With pickleball's rising popularity, there's a growing demand for local tournaments catering to amateurs.
The Dink Minor League Pickleball (formerly known as Minor League Pickleball) gives players an exciting way to compete, emphasizing teamwork, strategy, and camaraderie.
Following Major League Pickleball’s innovative format involving teams of four players (two women and two men), teams compete against other teams in four events: women’s doubles, men’s doubles, and two mixed doubles matches. A singles-based tiebreaker format, called a dreambreaker, is used when teams are tied 2-2.
The Dink Minor League Pickleball’s National Pathway allows teams to compete locally to pursue a spot at the national championship. A national leaderboard is utilized to display ranked players, allowing you to easily view their standings.
Its first official season was in 2023, and its director, Caroline Luelf, is tasked with growing the organization.
Luelf's journey with the league began as a participant, along with her husband, in a one-day event in Kansas City. The convenience of these short events appealed to the couple, balancing their passion for pickleball with family commitments.
As Luelf says, “When you have four kids, planning the logistics, getting all the kids to where they need to be and us being gone three or four days for a tournament, that's not easy.”
After participating in several Minor League Pickleball events and experiencing firsthand the thrill of competition and community, Luelf was inspired to bring the experience to her hometown in Oklahoma. Her first event sold out and received rave reviews. Luelf shares, “This one team posted on Facebook that it was their favorite tournament ever. They didn't even win a match!”
People were hungry for more events, and Luelf decided to reach out directly to the league saying, “I love everything about Minor League Pickleball, and I have all these ideas on how to grow it.” A few weeks later, they offered her a job.
What sets the league apart is its emphasis on the team concept.
Unlike traditional tournaments, where players compete individually, The Dink Minor League Pickleball encourages collaboration and support among teammates. With rally scoring and opportunities for coaching between points, players are fully engaged both on and off the court, creating an electrifying atmosphere for participants and spectators alike.
"The Dink Minor League Pickleball is for everyone,” Luelf notes. It’s for any player — from amateurs to non-contracted pros, regardless of age. Events have seen players as young as 12 and as old as 70. The family-friendly nature is obvious, with Caroline herself cherishing the opportunity to play alongside her husband and 18-year-old son and create lasting memories on the court.
Looking ahead, The Dink MiLP's goal is “to be in all 50 states” (they are currently in 29 states) and “continue to expand globally,” according to Luelf. With events planned across the United States, Canada, Australia, Mexico, Puerto Rico and beyond, it’s poised to become the premier destination for amateur pickleball enthusiasts worldwide.
Whether you're a seasoned player or new to the game, The Dink Minor League Pickleball welcomes you to find a team, join the fun, forge new friendships, and experience the thrill of pickleball like never before.
Join a team, have fun, and experience the excitement of pickleball! Sign up now!
Written by Alana Jackler
In a heartfelt Instagram post, Anna Leigh Waters recently honored her mother's remarkable legacy in pickleball.
"Growing up I always looked up to her, not only as a person but also as an amazing athlete who was once was ranked #1 in the world in pickleball in 2019! She doesn’t get enough credit for her pickleball skills! She changed the way pickleball was played. Truly a pioneer of the sport!"
This Mother’s Day, DUPR joins Anna Leigh in honoring the mother of modern pickleball, Leigh Waters.
Traditionally characterized by a gentle finesse, pickleball experienced a transformative shift with Leigh Waters’ entry into professional play. Along with her then twelve-year-old daughter, Anna Leigh, the Waters burst onto the professional pickleball scene and changed it forever.
Leigh and Anna Leigh’s pickleball journey began amidst the upheaval of Hurricane Irma in 2017. While seeking refuge with Leigh's father in Pennsylvania, he introduced them to pickleball, igniting a passion that led them to enter their first tournament shortly after returning to Florida.
As a former tennis player on a full scholarship at the University of South Carolina, Leigh’s background brought out a fierce, unapologetic style to the pickleball court.
Recalling their early days, Leigh reminisces, "Everyone was still just playing the soft game, and here I am with Anna Leigh, ripping balls, driving, crashing the next ball—we took a lot of people off guard."
Anna Leigh adds, "People would tell my mom to ease up, but she stood her ground, saying, ‘No, this is working; I'm beating you. Why would I change?’ If asked to slow down, she just hit the ball even harder."
