The National Pickleball League (NPL) established in 2022, is the first league specifically catering to professional pickleball players fifty years and older. The four founders desire to give fans a community to connect, play and never let age be a barrier. Here’s a deeper dive into what makes this league unique:
- Pioneering League for Champions: NPL boasts the title of being the first professional pickleball league focused on the Champions Division (50+ age group). This focus on mature athletes highlights pickleball as a sport for people of all ages to pursue competitively.
- City-Based Teams and Competition: The league features six teams stationed across different cities, fostering a local fan base and regional rivalries adding excitement to the matches.
- Season with Scheduled Matches: Similar to other professional sports leagues, the NPL operates with a defined season where teams compete in scheduled matches, creating a structured environment for players and spectators.
- Promoting Pickleball for Lifelong Athletes: The NPL goes beyond just professional competition. They aim to elevate pickleball’s profile as a sport in which people can enjoy and stay active.
The NPL Combine is a specific event designed to identify and recruit talented pickleball players aged 50 and above for the National Pickleball League (NPL). Here’s a breakdown of the NPL Combine:
- Purpose: The NPL Combine platform allows senior pickleball players (50+) to showcase their skills to NPL team owners and recruiters. This is their chance to secure a spot on a professional team.
- Format: The Combine is a two-day event featuring a round-robin doubles competition. Players are paired with different partners throughout the competition, allowing them to demonstrate their adaptability and teamwork.
- Selection Process: The top-performing men and women at the Combine (usually four players total) are offered automatic spots on NPL teams upon registering for the draft. However, all participants are encouraged to register for the draft, keeping the door open for more players to be picked by NPL teams.
This past weekend, the NPL Florida Combine was held inside the Diadem Pickleball Complex in Coconut Creek, FL. Over one hundred and twenty spectators came to cheer fifty women and fifty men from all over the country who play competitively, with hopes of becoming a member of one of the twelve teams in the NPL.
JW Johnson appeared and played recreational games with some of the owners and participants. There were plenty of laughs and chatter on Friday with owners playing against and with the founders Rick Witsken and Michael Chen. Ultimately, four players (two men and two women) won the right to be in the draft by winning the most matches during the two days of play. The rest of the participants will have to wait and see if their play during the Florida Combine was enough for a team to pick them in the upcoming draft. The next Combine of fifty women and fifty men will be in Grapevine, Texas, at the Chicken and Pickle March 15-17. The current Combine is at maximum capacity with a waiting list. During the US Open, there will be a live draft announcement on April 14 in Naples, FL.
Author Dr. Rommie Maxey
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