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Kurt Schroeder is no stranger to DUPR, having brought the first Mexican club onto the DUPR platform. Although he only started playing pickleball about two years ago, Kurt is passionate about growing pickleball in his community of Progreso, a port city on Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula, and promoting fair and equal play for all. After what was supposed to be a one year adventure, Kurt has never looked back and has spent the last 13 years in Mexico since moving from Canada.

Kurt had originally been introduced to pickleball by his friends from the Canadian city, Calgary because they wanted something to do while visiting him over the Christmas holiday. The story starts with Kurt’s long time friends ready and wanting to play, but the local groups would not let them participate because they were already over capacity with winter members. One of Kurt’s friends then said, “Just build me a court.” Kurt went on to measure his backyard parking area to see if a court would fit, and sure enough, it did. Then the Knights Court, named after the last name of his friends who requested it, came alive.

How important is the DUPR rating to you and your club?

DUPR is so important to our club because it allows us to group our players six at a time with people of similar abilities. There is nothing more frustrating than having one player who does not fit in the right category because it ruins the game for everybody else. So, it really helps us sort out who belongs where.

Do you think the DUPR rating helps motivate people?

It does for some people, and people are certainly driven by the rating. We would definitely like to see the latter come into effect.

Do you have any significant milestones or goals that you would like to share?

In the next five to ten years, there will be a lot of growth in pickleball here in Mexico. I also think that when we get more people entering their scores into DUPR, that will be a big thing. If every game was put into DUPR, that would also be great.

The Knights Court is known for having a mural that spans the length of the court which includes paintings of all Kurt’s friends and family, comical pickleball sayings, the name of the court, and even a couple DUPR logos.

“A local muralist did all of these. There are our three dogs, my niece, and my grandma. She also painted my wife and I. There are caricatures of everybody such as our parents, friends, and other family members,” said Kurt. His home offers six suites, which all have access to the court.

As Kurt said, “In Mexico, people can have donkeys, chickens, or roosters living next door and there are no complaints.” But when the pickleball court opened, people complained, ‘Why are people having so much fun at seven in the morning shouting and yelling?’ Kurt then had to move his regularly scheduled pickleball games from the early morning to late evening.

As DUPR grows into different parts of the world, the organization is proud to have enthusiasts such as Kurt, who are passionate about pickleball, help grow the sport, and spread awareness about DUPR.

About The Knights Court

The Knights Court is based in Progreso, Mexico, and was created to ensure a fun spot for all friends to play. Check out their Facebook page for more information: The Knights Court

View the full interview on our YouTube channel.

At Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating, we are committed to maintaining a fair and transparent environment for all our users. Our community guidelines are designed to ensure that every participant has an equal and enjoyable experience within our platform.

Any user found in violation of our community guidelines will face appropriate action, including removal from our platform. We are actively monitoring these activities and diligently working around the clock to identify and remove cheaters.

Our mission is to provide a trustworthy and inclusive platform for all pickleball enthusiasts, and we appreciate the vigilance of our community members in reporting any suspicious behavior.

Together, we can maintain the integrity of our platform and ensure fair play for everyone. Thank you for your continued support and commitment to the values that make Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating a vibrant and thriving community.

Sincerely,

DUPR Team

Last Modified: Oct 18, 2023

DUPR is committed to creating a safe and fair environment for all players and organizers. The following Community Guidelines were created to help foster and protect our amazing pickleball community. Respect for our community, opponents, coaches, and officials is a critical part of growing the game and an essential principle in the fair treatment of all. Overstepping these boundaries may result in a permanent ban, suspended account, or other restrictions. You can report any violations by filling out this form.

DUPR upholds a zero-tolerance policy towards:

1. Instances of racism, sexism, discrimination, abusive language, physical abuse, harassment, and any other behaviors detrimental to an individual or the event.
2. Instances of cheating, tanking, game-fixing, and any kind of data manipulation, including creating multiple accounts.
3. Individuals who fail background checks.