By 2022, Team Waters had become the #1 team in women's doubles in the Professional Pickleball Association (PPA). However, in November Leigh suffered an ACL injury at Nationals, temporarily halting her competitive pursuits.
Initially disheartened, Leigh found solace in coaching during her recovery, nurturing Anna Leigh's talent and watching her thrive.
“I started realizing that this is the best thing for her. This felt like it was her journey. Being there for her and being able to take it all in as a parent rather than a teammate. And I actually found that I loved coaching and didn't really miss the competition. I missed the rec play and all that, like playing with your friends and training, but I didn't really miss the grind of the tournament schedule.”
Reflecting on her mother's pivotal influence, Anna Leigh shares, “I definitely don't think I would be the player I am today without my mom's coaching and strategy. I mean, she's really good at coaching, but she's amazing at strategy. She can look at a player and give you their weaknesses and strengths by watching them for five minutes. It's crazy.”
Their reunion at the US Open this year marked a triumphant return for Team Waters. However, they have no plans to resume a full tournament schedule together.
Anna Leigh expresses, "She's not just an athlete; she's a mother, coach, wife, and daughter. She does so many things for our family, and she still somehow has time for herself and everybody else. I'm just so proud of her."
This Mother's Day, let's celebrate Leigh Waters—a trailblazing athlete, devoted coach, and loving mother—whose resilience, passion, and unwavering support continue to inspire us all.
By Alana Jackler
How is DUPR planning to integrate with other platforms? Will matches be entered retroactively or only for matches going forward?
Answer: Many platforms, events, and leagues integrate with DUPR to make it simple for all your results to count toward your rating. In most cases, matches recorded on third-party platforms, events, or leagues on or after integrating with DUPR will count towards players’ ratings. Some systems will also submit match results that occurred before the integration with DUPR to count towards players’ ratings. For more details, we recommend speaking directly with your event/league organizer or contacting our support team.
Note - DUPR’s rating system places more weight on your most recent results, and as time passes, your past results have less of an impact on your rating. To read more about this, please visit our Rating FAQ page here.
Are DUPR ratings affected by playing different game types like doubles and mixed doubles, or self-reported matches vs. tournament matches?
Answer: The weight of any match is determined by the method of score submission: self-reported scores will have a lower weight on your DUPR-rating than a score submitted by a tournament organizer/club. The game type (same-gender doubles, mixed doubles, singles, etc.) does not affect the weight of the match. DUPR provides both your singles and doubles rating, and matches played in those formats against players of all genders and ages are factored into the rating. What makes DUPR unique is that it provides a unifying language and standard for pickleball players across age and gender to evaluate their skill level on the same scale. All types of matches impact your rating, regardless of who you are playing with and against.
How does DUPR compare to other rating systems, and what changes are being made to improve its effectiveness?
Answer: DUPR is the most accurate and reliable global pickleball rating system, trusted by leagues, clubs, tournaments and players around the world. As the pickleball community grows larger and more results are entered into our system, our dedicated team of data scientists are hard at work making improvements and updates to the system to ensure that DUPR is providing the most accurate and reliable assessment of level. Here are the key things to know about the rating:
For more on the rating, visit our How it Works page or rating FAQs.
How is DUPR preventing players from manipulating their ratings?
Answer: DUPR enforces our (Community Guidelines) for all players, which states that players may not manipulate ratings, results, or data in any manner. Players who violate these guidelines are restricted or suspended from the platform accordingly.
Based on our analysis, the vast majority of the DUPR community operates with integrity, and this personal integrity is what connects all players, keeping our rating accurate and valuable to everyone. Of course, as in life, there are instances where players have tried to game the system, and our team works hard behind the scenes to identify and prevent these bad actors from impacting our system. We are constantly improving our methodologies and performing checks on our data to identify behavior that violates our Community Guidelines.
You can report any violations by emailing support@mydupr.com.
What measures are being taken to address the concerns about sandbagging?
Answer: Sandbagging, or deliberately playing below one’s actual ability, is unfortunately a problem that exists across many sports, including pickleball. Sandbagging in pickleball will occur when a player purposefully plays below their true level so they have a chance to play in a future event against players they believe they can beat. Sandbagging has no place in DUPR’s community, and our rating system actively works to identify and flag sandbagging to event organizers and tournament directors.
