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Players International Management, Inc. (PIM), organizers of the YellowTennisBall.com Series of over 30 state, national and international USTA and ITF events, is excited to host the WORLD PICKLEBALL OPEN (WPO) held December 10 – 13, 2020 at PGA Village Verano by Kolter Homes (17127 SW Ambrose Way, Port St. Lucie, FL, 34986, approximately 55 minutes north of Palm Beach International Airport) featuring 26 brand new dedicated Pickleball courts, and one Championship Court! 

The event plans to create a memorable experience for its sponsors, and participants, and will include Pre-Event clinics, an Exhibition and the event will be creating a 30-minute televised highlight show!  Event information is listed below and please call (561.330.6003) or email (ibaron@YellowTennisBall.com) if you have any questions. We look forward to hosting you in December and please remember to register early – Player Registration opens Monday, August 3, 2020!

To receive up-to-date event info., player news, special event updates, become a Volunteer or want to be involved as a Sponsor of the World Pickleball Open, please send your email address to ibaron@YellowTennisBall.com and we will add you to our Event E-blasts!

SCHEDULE / EVENT GUIDE

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THE 2020 EVENT!

Event Guide: Click here for Event information, site details, practice and match court info., etc.

Television: Fox Sports Florida will air the 2020 Event (30-minute highlight show), click here to view the 2019 30-minute televised show.  Fox Sports Florida maintains production facilities and offices located in Fort Lauderdale, alongside sister network Fox Sports Sun. The channel is available on cable television providers throughout Florida reaching over 6 million HH, and in parts of southern Alabama and Georgia; it is also available nationwide on satellite via Dish Network and DirecTV.   

Volunteer Info. Volunteering is an invitation to link with great people and oversee the day-to-day operation.  All Volunteers will receive a T-shirt, Lunch or Dinner, and one complimentary ticket to the 2021 Delray Beach Open by VITACOST.COM ATP Men’s Tennis Event (Sat., Feb. 13 Day Session: $40+ Value). To Apply, Click here

• DEADLINE TO APPLY: September 29, 2020 (limited spots, register early!)
• VOLUNTEER DEPARTMENTS: Information Booth, Court Monitors, Match Coordinators, Tournament Desk, Announcer, Score Posters, Hospitality, Player Bags, Sponsorships. Click Here for Descriptions
• VOLUNTEER WAIVER & RELEASE FORM: Click Here

SCHEDULE

Monday, August 3: Registration Opens – Limited space available! Click here to Register

Saturday, October 31: Last day to register to receive complimentary 2021 Delray Beach Open by VITACOST.com ATP Ticket

Thursday, November 19: Entry deadline. Late registrants do not receive an event T-Shirt

Thursday, November 26: Last day to withdraw and receive a full refund

Tuesday, Dec. 8: 1:30 – 3pm. Volunteer Registration and Meeting 

Wednesday, Dec. 9:  

*9 – 10:30am, 11am – 12:30pm & 1:30 – 3pm: Engage Pickleball Strategy Clinics. To Register, click here or if you have any questions, email Rob Elliott at robert@engagesporting.com. Limited availability, $55pp (8:1 instructor/participant ratio).

*3 – 5pm: Player Registration

*5 – 6pm: Engage Pickleball Exhibition (free)

Thursday, Dec. 10:

*Men’s Singles Pro: 19+, 50+

*Women’s Singles Pro: 19+, 50+

*Mixed Doubles Skills: 50+, 60+, 70+ (3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5, 5.0)

Friday, Dec. 11: 

*Women’s Doubles Skills: 19+, 35+ (new in 2020), 50+, 60+, 70+ (3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5, 5.0)

*Women’s Doubles Pro: 19+ and 50+

Saturday, Dec. 12: 

*Mixed Doubles Skills: 19+, 35+ (3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5, 5.0)

*Mixed Doubles Pro: 19+, 50+

Sunday, Dec. 13: 

*Men’s Doubles Skills: 19+, 35+, 50+, 60+, 70+ (3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5, 5.0)

*Men’s Doubles Pro: 19+, 50+

EVENT INFO.

