Video International Pickleball Tournament 2016

POSTED: July 2016

I created a video capturing the fun weekend at the second International Pickleball Tournament in Amsterdam, The Netherlands. It features many great plays and enjoyable photos/videso, all condensed into 6 minutes. At the end of the video, there are some funny moments, including one where I accidentally hit my partner, Kyle Yates!

Players from around the world participated and had a fantastic time! I had the opportunity to reconnect with several competitors from the year prior, FIRST International Tournament in Madrid, Spain, held in September 2015. For many of us, it felt like a pickleball reunion. 

Before the tournament, several free clinics were held, taught by Kyle Yates, Jennifer Lucore, Seymore Rifkind, and Gigi LeMaster. These clinics were a tremendous success and provided a great opportunity to interact with players who are making a mark in the pickleball community around the globe. Tournament directors Bernadette Snijders Blok and Carine Thesingh, along with their team of volunteer students, did an amazing job. They noted that the clinics were a wonderful boost for pickleball in the Netherlands and across Europe. 

Video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fvj2z-dUY8

2016 Pickleball International Tournament Fun Facts:

• 14 countries where playing (and 1 more visiting: Hungary)
• The youngest participant was 16 and the eldest 84
• Number of players from each country: Belgium: 2, Ukraine: 1, Finland: 6, India: 1, Spain: 7, France: 8, Sweden: 1, Czech Republic: 2, USA: 10, Wales: 9, Scotland: 4, England: 15, Canada: 2, United Kingdom= not specified if it is Wales, England or Scotland: 34, The Netherlands: 40.
• Over two days, 450 games were played on 12 indoor courts
• Every skill level team played at least 6 games per day (round robin/pool play)
• And Saturday night, there was a festive dinner for 125 people at the sports venue

More information about the 2016 International Pickleball Tournament can be found HERE!