Sandbagging occurs more frequently in events where organizers are not checking players’ DUPR ratings and are instead relying on self-ratings. We encourage players to join DUPR clubs and play in level-based tournaments that are organized using DUPR which makes it much more difficult for sandbagging to occur.
Why do recreational matches count towards my DUPR? Aren’t they less accurate and easily rigged?
Answer: In order to provide a full view of your skill level, DUPR looks at results across all types of play, including self-posted scores. There are many players who do not compete in competitive leagues or tournaments, and by accepting self-posted scores, we are able to make the community more inclusive and accessible for pickleball players everywhere to have a DUPR rating. Whether it’s a recreational match or a tournament match, all scores provide valuable data points to accurately assess a player’s skill level.
For players who also participate in club or tournament events, scores from self-posted matches carry less weight than those from the club or tournament events. We are constantly monitoring our data to make sure that it maintains the quality dictated by our Community Guidelines.
Still curious on more FAQS and how the algo plays with your rating? Visit our latest Algo FAQS Here.
Here is all the information you need regarding our integration with Pickleball Tournaments and Pickleball Brackets.
Will DUPR be integrated into Pickleball Tournaments/Pickleball Brackets with results automatically uploaded and integrated into DUPR?
Will players need a DUPR to register for events on Pickleball Tournaments/Pickleball Brackets?
What steps should players take to ensure their profiles and results are integrated?
When will the integration process begin, and when can we expect it to be completed?
Will past results be considered along with new results after the integration is finished?
Will players be prevented from registering for brackets below their DUPR rating to prevent sandbagging?
Will Pickleball Brackets switch from CTPR ratings to DUPR for Pickleball Canada sanctioned tournaments?
Will mixed doubles and same-gender doubles be rated separately by DUPR?
Leave your question at Pickleball Play Solutions or reach out to us HERE.
Leagues Nationwide Are Adopting Standard Pickleball Rating System To Enhance Competition With Level-Based Play, More Opportunities to Compete and Grow Participation
As amateur pickleball competition continues to gain momentum – both in opportunities to compete and in the number of players participating – leagues across the country are partnering with DUPR (Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating) to enhance opportunities for amateur players to compete, showcase their skills and even win prize money.
La Cocina, Honcho Pickleball League, National Team Pickleball League (NTPL) and World Pickleball Tour (WPT) are just a few of the amateur leagues that have recently partnered with DUPR. The technology platform has solidified its status as the go-to-solution for the largest amateur leagues and tours in the sport, collaborating with local pickleball leaders to support level-based competition for hundreds of thousands of players and the overall growth of the game here in the United States and worldwide.
“The adoption of DUPR by these leading pickleball leagues marks a major milestone in unifying the leading amateur tours and eliminating barriers to gameplay. League organizers and players are the heart of the game, and offering our technology and rating system can help to further enhance their efforts, support local play and make the sport even more fun,” said Tito Machado, DUPR CEO.
DUPR offers organizers the ability to use its accurate, reliable rating to organize competitive, level-based matches, and use its community platform to reach hundreds of thousands of pickleball players to highlight their leagues and upcoming events. Most importantly, players benefit from competing against others at their level for an even better experience.
With 3,184 players across 12 states and 20 active venue partners, Honcho Pickleball League is also relying on DUPR to grow the sport and foster connections. “We are excited to dive into this relationship with DUPR,” said Chris Mott, Chief Revenue Officer of Honcho Pickleball League. “Their support not only provides us with one of the largest, most detailed player databases in the sport but also aligns with our mission to provide exceptional pickleball experiences and development opportunities for our players. We look forward to a fruitful relationship that brings added excitement and competition to our communities across the nation.”
The adoption of DUPR by these amateur leagues marks a move towards unifying the game under one common language and standard. When players have DUPR, they not only can experience more competitive play within their leagues, but are now part of a global pickleball community, enabling them to find level-based play wherever they are. Amateur leagues that use DUPR include:
To join the global pickleball community and support your league with level-based play, please visit www.dupr.com.
