Hello EPPA Family! Our fall tournament is heading back indoors to Around the Post, and this one is built for the heart of our membership. This post also has new tournament rules from the board (including info on our new ball choice), big news about new courts at Pleasant Ridge Park, and a call for volunteers.
When is it?
Saturday, November 7, 2026
Check-in at 12:30 PM, play starts at 1:00 PM, and we'll wrap up by about 5:00 PM.
One division, everybody in.
4.0 & Under Any Gender Rotating Partner Round Robin
No partner needed. Sign up on your own, show up with your paddle and court shoes, and we'll tell you where to play and who your partner is each game. You earn your own record.
32 spots for players at 4.0 and under (see the eligibility rules below). Groups are subject to our judgment. Competitive balance and good play will be prioritized by the committee.
Games to 11, ranked by wins, then point differential.
Medals for the top three in each group.
You do not have to be a member of EPPA (or Around the Post) to play. If you are an EPPA member, you pay half price, another great perk of membership: $25 for EPPA members ($50 non-EPPA members)
Rotating partner events traditionally fill first, so don't wait. If the division is full, join the waitlist so we can fill openings if players drop.
Before you register: tournament eligibility
The board approved three eligibility rules for every EPPA tournament from here on (graphic below):
DUPR Floor: your DUPR rating sets the lowest division you can enter. You can always play up.
Tournament History: if you've recently placed or finished mid-pack or better in a higher division, that's your division. A dipped rating doesn't automatically move you back down.
Committee Review: in special cases, the Tournament Committee makes the final placement call, based on objective statistics and handled privately with the player.
EPPA Tournament Eligibility Rules.png212 KB
Registration closes Wednesday, November 4 at 9:00 PM.
Lifetime is our new tournament ball. Lifetime has become the go-to tournament ball, so EPPA tournaments are switching to it, except beginner divisions, which stay on Franklin. If you haven't played with a Lifetime ball yet, start practicing now!
Either approved paddle list is welcome. The USA Pickleball and UPA-A paddle lists have mostly come together, so any paddle on either list is legal in EPPA tournaments.
And a reminder: eye protection isn't required, but we strongly encourage it at every level. It can happen to anybody.
New courts at Pleasant Ridge Park in Fairview!
Fairview Township's new outdoor pickleball courts at Pleasant Ridge Park are complete and playable. The courts have fresh asphalt, new signage, paddle racks and a shade shelter for watching, plus LED lights that will run on a two-hour timer once the township gives its final sign-off.
A huge thank you to Craig Mackelvey, who championed these courts from the very beginning (EPPA members signed on in support and helped with feedback in 2023), and to Craig and Mark (who has also been crucial in building support for the courts) for building the paddle racks themselves. Go check them out!
Volunteers wanted
EPPA runs on members who give a few hours. If you'd like to help with tournaments, clinics or social events, reach out to our VP and volunteer coordinator, Melissa Hart, at hartburn4@gmail.com. She keeps our master volunteer list and passes names along to the committee chair, who will reach out as events come up.
Free clinic coming soon
Our next free clinic is in the works for after the tournament. Keep an eye out for the date!
EPPA's Mission
This tournament aligns closely with our priorities and mission at EPPA. We always strive to grow and foster the sport of pickleball in the Greater Erie Area.
If you have an idea or a connection that you think could help us further our mission, please reach out to me at 814-720-9665 or Dre@Nablist.org
Thanks everyone and I'll see you on the courts! Andre`
P.S. Official EPPA news only comes from this website, these emails and our EPPA Facebook page. If a group or page claims to speak for EPPA, check here first.
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