NORTHAMPTON — The city’s first pickleball tournament will be hosted on Oct. 25 and 26 at the new Ellerbrook Field Pickleball Courts in the initial Northampton Fall Pickleball Tournament.
The Friends of Northampton Pickleball and Northampton Parks & Recreation are inviting the public for a weekend of fun, competition and community.
Nine divisions are available to play in for adults 18 years and older, including Intermediate and Advanced play, New-to-Paddle divisions for beginners, Adaptive (Wheelchair 1-up/1-down), Mixed Doubles and Men’s Singles.
“We wanted to put on an event that was kind of a celebration of the new courts and the pickleball community of Northampton, and also as a thank you to all the neighboring towns that have been hosting a lot of our players over the years,” explained Friends of Northampton Pickleball Mike Bezsnyak. “We had space in Look Park, but we’ve also had plenty of players playing all over in Greenfield, Deerfield, South Hadley, Easthampton, Southampton, Westfield, like everywhere.”
The Friends of Northampton Pickleball have said whether you are new to pickleball or a seasoned competitor, this tournament is the perfect chance to test your skills, meet new players and celebrate the city’s investment in its vibrant pickleball community.
On Saturday, Oct. 25, the tournament will feature Intermediate, Advanced and Adaptive brackets from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., while Sunday, Oct. 26 concludes with Mixed Doubles, Singles showdowns from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. A special communitywide End-of-Season Party open to everyone will close out Saturday’s schedule of matchups.
The tournament is being cosponsored with the Parks & Rec Department.
“It’s to bring people together at the end of this season. Have some fun, get some play in,” added Brezsnyak. “We wanted to set it up so that it would reach people at all different levels of play.”
Registration closed on Oct. 19, or when a division filled. Interested participants can add themselves to a no-fee waitlist in the meantime in case an opening comes up before the tournament. Registration fees vary by division. To register for the waitlist, visit northamptonma.gov/2723/Adult-Pickleball-Tournament.
Money raised from the event will go toward the courts, specifically toward shading and seating around the courts.
“All the work that we’re doing on the courts is in tandem, as we’ve had a great working relationship with the city,” he added.
Brezsnyak said since the court’s opening in July there has been a great response from the public and the courts are often being utilized by players in Northampton and surrounding communities. He added people have also been loving the try pickleball sessions available twice a week where new players are given court time to learn the game.
The courts have a weekly schedule set with time slots open for open play, adaptive sessions, drills, try sessions and ladders play or special events. For more information on the courts and its weekly schedule, visit northamptonma.gov/2481/Pickleball-Courts-Information.
“A lot of evenings you go there, all six courts are filled and it’s a mishmash of families like a dad and his three kids, or the high school soccer team, or a bunch of regulars of the local pickleball scene,” added Brezsnyak. “The pickleball community in Northampton has been really solid for a while. Folks have looked forward to having a space that was dedicated to pickleball and it’s a great way to bring our pickleball community together, but also bring new folks in.”
Brezsnyak added it’s been a blast to see newcomers stop by and start to become acclimated with the game. He added overall the first season of the Ellerbrook’s pickleball courts has been a success and he and the Friends of Northampton Pickleball, along with the city, hope to continue its growth for the years to come.
“It ends up being a very friendly scene and it’s a really fun and new addition to the recreation scene in Northampton,” said Brezsnyak. “Right now is like a time where people are busy, people have a lot going on, there’s a lot going on in the world, and it’s nice for people to have an outlet. I hear so many folks who are into pickleball saying this is kind of an anchor, or their time [playing] is just relaxing or a release, and brings joy during the week, and that’s great. It’s important that we have that.”
