First Pickleball Tourney? No Sweat!
Arrive on game day with the right gear and mindset!
There is a recurring convo that comes up a lot on the courts is when other casual players find out we have participated in a couple of tournaments. This discovery always seems to generate curiosity and can even induce some second-hand anxiety.
“Oh my gosh, was it hard??!”
“I would be sooo nervous!”
“What was it like?!”
All Smiles
Me and my mixed doubles partner (and partner in life) at our second pickleball tournament!
I LOVE chatting about my tournament experiences because they have been truly awesome and I believe ALL pickleball players (regardless of skill level) should considering doing one. The two that we have participated in were both run by Pickleball Power Play which we highly recommend if you’re looking for a LOT of guaranteed games!
Before our first tournament, we got a lot of great tips from our local Pickleball Pro (shout out to Val at Dinkers!) on what to bring! The main items were tons of SNACKS & ELECTROLYTES. We chose to bring trail mix, these Builders protein bars, bananas and honey stingers for an extra boost of energy. We were happy with our snack choices and also with our go-to electrolyte flavor: Mango Chili by LMNT.
With our bodies properly nourished and hydrated, we were able to just focus on our mental game! While we didn’t medal, we left feeling proud of our performance and immediately signed up for the next event we could find.
Since our first tournament, we’ve discovered a ton of great pickleball brands and products and want to highlight a few on our most recent Inspo Board! This inspo board’s theme is “First Tournament” and will help you get excited and prepped for your first (or next!) tournament. So without further ado, here is your First Tournament Inspo Board…
Affliate Disclaimer: Pickleball Party Planner may received a small commission (at no additional cost to you) if you purchase anything from the links in this board or post.
This is a shoppable board! Each item is linked directly to it’s product page for your convenience or you can click here to visit our online shop and look for the “First Tourney Collection”!
One item I wish I had known about prior to our first tournament is MISSION STICKS. What may seem like a simple sticker actually can make a huge impact on your mental game. With over 150 different cue stickers, there is a perfect sticker for wherever you are on your pickleball journey. The two that stood out to me as great options for a first tournament are “Nerves Are Good” and “Challenge is Opportunity” which can be found in the Motivational Cue Words category. These could also be a great gift for your doubles partner along with this sweet pickleball greeting card.
Another confidence booster? Feeling stylish!! Treat yourself to some fresh gear to congratulate yourself for signing up for a new challenge. Whether it’s a fancy pickleball bag with a paddle and ball pocket, a new water bottle to match your drip, or a statement sweat towel to keep cool, you can show up looking and feeling your best. For my ladies, these dainty little pickleball stud earrings are THE CUTEST game day accessory.
Finally, you can make sure you’re keeping cooled off and charged up with this personal fan and phone charger combo. Tournament days can be super long (ours have been minimum of 6 hours) so having a charger is a good idea — especially for those post-tourney photo ops!
We hope you found something here that you can get excited about. But at the end of the day, you just need to believe in yourself and know that whatever happens, you can be proud that you challenged yourself in a new way!
Play On!!
Cecilia
*This post is 100% NON-AI
