Recently, I signed up for a tournament where I had to be a member of the USA Pickleball Association and SSIPA. What the heck is the SSIPA and why do I have to be a member? Good question but I had to pay the $20.00 or I wouldn’t be able to play in the tournament. The SSIPA is
Okay, fine. I realize that pickleball is a sport that is exploding in popularity and everyone is jumping on the gravy train, or to be more polite, helping to educate and promote pickleball.
There is the APP. The Association of Pickleball Professionals (APP)
From the APP Website. With the exploding popularity of pickleball, Ken, CEO, has a vision of creating a series of tournaments where individuals could set performance goals, track results, and play against peers in a sanctioned tour environment while adhering to all USA Pickleball guidelines. The 2021 APP Tour has over $700K in prize money for professionals, while all player athletes are encouraged to qualify for the season ending championships — The APP Miami Masters International Pickleball Championships on January 19 – 23, 2022.
The 2021 APP Tour has 18 tournaments scheduled throughout the United States and Europe. We are hosting tournaments in nine of the 12 USA Pickleball regions. Our purpose is to confirm that all player athletes, professional and amateur, have access to our competitive APP tournaments.
Then there is the PPA – Pro Pickleball Association
Their tagline is, Play Where The Pros Play. They also are starting their own rating system (OMG! Not another one!) called DURP to bring a new rating solution.
USA Pickleball Association is probably the first official organization for pickleball. They are associated with the PPR (Professional Pickleball Registry), where I received my certification for coaching pickleball.
Mission
The mission of the USA Pickleball Association (USA Pickleball) is to promote the development and growth of pickleball in the United States and its territories.
About Us
The USA Pickleball Association (USA Pickleball) is the national governing body for the sport of pickleball in the US and provides players with official rules, tournaments, rankings and promotional materials.
The association is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation and governed by a board of directors and professional staff who provide the guidance and infrastructure for the continued growth and development of the sport.
Then there is the rating system for the USA Pickleball Ass. called the UTPR.
The UTPR (No idea what that stands for. United Tournament Pickleball Ratings???) is the rating system for USA Pickleball Association.
Okay, then what is the International Federation of Pickleball? International Federation of Pickleball (IFP)
The International Federation of Pickleball (IFP), the world governing body of pickleball, was established to perpetuate the development and growth of the sport throughout the world. The IFP’s goal is to introduce pickleball to all nations so that they may embrace the sport as one of their national sports, and ultimately to achieve official recognition by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in order to establish pickleball as an Olympic sport.
The IFP is a non-profit, volunteer organization committed to promoting international play and competition, maintaining the official rules for pickleball, and providing a worldwide code of conduct for pickleball athletes. The IFP focuses its resources on supporting organizations that foster the sport around the world for all ages and ability levels.
USA Pickleball is the United States member of the International Federation of Pickleball (IFP), the world governing body of pickleball. The IFP was established in 2010 by the USA Pickleball Association to perpetuate the development and growth of the sport throughout the world.
What is a sanctioned tournament? A tournament approved by the USA Pickleball Association.
Is the Minto US Pickleball Open a sanctioned tournament? No.
Where can I go to find tournaments? Pickleballtournaments.com
And there is the IPTA. International Pickleball Teaching Association. Yes, another teaching association and another rating system.
This is from their website.
Why did the IPTPA create a new national rating system?
After receiving feedback from many of our teaching professionals, there seemed to be a trend among self-rated players of “over-rating”. Over-rating obviously causes many problems during organized play and clinics offered at designated levels. It effects instructors trying to give everyone the attention they deserve for skills specific to level and to keep organized play fun and balanced for all. After reviewing the IFP & USAPA rating descriptions in depth, there seemed to be a disconnect with the skill progressions taught by IPTPA professionals and those descriptions. At IPTPA, we strive to be the leaders on the court by instructing the most current and progressively accurate way to improve level by level (from the inside out). The descriptions of each level by other organizations do not currently reflect this level of standardization.
Does the IPTPA Rating System conflict with the current USAPA rating system?
No. The USAPA system is designed for players that compete in sanctioned tournaments. However, as we all know, that is only a small percentage of the playing population. There are players of all ages and skill abilities that need an accurate rating. However, many may not be able to obtain one due to lack of sanctioned tournament play.
Let’s not forget the AAU Pickleball. (Amateur Athletic Union) Athletes Pursuing Greatness
The AAU was founded in 1888 to establish standards and uniformity in amateur sports. During its early years, the AAU served as a leader in international sport representing the U.S. in the international sports federations. The AAU worked closely with the Olympic movement to prepare athletes for the Olympic Games. After the Amateur Sports Act of 1978, the AAU has focused its efforts into providing sports programs for all participants of all ages beginning at the grass roots level. The philosophy of “Sports for All, Forever,” is shared by nearly 700,000 participants and over 150,000 volunteers.
