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Austin, TX and Rockville, MD (February 29, 2024) – DUPR (Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating) and JOOLA, a leading brand in pickleball and table tennis, today announced a new partnership that will see JOOLA become the Official Sponsor of DUPR Collegiate Pickleball, the largest tournament series for college players. The partnership will drive further growth and advancement of collegiate pickleball to create more pathways and opportunities for players to compete in college and beyond.
DUPR Collegiate Pickleball Powered by JOOLA will have a total of 26 events in the Spring and Fall, with 8 Super Regional events and 16 Campus Regional events, Individual National Championships in June and the Collegiate National Championships in November. Now in its third year, the 2024 season offers the most extensive series of events and the largest scholarship prize money yet, providing more opportunities for competitive collegiate pickleball players to showcase their skills and jumpstart their professional career.
DUPR has led the way in establishing competitive collegiate pickleball by creating compelling opportunities for players to compete, earn scholarship prize money and identify new pathways to continue to play. Since hosting its first college event in 2022, DUPR Collegiate Pickleball has hosted 16 events for 1300 athletes – including the largest collegiate pickleball tournament ever with over 350 players – and contributed over $250,000 in scholarship money and travel stipends for players.
Tito Machado, CEO of DUPR, said: “College players are the future of the game. DUPR Collegiate Pickleball events are focused on creating more opportunities for players to hit the court and showcase their skills, and bringing new players and fans into the game to grow it for generations to come. JOOLA’s support is instrumental in driving more awareness and excitement around college pickleball. We are excited to work together to host more events, create more pathways for players and increase scholarship prizes.”
Richard Lee, CEO of JOOLA, said: “Collegiate pickleball has skyrocketed in popularity over the last few years and it is the fastest growing demographic in the sport. DUPR has established itself as the leader in this space. Its collegiate events are giving players real competitive opportunities to play and even find a pathway to the pros, and are shining a spotlight on the sport overall. These players are the future of the game and we are excited to support the 2024 DUPR Collegiate season.”
The schedule of events for the 2024 DUPR Collegiate Pickleball Powered by JOOLA season is as follows:
Spring Super Regionals
2024 Collegiate Individual National Championships
Fall Super Regionals
Campus Regionals
2024 Collegiate National Championship
For more information please visit dupr.com/collegiate
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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 JOOLA
JOOLA has been a pioneer in table tennis since its establishment in 1952. In 2022, its expansion into pickleball quickly attracted the biggest names in the sport. As a sponsor of major professional pickleball tours, associations, and to top athletes in the game, the team at JOOLA combines its expertise with fresh perspectives to bring synergy and innovation to the pickleball market. JOOLA creates a variety of equipment, apparel, and accessories for pickleball players, both professional and recreational. JOOLA is based in Rockville, MD, and is owned by Sport Squad, Inc. Learn more about JOOLA and see why the sport’s best are joining Team JOOLA by visiting joolausa.com.
Media Contact
Erica Annon / DUPR / erica@mydupr.com
Pickleball has achieved tremendous success over the past few years because it’s not only a great workout — it’s also a lot of fun and a great social activity regardless of your pickleball rating. One way to make sure that pickleball stays fun and enjoyable for the entire pickleball community is to find players who are at your level. It's great for welcoming newcomers and connecting with players of all abilities within the pickleball community.
That’s where DUPR comes in.
As the only global pickleball rating system that uses the same scale to rate players regardless of their age, gender, or location, DUPR ensures that players enjoy fun and competitive games.
With hundreds of thousands of players, more than 2,000 clubs, and located in over 150 countries, you can easily find equally matched opponents almost anywhere.
Whether you’re on vacation, meeting new players in your local area, or competing in pickleball events, with DUPR’s rating system you’re sure to find players matching your skill level.
Having a DUPR rating means that you are part of a curated group of players. This ensures that you avoid being “sandbagged,” the unfortunate situation of playing against a more experienced player who knowingly competes at a lower skill level to gain an unfair advantage.
A DUPR rating is transparent. You’ll always know an opponent’s current skill level, whether they are relatively new to the game or highly experienced. Having a DUPR rating also shows that you are active in maintaining and building the community spirit that pickleball is known for. Asking “What’s your DUPR?” is a great way to introduce yourself to new players and often leads to an exchange of shot tips, strategies, and product information. This fosters an environment where players can learn from one another. It provides an opportunity for higher-rated players to teach less experienced ones, and help them elevate their game and rise through the rankings.
