How did we get here, part the third.


Usually the 2nd sequel is less than stellar, I won't disappoint on this front...

 

Straight back in to the action... Running a tournament...

Ouch.. didn't quite know what I got myself in for... I thought: just put it on pickleheads, if you build it they will come...

And then.... Floodgates didn't open... I asked around, verbally, checked with people at Friday night pickleball etc... but only a trickle of people interesetd... so I needed to do more.

 

I reintroduce myself to Facebook, joined various Pickelball Groups (e.g. Pickleball England), and used Canva (and it's AI) to generate a Poster for the tournament - called it the Two2 tournament (on 2nd Feb)  and started posting on Facebook in groups, etc.. not just about the tourney, but about sessions we were having. Meanwhile I managed to get myself invited to a tryout session at Surrey Downs Pickleball Club (because I posted an ad for the tourney there) - went along, and held my own enough to get asked back.

Started sharing Bit.ly links to both the tournament and evening sessions, and created a landing page on bit.ly for the group (this all around early December 2024). Then bought the domain redhillpickleball.co.uk, and pointed it at the bit.ly landing page.
 
Shortly after this the entrylist starts filling up, continuing to post to FB starts to pay dividends, and not long after all places are taken and the waitlist begins to be used. 

I didn't use Pickleheads to take payment at this stage - trusted people to pay when asked - got all players to pay a £5 deposit by bank transfer and finalise payment nearer to the date. All worked OK. Then the day of the tournament arrived....
 

 

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