DUPR (Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating); The Registry of Pickleball Professionals (RRPk), the pickleball arm of the International Coaches Institute; and Tyson McGuffin, a world top ten singles and doubles pickleball professional, today announced a co-venture to support the career development of professional pickleball coaches and organizers with a new series of educational programs and certification courses. While pickleball continues its rapid growth in the United States and around the world, professional coaches and organizers have yet to be supported with formalized training and tools to introduce and teach the sport to their communities.
Now, pulling from DUPR’s technology and ratings, RPPk’s expertise in education and training, and McGuffin’s experience as a professional player and instructor, the new courses, accessible via RPPk, will provide coaching professionals with certified pickleball training, instruction and resources to further their professional development. “As pickleball grows, the sport needs foundational training and resources for coaches to grow the sport effectively in the US and worldwide,” said Luis Mediero, President of the Registry of Pickleball Professionals (RPPk). “Working with Tyson and DUPR enables us to provide coaches with valuable training and technology that will positively impact their pickleball programs. These courses will empower professionals to successfully implement pickleball events and play, offer opportunities to grow in their careers and even train others to become certified coaches.”
Tyson McGuffin, world-number 4 and triple crown champion, added, “As a player and professional I’ve been looking for opportunities to spread my knowledge and technical insights as a coach and professional in the game. I’m thrilled to partner with DUPR and RPPk to support my fellow professionals with the latest foundational tools, training and resources to support their career development and growth of the game we all love. While these courses are not yet a finished product we are collectively aiming, over time, to have the most robust and authentic certification offerings available.”
The program offers certification for those looking to advance their general pickleball professional acumen, featuring certification courses in coaching beginner, advanced and competitive players, as well as elite certification programs to equip leaders in the space with the tools to train others to help grow the game.
“Professionals are the lifeblood of the game, and we are committed to providing the training, tools and technology to grow pickleball and make the experience fun and exciting so players keep coming back to the court,” said Tito Machado, DUPR CEO. “Our focus at DUPR is to bring accessible, easy-to-understand technology and analytics to pickleball to unify the sport across age, gender and location with a simple rating system. We are honored to work with RPPk and Tyson to support professionals and the growth of the game worldwide.”
This partnership aims to formalize global standards for professional pickleball certification and education. Together, the organizations are developing the following programs to be released later this year:
About International Coaches Institute & RPPkThe International Coaches Institute (ICI) is the first and largest international organization dedicated to offering educational programs, international certification and comprehensive professional services to tennis, golf, padel, fitness and pickleball teaching professionals through their respective Professional Registries.
The ICI currently has +50,000 qualified coaches in 130 countries, and since its foundation in 1989, it has trained +100,000 sports coaches. For more information visit: www.icisports.org / www.RPPickleball.org
About DUPR DUPR (Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating) is the premier global pickleball rating system and technology platform, trusted by the world’s leading clubs, tournaments, leagues and players. DUPR’s dynamic rating system unifies pickleball across age, gender and location by analyzing match results to accurately evaluate all players across a 2.000 - 8.000 scale. Players and operators can visit www.mydupr.com to sign up and learn more.
About Tyson McGuffinTyson McGuffin has captured the attention of fans and peers alike, establishing himself as a true icon in the world of pickleball. Tyson is a two-time US Open Champion, a five time National Champion, a 12 time PPA Champion and a two time Triple Crown winner. Tyson holds steadfast to his three pillars of Athlete, Dad and Coach. When Tyson is not competing he enjoys spending time with his family, going on hikes, working out, vacationing with his wife Megan, and soaking up special moments with their four children. For more information visit: www.tysonmcguffin.com
Find out more about the courses and how to get certified here.
Prepare for an epic showdown as The Dink Minor League Pickleball announces seven thrilling tournaments! With 12 to 16 teams per division, each Regional Showdown promises fierce competition. The stakes are high, and the first-place team of each division takes home a Dream Ticket, automatically qualifying them for the 2024 National Championship!
Discover the 7 Regional Showdown Locations
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The Regional Showdowns span the nation, offering aspiring players from all corners of the country an equal opportunity to showcase their skills and play for a chance to secure the coveted Dream Ticket to the National Championship. Learn how you can earn points at Regional Showdowns to climb the National Leaderboard.
Take a look and sign up for a Regional Showdown near you!
