We have had a recent boom in our 4.0 to 4.5 games with sessions filling up, overflowing and then some extensive court reallocation to accommodate demand. This is great to see, but it also represents some challenges for our community. If you have ever played in this group, please take note of the following thoughts and a solution we are testing out...

Thoughts: 

As players grow in skill level, their intention and motivation for playing the game of pickleball can evolve. Some players will instinctively become more competitive and more focused on improvement, skill development, and tend to pay more attention to performance and results. This is a universal phenomenon, and exists in all sports. At the same time, many athletes continue to play their respective sport purely for enjoyment, decompression, camaraderie, fitness, and the many other benefits of athletic pursuit. As a corollary, think about one mountain biker who loves long rides in the woods, getting away from everything, just loving the sport as a healthy pastime, while another rider travels the same trail with their Garmin connected to their Strava, specific pacing goals in mind as they train for their next race. Same trail, same ride, different motivations. 

Sometimes sports can accommodate both of these motivations, and the full spectrum that lies between. And sometimes these motivations can be at odds with one another. The 4.0 to 4.5 group is a place where the odds seem to be occurring more frequently. The majority of the feedback I have received this season is around the overlap of motivations, and it is causing conflict within our community. As such, we aim to reduce this friction so that our awesome sport can flourish for all players, from all walks of life, with all different motivations for playing Pickleball.

Solution:

Starting next week we have some 4.0 to 4.5 games that have been designated with the term "COMP". These time slots are there to satisfy the goals of the players who are looking for some more specific styles of play, and more competitive games. These games are going to occur at 12:30, and have some parameters that are important to respect...

1. You must have a DUPR rating of 4.0 or better to attend these games. If you feel like you should be eligible to play in the COMP games but your current rating is less than 4.0, we will continue to offer more opportunities to improve your score. And remember that you will continue to have access to the regular 4.0 to 4.5 games at 10:15, so we are in no way excluding you from level-based play! If you are an unrated player you may also contact nick(miuku)gmcf(piste)life to arrange for a provisional DUPR rating evaluation. 

2. You must be in pursuit of the game of pickleball in its fullest form. COMP games are there for players who are actively developing their drop shots, their point construction, their soft game and the full breadth of tactical tools that exist at the higher levels of pickleball. If you are a heavy lobber, tend to stay back from the kitchen line, or lack the touch to engage in long dink rallies, then those that are playing with and against you in a COMP game will be frustrated, and thus the friction will ensue.

Please note that we are making this adjustment to accommodate the specific needs of a group of players who are seeking something specific from their pickleball experience. The vast majority of our playing community will continue to have games that are entirely self-selected as far as level and motivation. And playing in non-COMP games does not mean that people are not totally loving the competitive nature of the sport. Our goal at GMCF is that EVERYONE gets what they need while they are engaged in our programs, so this solution is designed not to exclude anyone, but rather to satisfy a certain population of our playing community.

Thank you for listening, thank you for participating in this wonderful sport, and while I don't expect this decision will solve all the unique challenges our community encounters, I do hope that it works for most of you awesome people, most of the time. 

Thanks,
Nick

Any 12th at 10:15? Alan R