so visit our social media pages and leave us a review! And if you have specific needs or questions about equipping your indoor pickleball facility, drop us a line.
We'll get back to you shortly.
Thanks for reading!