Players and Organizers are expected to adhere to the following principles and may not:

1. Engage in direct or indirect verbal mistreatment of any official, player, sponsor, spectator, or any other individuals present within the event venue.
2. Display unsportsmanlike conduct, such as acts of aggression or property damage.
3. Use illicit substances at any event.
4. Claim the identity of another player and/or impersonate another player/organizer.
5. Send inappropriate messages, within or outside, the DUPR platform.
6. Manipulating ratings, results, or data in any manner is strictly prohibited. This includes, but is not limited to:
   
   1. Creating multiple accounts for any purpose, such as using opposite hands, separate coaching accounts, or any other unauthorized reason. Injured players are not allowed to create separate accounts to play with their opposite hand.
   2. Any use of multiple accounts will result in the accounts being merged into one account.
7. Misuse DUPR's brand imagery or property. Our registered trademark is owned and exclusively held by DUPR. All intellectual property rights, including but not limited to trademark rights, associated with this logo are the sole property of DUPR, and any unauthorized use, reproduction, distribution, or alteration of the registered trademark logo without explicit written consent is strictly prohibited and may be subject to legal action.

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Fair play, sportsmanship, and equity for all players.

All State Pickleball League was founded by like-minded pickleball players in New Jersey and currently has over 1,800 Members on the DUPR platform. We spoke to founders and owner operators Stephen Conger and Michele Dabal about their amazing journey in pickleball.

How did you get started with Pickleball?

It’s a fairly unique story. I have been a liver transplant recipient for 18 years and they added pickleball as an event to the transplant games. A friend of mine, who I was playing tennis with at the transplant games lives in Florida, told me about this game called Pickleball. I said, ‘What in the world is that?’ She said, ‘When I come back to New Jersey, I'll teach you how to play.’ As soon as I started to play I fell quickly in love with the game and have been doing it ever since, said Michele.

What inspired you to start a statewide pickleball league?

We love the league idea. From there, we talked to Tito at DUPR. He was excited to work with us and see how that could happen. The three of us met regularly and established the framework of the league. We then launched in the fall of 2022 with 66 teams. We thought it was pretty phenomenal; we were all over the state. Spring came along and we went up to 106 teams. We kept on getting more players and it was just unreal. So, I think in that regard it was kind of a seed that was planted and then we just kept watering it. Now it has grown into this fall where we have almost 120 teams, said Stephen.

How has DUPR played a role in all of this and why did you end up choosing DUPR?

The nice thing with DUPR is that it has data from everywhere. DUPR encapsulates more than just competitive tournament play. Now, it still doesn't capture everything. There's not a rating system out there that captures everything. But in terms of the data that's available, it has more. said Stephen.

What is your most popular format?

I think the league players are enjoying the more traditional play — not rally scoring, regular scoring — playing matches to 11, best out of three, because it's what they're accustomed to. But then when you go to Minor League pickleball, it bumps it up in the excitement level to be playing just like the Major League does. Initially people said, ‘Wait, how do you do this? Where do I stand? Wait, we don't change sides?’ But when they understand that, they are totally into it. It adds a special element to it where you are playing like the Major League pros, and you are at a really nice indoor facility and you just feel really good about the experience, said Michele.

About All State Pickleball League:The statewide pickleball league in NJ features team based competition over a 10 week period. They have over 30 locations around the state that teams use both public and private, and they also run Minor League Pickleball events throughout New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania.

We are proud to have All State Pickleball League a part of the DUPR family as they continue to grow and evolve their league and expand to more locations. If you would like to learn more about their events and what they do, visit their website here: allstatepickleball.com

Website: allstatepickleball.com

Instagram: @allstatepickleballleague

Facebook: All State Pickleball League

View the full interview on our YouTube channel.

Gabe George is the Director of Pickleball at Military Adaptive Court Sports (MACS). His unwavering passion for playing and instructing pickleball knows no geographical boundaries, as he firmly believes, "If there’s a desire in the heart of veterans, we’ll make it there.”

Gabe’s Quest to Find A New Purpose

Gabe George, a retired Navy corpsman, faced a life-altering motorcycle accident resulting in the paralysis of his right arm, which later needed amputation. In his quest to discover a new sense of purpose, Gabe's journey led him to the world of adaptive sports. It was through this path that he became acquainted with MACS, an organization that would become instrumental in developing his passion for pickleball. Gabe not only found fulfillment in playing the sport but also discovered his talent and love for teaching others the game.