Explore Regional Showdown Divisions and Pricing
Offered Divisions: 12*, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22* (*DUPR 12 and 22 are only available in specific locations)
Price: $100-$150
Unleash the Rewards: What Players Can Expect
Northeast Regional Showdown Hosted by All State Pickleball League
Date: July 20th
Venue: Bounce
City, State: Malvern, Pennsylvania
Divisions: 12, 14, 16, 18
Midsouth Regional Showdown Hosted by OPC & Pickleball Kingdom
Date: July 27th & 28th
Venue: Pickleball Kingdom Plano
City, State: Plano, Texas
Divisions: 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22
Midwest Regional Showdown Hosted by iPickle Nation and Sponsored by JustPaddles
Date: August 10th
Venue: PickleCon (Kansas City Convention Center)
City, State: Kansas City, Missouri
Divisions: 12, 14, 16, 18, 20
West Coast Regional Showdown Hosted by Carmen Sanz Pickleball Club
Date: September 7th
Venue: Willow Pass Community Park in Concord
City, State: Concord, California
Divisions: 12, 14, 16, 18, 20
Northwest Regional Hosted BY ZZ2 Pickleball
Date: September 7th & 8th
Venue: Caverlero MidHigh School
City, State: Lake Stevens, Washington
Divisions: 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22
Southwest Regional Showdown Hosted by iPickle Nation and Sponsored by JustPaddles
Date: October 5th & 6th, 2024
Venue: Picklemall ~ Tempe
City, State: Tempe, Arizona
Divisions: 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22
Southeast Regional Showdown Hosted by All Florida Pickleball
Date: November 9th & 10th
Venue: Lone Palm Country Club
City, State: Lakeland, Florida
Divisions: 14, 16, 18, 20
To learn more about The Dink Minor League Pickleball, visit the website. Visit our blog for more information on the 2024 National Championship. Sign up for a The Dink Minor League Pickleball event now to get on the National Leaderboard and start your journey toward Nationals!
Orlando Advanced Pickleball (OAP) started as a small community of pickleballers, to now having cultivated a huge group of pickleball enthusiasts in Florida, boasting over 3,900 members. OAP, founded in April 2023, joined DUPR in October, is not only encouraging level base play, but also about making a positive impact on the environment.
Beyond the court, OAP is committed to sustainability through their pioneering pickleball recycling program in Florida. By converting worn-out pickleballs into functional zip ties, OAP has diverted over 225 lbs of pickleballs from landfills, equating to over 1,500 pickleballs recycled and counting. "We're not just about playing; we're about fostering a thriving pickleball culture", says Dave John, founder of OAP. Strategic bins have been placed across key locations in Central Florida, with plans for expansion pending local government approval. In the meantime, individuals are encouraged to transport their worn-out balls to courts equipped with recycling bins to help preserve the environment and support OAP's mission to ensure pickleballs don't end up in landfills, both for the sake of environmental responsibility and for the legacy future generations of pickleball enthusiasts.
“We're committed to ensuring pickleball don't end up in landfills, both for the sake of environmental responsibility and for the legacy we leave for future generations of pickleball enthusiasts,” Dave adds. The organization is also hosting a Fundraising Tournament in June, to raise money for the Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida, that already has over 220 registrants!

Founded just a year ago, OAP wasted no time in partnering with DUPR shortly after its inception. “Recognizing that DUPR is the pinnacle of accuracy and consistency in pickleball rating systems, OAP swiftly joined forces. Now, OAP is preparing for upcoming events, ensuring that scores are entered into DUPR”, Dave confirms.
The OAP Team recognized the importance of recycling pickleballs after noticing many damaged balls being thrown away in trash cans at courts. Standard recycling facilities cannot process thermoplastic molded resin, the material pickleballs are made from, so OAP took the initiative to ensure these balls do not end up in landfills.
“Every contribution helps our collective efforts” David adds. “We can help save the world, one pickleball at a time." Whether it is through league participation, tournament play, merchandise purchases, lessons, or donations, all of it helps towards the goal of a more environmentally efficient pickleball community.
OAP operates their recycling initiative without any financial gain, emphasizing their dedication to making a difference in the environment and the pickleball community. As a relatively new organization, OAP has quickly established itself in the pickleball world through partnerships with organizations like DUPR for accurate rating systems and innovative initiatives like pickleball recycling.
Learn more about Orlando Advanced Pickleball here.