2024 Pickleball Tournament

The Connecticut Sports Management Group Presents the 2024 Connecticut Masters Pickleball Tournament.

• Age groups are 5 year divisions from age 50 and up only. No events for younger age groups.
• Fri., May 17th - Men's Doubles and Women's Singles
• Sat., May 18th - Mixed Doubles
• Sun., May 19th  - Women's Doubles and Men's Singles
• Tournament Director: Janice Pauly
• Age is calculated as of 12/31/2024.
• Registration is by Age. Players will be assigned to skill levels based on their rating as of the date that registration closes.

Division Definitions:

• A team must play at the skill level of the higher rated player.
• The Senior PickleballBrackets.com rating will be used.
• For new players with no rating, the PickleballBrackets.com self rating will be used.
• Players who have official USA Pickleball UTPR ratings but NO PickleballBrackets.com rating, MUST self rate using their USA Pickleball rating.
• All ratings will be verified prior to assignment to Divisions.
• THE TOURNAMENT DIRECTORS RESERVE THE RIGHT TO MOVE PLAYERS AND TEAMS TO APPROPRIATE DIVISIONS
• Competition each day will begin at 8:00 AM. Specific start times for each event will be posted and emailed to players approximately one week prior to the event.
• The tournament format is round robin for events with a small number of teams. Games will be either to 11 or 15.
• For events with a large number of teams, there will be two or more seeded pools and the top two teams in each pool will advance to a playoff round to determine medal winners. Games will be either to 11 or 15.
• When age/skill groups are combined to create a playing bracket, medals will be awarded by the COMBINED age/skill group.

For a guaranteed spot in the tournament in doubles or mixed doubles, the second partner must register within three days of the first partner's registration. Teams that are incomplete after THREE days will be moved to the waiting list. Once the second partner registers, the team will be entered into the event IF THERE IS STILL ROOM IN THE EVENT AND THE TOURNAMENT.

Players may sign up on the waiting list at no charge for any closed event, however, openings in an event will only be filled by complete teams in doubles and mixed doubles. Both partners must be signed up on the waiting list as a team in order to fill an event opening.

• The registration fee is $60 for one event, $15 for each additional mixed doubles or doubles events and $25 for additional singles events.

Additional Information

• There is a maximum capacity of 400 players for the tournament. Registration will automatically close when that number is reached.

Refund Policy

• No refunds for withdrawals from an event or for failure to secure a partner.
• Refunds minus a $10 processing fee for withdrawals from the tournament up until registration is closed either due to reaching tournament capacity or the registration deadline date, whichever comes first.
• Refunds will be issued after the conclusion of the tournament.
• No refunds for withdrawals from the tournament after registration closes.

How to Prevent Sports-Related Injuries

• What areas of the body are the most common for injuries? What kinds of injuries usually occur in these areas? 
  • The most common body parts for injuries will depend on the age groups and activity levels. But overall, in no particular order, in the orthopedic and musculoskeletal field we see a lot of shoulder, hip and knee injuries.  In the shoulder the injuries could be a rotator cuff tear or strain, shoulder instability and sprains of the AC joint or the acromioclavicular joint.  The hip’s common injuries are hip flexor tendonopathies or strains, gluteus medius syndrome and femoral acetabular impingements or labral pathologies. The knee we have seen a 200% rise in ACL injuries in competitive sports, but we also see a lot of patellofemoral pain syndromes, meniscal tears, and quadriceps/patella tendonopathies and overuse injuries. 
• How do treatments vary for these specific areas?
  • The orthopedic and physical therapists work together to address these common injuries.  When the orthopedic physician initially looks at these injuries, they use tests and imaging to address whether the treatment can be non-surgical in nature or would be best served with surgery.  Even in the course of surgery, pre-hab, or preparing the body part by improving range of motion, strength and flexibility, is often recommended.  If the team decides that the injury would best be served non-surgically, a collaborative, individualized approach will be discussed with the physical or occupational therapist.  We work to get you better based off of what is the best evidence in research but also based off of what your individual goals may be. 
• Are there ways to prevent such injuries?
  • There are ways to prevent injuries.  We utilize screens and tests that can identify movement patterns and body parts that may be at risk of an injury.  Once we identify these patterns, we then can work with you on a strength and conditioning program and/or a mobility program to improve those movements.  

For more information about how to stay healthy and in the game, please visit Hartford HealthCare Sports Health at www.mysportshealth.org