Having a good DUPR rating isn’t just about bragging rights. It also demonstrates that you have a solid understanding of pickleball rules and etiquette. From kitchen violations to foot faults and the two-bounce rule, your DUPR rating demonstrates that you’re committed to fair play and know the rules of the game. As a result, players with DUPR ratings are more likely to follow pickleball rules and protocols. Not just because maintaining their rating demands it, but because they are committed to the spirit of true competition and to foster the community spirit inherent in pickleball.
Getting your DUPR rating is easy. Just click here to register and join the global DUPR pickleball community.
The World Pickleball Tour, pickleball’s leading amateur challenger tour, is collaborating with DUPR (Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating) to grow the game and drive nationwide participation for amateur players to compete, showcase their skills and win prize money.
“DUPR’s community is made up of incredibly active, passionate and competitive players who leave it all out on the court. That’s what our events are all about - giving amateur players everywhere unforgettable fun and competitive experiences. We are excited to work with DUPR to highlight opportunities for amateurs to compete and grow the world’s best game,” said Corey Poches, Director of Partnerships, World Pickleball Tour.
“The World Pickleball Tour has developed an incredible series of events for amateur players to hit the court and showcase their skills in a fun, competitive environment. At DUPR, we are committed to bringing our community the best pickleball experiences, from our accurate rating system, to events and opportunities to play. We are excited to help support participation in World Pickleball Tour events and help players across the country to find another reason to hit the court,” said Tito Machado, DUPR CEO.
The World Pickleball Tour’s amateur-only tournament series features 35 events for 2024. Each tournament stop is a “challenger” event, and as a perk, all Gold Medalists from the circuit receive invitations to the 2025 WPT Amateur Invitational Championships to compete for their portion of the $175,000 cash prize.
The first event of the partnership kicks off in the Cincinnati area, hosted at The Pickle Lodge, a beautiful 17-court indoor venue in West Chester, OH from March 22 - 24. The round robin tournament will ensure players have ample opportunity to play more, wait less and win major prizes. All matches will count towards players' DUPR rating. All participants will receive a WPT player swag bag, featuring reusable branded totes packed with premium items, including a World Tour 2024 DRIFIT t-shirt, hydration and nutrition essentials, on-court fashion accessories and other tournament necessities.
Members of the DUPR community can get $10 off general registration with the code DUPRCINCI Register: HERE
Registration ends: March 18, 2024 at 12:00 AM ET.
Upcoming Events:
WPT Houston Challenger
April 26-28, 2024
PALA Pickleball
Spring, TX
Members of the DUPR community can get $10 off general registration with the code DUPRHOU Register: HERE
Registration ends: April 22, 2024 at 12:00 AM ET.
View the rest of the 2024 season schedule here: wptevents.com/events
For most kids, gym class is the highlight of the school week. It’s a much-needed break from serious class work and a chance to run around, play with friends, and expend energy playing basketball, soccer, volleyball, and floor hockey. Today, an increasing number of schools are adding pickleball to the menu as a way to provide students with a fun, easy way to increase physical activity and combat childhood obesity while addressing their ever-shrinking budgets.
Tailor-Made For Schools
Many aspects that have made pickleball so popular with adults – it’s easy to learn, it’s a fun workout, games are quick, and it allows people of various abilities and fitness levels to play together – also make it a great fit for school gym classes. Students can progress very quickly, which builds up their self-esteem and a sense of accomplishment and can lead to improvements in their overall academic achievement.
Pickleball is also ideal for schools because it solves the problem of how to provide students with a fun physical activity while adhering to tight budgets. According to The Society of Health and Physical Educators, (SHAPE America), the average elementary school spends only $462 per year on physical education. That’s not per child —that’s for the entire school. Given these constraints, pickleball provides a cost-effective activity that many students can play while meeting government mandates for physical education.
DUPR Fuels the Growth of Pickleball Among Younger Players
The Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) estimates that 8.9 million people played pickleball in 2023. As the average age of pickleball participants continues to trend downward – it’s currently at 35 – DUPR is working with organizations across the country to expand the sport further among younger players. For example, the most recent National Junior Pickleball Championships powered by DUPR was held in October in Las Vegas and featured 113 boys and girls ranging in age from 9-18 competing in singles, doubles, and team tournaments.
Bringing Pickleball to Schools
In addition to DUPR’s efforts, the nonprofit organization PHIT America is making it easy for schools to add pickleball to their physical education curriculum. PHIT America’s Play Pickleball initiative donates everything a school needs – paddles, nets, balls, training aids -- to introduce pickleball to students. Launched in Spring 2023 with the ambitious goal of delivering more than 100 kits to elementary schools throughout the US, PHIT America is partnering with pickleball pro KaSandra Gerke to spread the word about the fun and health benefits kids can enjoy from playing pickleball.