Event Site. PGA Village Verano by Kolter Holmes.  (17127 SW Ambrose Way, Port St. Lucie, FL, 34986). The event will consist of 27 dedicated Pickleball courts. Facility is located 55 miles north of Palm Beach International Airport. Facility info.

Entry Fees:

• Pro Divisions: $65 Event Registration Fee  per person + $85 Entry Fee per event (per person)
• Skills Divisions: $65 Event Registration Fee per person + $25 Registration Fee per event entered
• Minimum of 10 players/teams in each division or division will be canceled. If canceled, refunds will be distributed

Player Gift – Pro and Skills participants will receive (one per person):

• Event T-Shirt
• Goody Bag
• Those that register before October 31, 2020 will receive one complimentary Stadium Court Ticket to Session 2 (Saturday, Feb. 15; one per person in total for participating in the  World Pickleball Open) to the 2021 Delray Beach Open by VITACOST.com ($40+ Value;: Session 2) ATP Legends Team Event, featuring former top-world ranked ATP stars. Tickets may be picked up at the On-site Box Office (30 NW 1st Ave., Delray Beach, FL) on Saturday, February 13, 2021. Please present a valid photo ID… Stadium Court matches take place at 12:30pm and 2:30pm (ticket valid for both matches).

USAPA Tier 4 Sanctioned Event. All participants must be a member of the USAPA. Click here for more information.

Court Surface: The event will consist of 27 dedicated Pickleball courts.

Practice Courts (weather pending): 

*From Tues., Dec. 9 – Wed., Dec. 10, 10+ practice courts will be available all day on a 1st-come, 1st serve bases (4 players per court, 1 hour increments).

*From Thurs., Dec. 10 – Sun., Dec. 13, courts are based on a first-come, first-serve basis per the following… 15+ courts (7 – 8am, 2+courts thereafter. Please allow four players per court, 30 minutes maximum for warm-ups. Upon arrival, please check with Tournament Director for the practice court location).

Ball Type: DURA 40

Parking Policy: Details announced soon.

Refund Policy: No refunds given after Thursday, November 26, 2020 unless:

• Entries received after the maximum number of individuals or teams are bracketed or if not enough teams/individuals enter a division
• Entries of non-qualified participants

Weather: Competitions will be conducted unless event staff determines the weather conditions to be potentially dangerous, life threatening or if the facility would incur significant damage.  There will be no cash refunds for cancelled events due to weather.

Admission. Free

DIVISIONS – PRIZE MONEY (Up to $15,000*)  – MATCH FORMAT

Men’s and Women’s: Pro (Singles, Doubles, and Mixed Doubles) & Senior Pro (Doubles and Mixed Doubles)

Men’s and Women’s Doubles/Mixed Doubles: 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5, 5.0 (19-49, 50-59, 60-69, 70+)

*Prize Money:  Up to $15,000* in total prize money — Dependent upon number of teams per division.* Click for Prize Money Distribution.

All Divisions: Double Elimination with a Come Around (ie a team can lose a match and still come around and win the bracket)

Main Draw: Each match consists of a “best of three” game format with each game to 11, win by two points

Consolation: Each match consists of one game to 15, win by two points except for the final match which determines 3rd place…with the winning team to go on to compete for 1st/2nd place. The final Consolation match consists of a best of 3 game format with each game to 11, win by two points.

If you would like to receive event information as they are finalized, please send your email address to ibaron@YellowTennisBall.com and you will receive event notifications when they are announced in the coming weeks. Thank you. 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is Pickleball?

History of Pickleball?

Why is it called Pickleball? 

How do I play Pickleball?

What equipment do I need? 

What is the proper attire for a Pickleball game? 

What are the dimensions of a Pickleball court?

What are the basic rules of Pickleball?

How to be safe playing Pickleball?

What is the USAPA?

What kind of paddles are allowed by the USAPA?

What are the USAPA rules for Pickleball? 

How do I Volunteer for the World Pickleball Open (WPBO)?

What would I be doing as a Volunteer for the WPBO?