Humbling Pickleball Beginnings

Immediately, Gabe fell in love with pickleball. He enjoyed how he could play several games and not feel beat up afterward. He got his start playing at a local church where he lives in Jacksonville, Florida. His opponents consisted of individuals in their seventies and eighties. Recalling his initial experience, Gabe humorously remarked, "I had an eighty-four-year-old man stand in one spot and laugh while he whooped my butt and ran me around the whole court."

Spreading the Pickleball Passion Through MACS

Military Adaptive Court Sports is a phenomenal organization dedicated to teaching and promoting adaptive sports to disabled armed service members and veterans. Currently, their programs include pickleball, racquetball, and badminton, with plans to introduce padel tennis soon. All MACS instructors are certified and specially trained to work with individuals with disabilities.

I’ve had the honor of traveling all over the country teaching. I've taught hundreds and hundreds of veterans, able-bodied, and non-able-bodied people. It's my love. And when I'm not underwater diving or something, with my dog, or my daughter, I'm on the court somewhere.

Pickleball and DUPR: Ageless, Genderless, and for All Abilities

Pickleball aligns seamlessly with MACS due to its inclusivity.

Everybody can play. You don't have to be a pro. I've taught kids, older folks, people who can barely walk, knee replacements, and people with visual impairments who can hear the different sounds and different balls. It’s very adaptive.

The DUPR rating system is beneficial in that it matches players up evenly based on skill level regardless of age, mobility, gender, and any other factors.

It’s very helpful. Once you play a while you can understand how the rating changes. And I love the growth of how the rating system has changed. It’s always updating, it’s really great for what we’ve got going on right now. It’s helped get a judge of who you’re playing against. It’s not just about your age and your mobility, skill level is skill level. If you’re a master of your craft, it shouldn’t matter your age.

Making Their Way to Waterfall Nationals

MACS and their director, Gabe, are making their way to the 2023 DUPR Waterfall Nationals in Rockwall, Texas, October 12-15. MACS will have a sports clinic each morning from 10 a.m. to noon.

Gabe enjoys the DUPR Waterfall format of four matches in four hours which means four times the fun.

I love it because you get to play more. You get to mix with multiple different types of pickleball players and their different styles. I like what they’re doing with it, and I can see it being incorporated in a lot of other tournaments and events too.

He also mentioned the struggle that many of us have experienced with other tournament styles:

You’re sitting there and you've been waiting for hours and hours to play and just get to play that one game and then it's done. So, yeah, I think anytime it comes to a tournament when you’re guaranteed to get to play, that's going to light you up and make you want to be there more.

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If you're interested in learning more or participating in MACS, visit: Military Adaptive Court Sports. In the words of Gabe, "If there's a desire in the heart of veterans, we'll make it there."

To watch the full interview on YouTube, click here.

Liz and Emilie started to play pickleball as a weekly getaway. It is easy to forget the need to refresh and have fun, especially as busy, working moms.

Their inspiring motto, “Try Harder,” applies to their daily routine with family, work, and pickleball. The two friends love traveling and competing against players of different backgrounds, ages, genders, and abilities.

With the DUPR Waterfall format, of four competitive matches all within a four-hour period, they've discovered how to make the most of their time and be able to play pickleball and still return to work or other commitments afterward.

Liz and Emilie's friendship is a reminder that pickleball is a way to create memories, as well as build and maintain lasting friendships. They support each other, compete, and strengthen their bond on and off-court.

What do you like the most about pickleball?

"The competition is fun, meeting different people from all over. We played in a bunch of different states. It has been a really fun adventure getting to see and meet new people," said Liz.

"You get your energy out; you get to do something where you lose yourself. We laugh every single time that we get out there, and we just have fun," said Emilie.

How was your first experience playing at a Waterfall event?

"I like the quickness of it. There was not a lot of downtime, which was nice. We played four matches within an hour; that constant play was really beneficial. Even when we were not playing, they had courts reserved where we could warm up and continue to play. It was a really positive experience, " said Liz.