Pickleball is all about teamwork and good sportsmanship and therefore fits nicely with the values schools teach every day. The sport’s explosive growth over the past few years is poised to continue, and anyone who has watched an MLP or PPA match is witnessing the success younger players are having on tour. Seventeen-year-old Anna Leigh Waters continues to dominate and teen phenoms Hayden Patriquin and Quang Duong consistently compete at the highest levels. You never know, somewhere in America a student could be picking up a paddle in gym class for the first time, get hooked on the sport and soon play in a few pickleball tournaments, get their DUPR rating, and maybe become tomorrow’s next great pickleball champion.
Professionals Can Access Industry-Leading Tools and Technology to Successfully Introduce and Grow the World’s Fastest-Growing Sport in Their Communities
DUPR (Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating) and The Registry of Pickleball Professionals (RRPk), the pickleball arm of the International Coaches Institute, today announced a long-term partnership to support the growth and development of club owners and coaching professionals with pickleball education training and resources.
Pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in the US and is seeing explosive growth worldwide. DUPR and RPPk are collaborating to launch an educational training program and platform for professional coaches and event organizers to equip them with tools and training to capitalize on the excitement around pickleball and successfully introduce the sport in their communities. DUPR’s accurate global rating system and technology platform provide a unifying language and standard to evaluate player skill level and find opportunities to play, creating connectivity for the sport around the world.
“Our mission is to serve our members with the best tools and training to enhance their professional development. Pickleball is only continuing to grow worldwide and our partnership with DUPR will give our professionals the resources they need to effectively introduce and grow the sport in their communities,” said Luis Mediero, President of the Registro Profesional de Pickleball and International Registry of Pickleball Professionals. “We specialize in coaches and education, and DUPR specializes in the best, most accurate pickleball ratings and technology. It’s a natural fit for our organizations to come together to support our professionals and grow the sport effectively worldwide.”
RPPk will provide a DUPR Team Coach qualification to all coaches who pass the corresponding training courses in their professional training program, and will release a number of certification programs to support organizers in their professional development later this year. The partnership will kick off with a pickleball tournament in Madrid, where coaches will be able to take the first RRPk course and experience the power and precision of DUPR during a championship tournament.
“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 partner with the RPPk and the International Coaches Institute to support professionals and the growth of the game worldwide.”
RRPk and DUPR are developing the following programs to be released later this year:
For more information, please visit www.RPPickleball.org
About International Coaches Institute & RPPk
The International Coaches Institute - ICI established during 2021, the Registry of Pickleball Professionals - RPPk dedicated to professional training, international certification and comprehensive professional services for PICKLEBALL teaching professionals, as well as the promotion of this sport. RPPk has more 1,200certified coaches in 21 countries, who have the highest recognition in the Pickleball industry. All our qualifications are recognized by: International Registry of Pickleball Professionals (RPPk International), European Registry of Pickleball Professionals (RPPk Europe), United States Registry of Pickleball Professionals (RPPk USA), Registro Profesional de Pickleball Latinoamericano (RPPk Latinoamérica), International Coaches Institute (ICI) and the y Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating (DUPR).
All training programs, certification and qualifications and professional services of the Registry of Pickleball Professionals - RPPk are endorsed and recognized by the Royal Spanish Tennis Federation - RFET / PICKLEBALL and by the Spanish Pickleball Association - Pickleball Spain.
The International Coaches Institute (ICI) has become 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: Tennis (RPTennis), Golf (RPGolf), Padel (RPPadel), Fitness (RPFitness) and Pickleball (RPPk) with a clear objective: to offer all those tools necessary to train and develop people through sport.
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.
For more information on DUPR, visit the official website and follow DUPR on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok.
Tyson McGuffin is one of the most well-known names in pickleball. As one of the top players in the sport, he has made a significant impact with his skills and dedication to the game. In this Q&A session, we get to know Tyson, who is a DUPR athlete and active member of our community, a little bit better. We discuss his favorite hobbies, goals, and his thoughts on the DUPR Rating System.
What is your favorite hobby (jokingly outside of pickleball of course)?
“ I just picked up golf and am really loving that. Also cooking. I love my wife, but I do all the cooking.”
What is your favorite destination that you have played pickleball in?
“I love Palm Springs. Weather is nice, golf is great, and the vibes are good.”
What are some goals you have set for yourself in 2024 - whether personally or professionally in pickleball?