SPONSORS

PGA Village Verano. PGA Village Verano in Port St. Lucie, Florida, is an award-winning, gated new home community by KOLTER HOMES. Less than an hour north of the Palm Beaches and approximately 90 minutes south of Orlando, PGA Village Verano’s ideal location on the Treasure Coast allows for convenient access to 21-miles of white sand beaches and a fine selection of shopping, dining and recreational activities. In addition to the community’s new 27-court Pickleball Center, residents have exclusive access to PGA Village Verano’s 27,000-square-foot social clubhouse and 13,000-square-foot fitness center. These fitness and social centers offer a wide array of social and wellness programs, full-time lifestyle and activities directors, and state-of-the-art facilities including a resort-style pool; tennis, basketball and bocce ball courts and indoor Junior Olympic pool. To-Build and Move-In Ready Homes priced from the mid $200s to $500s are available in both PGA Village Verano and Kolter’s new 55+ active adult neighborhood, Cresswind at PGA Village Verano.

Delray Beach Open by VITACOST.com. The world’s only combined ATP 250 Event (featuring today’s ATP stars) and ATP Champions Tour Legends Event (featuring former tennis greats). The 28th anniversary takes place Feb. 12 – 21, 2021, is televised nationally and internationally in over 75 countries, and is host to 60,000+ spectators and over a dozen special events and amateur tennis events.

Treasure Coast Sports Commission:  The Treasure Coast Sports Commission (TCSC) is a 501(c) (3) not-for-profit Florida corporation focusing on sports development throughout Indian River, St. Lucie and Martin Counties. Partially funded by tourist tax revenue, the Sports Commission seeks out possible events and tournaments that have the potential to bring traveling visitors and athletes to the area for extended stays while competing in our local venues and sports facilities. The Treasure Coast Sports Commission is the region’s ambassador to regional, national and international events.

Vitacost.com. is an online retailer of health and wellness products, providing an award-winning experience to customers through its website, www.vitacost.com.  Vitacost.com features affordable pricing and speedy delivery on nearly 40,000 items, including dietary supplements (vitamins, minerals and herbs), hard-to-find specialty foods, organic body and personal care products, pet essentials and sports nutrition products. In addition, Vitacost.com strives to motivate, educate and inspire healthier living for customers by creating and curating thousands of helpful tips, expert articles and recipes.  Vitacost.com is a subsidiary of The Kroger Co.

Engage Pickleball  is US-based and one of the leading and largest Pickleball paddle manufacturers in the world. We are one of the only paddle manufacturers that does not outsource any of their paddle manufacturing. Engage performs all their design, engineering and manufacturing in-house in central Florida. Beyond our ‘vision’ of creating the best Pickleball paddles in the world, our ‘mission’ is to grow the sport by giving back to the community and growing the sport with the youth.

Head Pickleball is proud to be the Official Footwear Sponsor of the World Pickleball Open.

Selkirk Sport is a family owned company based in the USA whose sole focus is to build the best performance pickleball paddles in the market. 1-800-759-4326.

Pickleball Central is the world’s largest pickleball super store with the widest selection of paddles, nets, balls, accessories, apparel and pickleball equipment. They carry over 200 paddle models, deliver extremely fast shipping and excellent customer service. Their expert advice, low-cost guarantee and no risk paddle test-drive make Pickleball Central the best place to shop for all your pickleball gear.

Court Reserve. Club management, simplified. We help you become more efficient and profitable by providing you with a robust, easy-to-use platform.

Exhibitors/Partners: HiDow, Sam Snead’s Oak Grill and Tavern

TOURNAMENT COMMITTEE

Tournament Director: Ivan Baron, IBaron@YellowTennisBall.com 561-330-6003

Tournament Chairman: Mark Baron

Director of Player Relations: Adam Baron, ABaron@YellowTennisBall.com

Director Tournament Desk Operations: Melissa McCurley, melissa@pickleballtournaments.com

Director of Operations & Media: John Butler, JButler@YellowTennisBall.com

Social Media & Director of Volunteers: Marlena Hochberg, MHall@YellowTennisBall.com 

Director of Hospitality: Alexis Crenshaw, ACrenshaw@YellowTennisBall.com 

Chief Referee: Jeff Shank, JLShank@hotmail.com

WE LOOK FORWARD TO HOSTING YOU AT THE WORLD PICKLEBALL OPEN!