"Also, when people would lose, they could play on the other courts. It is not like all of sudden you had to just leave, and you could still enjoy the whole experience of the Waterfall," said Emilie.

What have you enjoyed most about the Waterfall format?

"The DUPR Waterfalls are great to be able to play, have fun, and be comfortable with yourself. I feel like it's not as much of a competition where people are shoving the ball down your throat and thinking they're better than you or you're better than me. And it moves quickly and it's fast which is a big deal, especially when you have to fit things into your busy schedule. We have our kids but we can still do things for ourselves," said Emilie.

"With these DUPR Waterfall tournaments, I was still able to go to work that afternoon after a morning tournament, so that's pretty awesome," said Liz.

How has the DUPR rating system enhanced your pickleball experience?

"I do like the idea that with DUPR, it's genderless and ageless. It really is strictly a rating. It gives more competition, especially when it is the two of us against two guys who are younger than us and look like they are in a lot better shape, but it is the rating system that keeps everything leveled, which is fun and makes us play better," said Liz.

Grab a friend and sign up for Waterfall Nationals today. Make memories, enjoy some pickleball, and meet new people, all while playing for the chance to win 20,000+ in prize money. This is an opportunity you won't want to miss. Sign up today! Registration ends Friday, October 6.

View the full video story on our YouTube channel.

Jake is a software engineer from Minnesota who loves pickleball and how it brings people together of all ages and sports backgrounds. He first played in a DUPR Waterfall Tournament at Lucky Shots Pickleball Club in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

DUPR first introduced the waterfall concept back in July 2022 when they announced the first ever Newport Beach DUPR Waterfall Presented by Takeya, which at the time had the largest prize purse in pickleball history at $100,000.

A DUPR Waterfall is a newer tournament format and came to life in 2023 with thousands of players entering into hundreds of tournaments across the country. It offers players four competitive matches all within a four-hour period. Players sign up with or without a partner and DUPR will create brackets of 16 teams based on the rating of the highest DUPR-rated player of the team.

What do you like about DUPR Waterfalls?

"I’d recommend Waterfalls to other pickleball players because they’re a cool twist on traditional pickleball tournaments. It’s exciting how everyone in your bracket plays at the same time, and it doesn’t matter if you win or lose, you still get to play 4 matches," said Jake.

What makes people want to play in a DUPR Waterfall?

Jake said, “I was excited about how everyone in your bracket plays at the same time and that no matter if you win or lose you get to play four matches.”  

Most pickleball players will agree that the downside to the standard pickleball tournament is that there is too much downtime, or too much time in between matches, whereas in a waterfall format, players can expect to play for a specific four-hour timeframe on a given day.

Jake Bendickson played in a DUPR Waterfall in 2023, won a platinum ticket, and will have free entry into the DUPR Waterfall Nationals next month. The DUPR Waterfall Nationals takes place in Rockwall, TX on October 12-15, 2023, and there will be over $20,000 in prize money given away.

About Lucky Shots Pickleball Club:

Lucky Shots Pickleball Club has over twenty five hundred players on the DUPR platform and they are based in a historical office/warehouse originally built in 1947 for the Foley Manufacturing Company. Over the last several years, First & First has been actively transforming the property, which led to converting 40,000 square feet of the building into the Lucky Shots Pickleball facility. More info on their website.

Keep up with the collegiate regionals, all leading up to the 2023 November National Championship. Stay tuned for more updates! The Regional Championships were a testament to the hard work, dedication, passion, and growth of collegiate athletes. As this chapter closes, a new one opens as the teams prepare to compete at the National Championship.

Watching these young athletes has shown us that the future of the sport is in great hands. We look forward to seeing you all coming together and competing for the ultimate prize. The stakes are higher, the competition is fiercer, and the expectations are greater.

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Check out the list of regional champions:

- Georgia Regional - Clemson

- Arizona Regional - Utah Tech

- Minnesota Regional - Michigan

- North Carolina Regional - UNC

- Ohio Regional - Maryland

- Oklahoma Regional - Mississippi State

- Colorado Regional - Utah Tech

- Utah Regional - Utah Tech

- Texas Regional - TCU

- Florida Regional - FAU

- Michigan Regional - Indiana

- Nevada Regional - Utah Tech

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Full list of National participants. For more info, please visit DUPR Collegiate.