“I am determined to keep working on my craft, always stay grounded and be the people's champ. No matter what category - husband, father, player, coach, content creator - I want to shoot for 100%.”
How do you think the DUPR Rating System has enhanced the overall pickleball experience? Do you often or ever compare your DUPR to other players that you are playing, is it a factor going into a match that you play?
“Having an accurate rating system helps the level of play. It creates consistency and sustainability in the sport. It ensures equal play in a competitive setting. The algorithm helps determine how to organize play when you have a range of ratings. Knowing everyone’s DUPR helps keep matches competitive when levels are all over the place.
What inspired you to go pro?
“I was done playing tennis, but still wanted to compete. I was turned on to this silly sport by a member at the club where I was teaching. I have zero moderation in most things in life so dove fully into going pro quickly.”
We are proud to call Tyson McGuffin a DUPR Athlete. His dedication and love for the sport is obvious. With his goals set for continual growth and providing an inclusive playing environment through DUPR, Tyson is making his mark on the pickleball world and inspiring others to do the same.
Make sure to stay updated on Tyson McGuffin's ongoing journey as a DUPR athlete in 2024. Follow him on Instagram and tune into his podcast to catch all of Tyson's upcoming appearances.
Follow Tyson and all your favorite DUPR Athlete's on the DUPR app - Download now!
Fifteen schools and 113 players competed at Pickle Haus this past weekend to be crowned the Illinois Super Regional champions. By player count, it's the largest Regional that DUPR has ever run and the 3rd largest collegiate pickleball tournament ever! Multiple news stations were there to cover the action, as well as plenty of spectators from the surrounding Chicago area.
This tournament was the competitive debut for the UW-Madison, SIUE, Carnegie Mellon, Cornerstone, and Concordia pickleball teams. At the top, we saw the familiar faces of Ohio State, TCU, Indiana, and Michigan reach the semifinals and claim a bid to Nationals in November.
At our Michigan Regional last year, we saw Indiana beat the Ohio State 1st team in a Dreambreaker to advance to the finals and win the whole tournament. However the tables turned at the Illinois Super Regional, and it was instead the Ohio State 1st team getting their revenge and beating Indiana in the Dreambreaker to advance to the finals and winning the whole tournament.
The Illinois Super Regional was the first of eight Super Regionals DUPR is running this year, with the next one being the Utah Super Regional in Kaysville, Utah on March 2nd-3rd.
A big thank you goes to our sponsors: HEAD, GAMMA, OOFOS, Michelob Ultra, and Total Pickleball.
DUPR (Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating) is thrilled to announce the expansion of its partnership with GAMMA Sports, marking an exciting new chapter in the future of pickleball in 2024. GAMMA is set to become the official ball for DUPR with the launch of the innovative CHUCK Tournament Pickleball to the market.
“We are thrilled to be expanding our DUPR partnership. DUPR’s commitment to pickleball aligns perfectly with our brand mission to expand the pickleball community. We believe this collaboration will support growth and introduce pickleball to an even wider audience,” said Molly Boras, Executive Vice President of GAMMA Sports.
"This strategic partnership with GAMMA Sports as The Official Ball of DUPR is truly exciting. Together, we look forward to strengthening our joint mission of growing the sport of pickleball at a rapid rate,” said Ben Van Hout, Director of Sponsorships atDUPR.
The CHUCK Tournament Pickleball will make its debut at DUPR's Collegiate Super Regional on February 3rd and 4th in Illinois. The ball features 38 holes instead of 40 for a guaranteed true flight and is engineered to withstand temperatures at both ends of the outdoor spectrum. The CHUCK Tournament Pickleball will be released for sale on February 7th on GAMMA Sports website.
As two entities committed to advancing the sport of pickleball, DUPR and GAMMA are excited about the potential of this partnership in fostering community engagement amongst all pickleball players in the nation and on a global scale.
To learn more about DUPR, please visit: www.mydupr.com
To learn more about Gamma Sports, please visit: www.gammasports.com
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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.
For more information on DUPR, visit the official website and follow DUPR on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok.
About GAMMA Sports:
GAMMA Sports is a family-owned manufacturer of innovative pickleball and tennis equipment. With over 50 years of experience in racquet sports, GAMMA has become a trusted name among athletes and sports enthusiasts around the world. With a commitment to quality and performance, GAMMA provides products to improve every player’s game. The company's product lineup includes high-performance paddles, balls, grips, and accessories.
GAMMA Media Contact:
Paige Powers
Communications Manager, GAMMA Sports
Email: paige.powers@gammasports.com