Nearly every American sport has an All-Star event.
The major sports leagues – NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL, and MLS – all have All-Star events.
All-Star events are fun for fans and with skills competitions and different gimmicks, they can be fun for players too. Additionally, adding a fan voting component on social media would only help with engagement.
With the PPA Tour off this week after a very hectic August, we thought it was a good time to throw out a concept for a PPA All-Star event in 2025.
When would it take place?
As for the timing, I see two feasible options:
- If the rumors are true that next year there will be a three-month break in the PPA schedule in the summer – to hold a separate MLP season – then either right before MLP starts or right after MLP wraps up
- At the Beer City Open right in the middle of the season
Who gets to participate?
Players in the top 32 in PPA Tour Race Points in each event (top 16 in mixed for each gender) are eligible to register.
Two spots open for fan voting and four spots for PPA wild card players. It is not mandatory for players to attend – they must opt out no less than two weeks prior.
In addition to the top players in each event, the top 20 newcomers would be invited. A newcomer would be considered a player who has played 12 PPA Tour events or less and has made a quarterfinal or better in the main draw of any event.
Where could this be held?
Beer City Open or somewhere indoors with the ability to livestream – minimum of 12 courts needed.
Competitions and Skills Challenges
Day 1 - Skills Challenge
- Fastest Serve: Separate competition between men and women – Use MLP serve rules and do it home run derby style with rounds – five attempts each person each round.
- Best Drop: Using a ball machine that feeds a ball every five seconds, see how many drops a player can make into targeted areas – use a target that is soft and that will collect the balls into it. Like a three-point shooting contest, have rounds as well. One minute per round.
- Hardest Overhead: Using a ball machine, feed five balls as slow lobs, landing just behind the kitchen line and let players smash overheads. Using a radar gun, determine the fastest overhead and do this in rounds.
- Quickest Mover: Like the NFL Combine – players are timed to move around cones on a court as quickly as they can. Two attempts allowed per player – fastest time wins. A men’s and women’s champion is crowned.
Erik Tice
Day 2 - Round Robin Games in Pods
Players will be allowed to rank which pod they want to be placed in, with priority given to players with more PPA Race Points. Each pod has 16 players.
In each pod, players will be divided into groups of four and players will play one game with each of the other players. Players will move on to the next round based on overall win percentage, then point differential. All games are rally scoring to 15, win by one.
Top eight move on to the second round, where the same thing happens. Then the top four move on to the championship in each pod.
- Pod 1: Wooden paddles - Every player plays with the same wooden paddle provided by the PPA
- Pod 2: Extended net posts - An extender is added to the net posts, extending the net one foot on each side (Zane’s idea)
- Pod 3: Off-hand only - All players play with their off hand - dominant hand is allowed to guide on backhand shots (two-handed backhands)
- Pod 4: Newcomers Pod - All new players who attend the event (12 events or less)
An All-Star event will definitely cost money to be done properly, but it could potentially be a fresh way to engage more casual professional pickleball fans. The players would probably really enjoy the experience and fan voting would drive engagement on social media.
Again, just one guy's opinion!