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Nevada Regional Championship

October 7-8, 2023

Henderson, NV

Nine schools competed last weekend at the Nevada Regional, closing the regular season for DUPR Collegiate Pickleball.

It was the last chance to secure a spot for the six schools that still needed a bid for Nationals. However, it proved challenging, as the aspiring teams faced the western powerhouses Grand Canyon University (GCU) and Utah Tech.

Utah Tech put its two teams in the semifinals against GCU and the University of California San Diego (UCSD). As they advanced through the semifinals, the two Utah Tech teams faced each other in the finals for the third consecutive time this season.

UCSD secured its bid to Nationals, while the University of Arizona faced off against Arizona State University to determine the last qualifying spot. The University of Arizona won, becoming the second Arizona team to secure their place at Nationals this year.

The top schools have just over a month to prepare until they hit the courts in Atlanta for the DUPR Collegiate National Championships.

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Michigan Regional Championship

September 30 - October 1, 2023

Rochester Hills, MI

With the fall season coming to an end, the Michigan Regional showcased 11 schools and 90 players competing for two of the final remaining bids to the Collegiate National Championship.

Virginia Tech, Ohio State, and Michigan University faced fierce opposition from schools like Wisconsin-Whitewater and Case Western.

The Indiana University squad won an incredible Dreambreaker against Ohio State in the semi-finals and a convincing 3-0 victory over the number one-seeded Miami University.

In their first-ever regionals appearance, Indiana University and Miami University have earned their tickets to the 2023 DUPR Collegiate National Championships.

Next week will conclude the 2023 regular season with the Nevada Regional Championship, where hopeful schools must fight veteran teams Utah Tech and Grand Canyon to earn their bids for Nationals.

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Florida Regional Championship

September 23-24, 2023

Boca Raton, FL

The most competitive Collegiate Regional Championship took place in Boca Raton, Florida, with 24 teams from 17 schools battling to earn one of the few remaining spots available for the Collegiate National Championship on November 17.

Auburn, Florida State, and the University of Florida battled for every point against the pickleball newcomers Florida Atlantic, the University of Miami, and the University of Georgia.

Multiple rain delays weren't enough to stop Florida Atlantic University from becoming the new regional superpower.

Florida Atlantic and the University of Georgia guaranteed their spots at the National Championship in November.

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Texas Regional Championship

September 16-17, 2023

Humble, TX

This weekend wraps up the DUPR Collegiate Texas Regional Championship, where nine teams from six universities battled on Life Time's newest outdoor pickleball facility in Humble, Texas.

The teams traveled across the region to compete for the title of Texas Regional Champions, a bid to the Collegiate National Championship, and their share of the $4,000 prize pool.

In the finals match, Texas Christian University (TCU) and Florida State University stood undefeated and faced each other for the first time in their school's history. Ultimately, the TCU Horned Frogs emerged victorious winning the Texas Regional Championship.

TCU had already earned their bid to Nationals at the Individual Championship that took place in April, but Florida State University and the University of Texas earned their respective bids.

Next week, the collegiate tour madness continues with the DUPR Collegiate Florida Regional Championship in Boca Raton. This tournament, which is the largest regional event of the year, will host 24 teams.

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Utah Regional Championship

September 9-10, 2023

South Jordan, UT

Utah Tech dominated again despite solid opposition from Utah Valley and Utah State, winning its third straight Regional Championship.

Three teams (*#2 Utah Tech, #5 Utah State, and #8 Grand Canyon University) were veterans on the tour, with a spot locked in for the National Championship in November.

Other schools were debuting their teams in this tournament, including the University of Utah, Utah Valley University, Rick's College, and Northwest Nazarene University.

*Numbers reflect the GAMMA Power Rankings from September 1, 2023.

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For the full 2023 DUPR Collegiate Pickleball Schedule, check out our page: HERE

Schools can attend any regional they want, and can bring as many players as they want! Email us at college@mydupr.com if you’re interested in bringing a team to a regional.