It is with great pleasure that New Zealand is opening player applications for the Pickleball World Cup 2024 taking place from October 22nd-28th 2024 in Lima, Peru. The competition will take place at the National Sports Village (VIDENA), located in the San Luis district, Lima, Peru.
New Zealand will be selecting one team (and only one team per country is allowed) in each of the below categories to represent New Zealand in this event.
Team one: Open (Open to all ages)
Team two: Senior (Ages 50 and over - as of October 21, 2024)
Team structure:
Teams require a minimum of four participants and a maximum of eight participants will be accepted,
excluding the Coordinator and the Coach. There must be at least two people per gender within the team members (two men and two women), regardless of the team size. Ideally New Zealand will travel with three females and three males (six players in total for each team), with one of each gender being used as a reserve player.
Match structure:
The competition takes place in a unique and fun format that includes men's doubles, women's doubles, mixed doubles and a Singles final battle in the event of a tie. Each game will be played using the Rally Scoring system at 15 or 21 points, where a difference of 2 points is needed to win. There is no freeze rule, meaning every point counts towards the score. Players will change ends when one of the teams reaches the score of 8 or 11 points, as previously agreed. In the event of a 2-2 tie after the gender doubles and mixed doubles matches, a Singles Final Battle will be held. This will consist of a 15 or 21 point game (win by a difference of 2 points), using the Rally Scoring system. Each Singles player will serve from the side based on their team's score. The Captain must present the line up list of their team, with 2 men and 2 women. During the Final Battle, each team will rotate their 4 players to play 3 singles rallies in a set order. Player 1 will play 3 rallies, then player 2, then player 3 and finally player 4. This rotation will repeat in the same order until the Final Battle is completed.
Format:
Group stage:
Each country will compete in a group stage where they will face all other teams in their group in a round-robin format. These matches will be played using the 15-point Rally Scoring system (win by a difference of 2 points). In case of a tie, a final battle will take place. However, if a team wins 3 games to 1 or 4 games to 0, the final battle will not be needed to be played.
Playoffs:
The two highest-ranked countries in each group will advance to the playoffs. These matches will be played using the 21-point Rally Scoring system, which you win by a difference of 2 points. Once a country wins three games, the match will automatically end.
Uniforms:
Each Country Team must provide their and wear identical uniforms that reflect their country and the country's name on the back. The entire team must be properly uniformed, that is, they must wear shorts, socks and similar accessories throughout the event. Additionally, it is recommended to bring warm-up team suits for the opening day. The team coordinator and Pickleball New Zealand Association will organise approved team uniforms. However, it will be at the cost of each player to purchase these kits. Sponsorship will be sought for these actively, but no guarantees.
Few things to note:
1) DUPR restriction:
Players must have a maximum rating of 5.49, both in singles and doubles categories,
according to the Dynamic Universal Pickleball Rating (DUPR). Players not registered in DUPR may participate without the need to undergo a specific rating evaluation. A player's DUPR verification date is August 22nd, 2024. If a player registers with a rating of 5.35 in DUPR, but by August 22nd, 2024 their rating increases to more than 5.49, they will no longer be eligible to participate in the competition.
2) Costs:
The Pickleball World Cup team registration fees ($350 USD per team) will be kindly funded by the Pickleball New Zealand Association. However, please note that this will be the only guaranteed funding. Meaning all flights, accommodation, travel, food and events (non World Cup related) may be at the cost of each player/representative if no further grants, funding or sponsorship is to eventuate. In a simple cost analysis, you would be looking at spending a minimum of around $5000 NZD per player to participate in this event based on the below lowest cost options researched as of April, 2024.
Lowest costs found (NZD):
Return flights: $3250 (approx)
Accommodation (on site option): $250 (approx)
Non World Cup Event registration: $100 (approx)
Food: $300 (approx)
Uniform: $250 (approx)
Transport to/from Airport and venue in Peru: $150 (approx)
*All the above mentioned costs are to be organised and paid by each player directly. Confirmation of flights, accommodation (if seperate to the on site option) and transport arrangements will be requested by the Team Coordinator a couple of weeks following team selection.
3) On-site accommodation option:
NATIONAL SPORTS VILLAGE ACCOMODATION – VIDENA
- It is located inside the venue where the Pickleball World Cup will be held.
- The rooms are only available for the delegations on a first come, first serve basis.
- Booking the rooms is only available on the Pickleball World Cup website by the Team Coordinator.
- Each room will cost USD 60.00 per day, and is available up to 4 members of each delegation.
- Each delegation will have the option to book up to 2 rooms.
- Rooms will be available from Monday 21st to 28th October, 2024.
- The check-in time will be at 2:00 p.m. and the check-out time will be at 12:00 pm.
Note: Each country/player is free to choose accommodation elsewhere.
4) Player eligibility:
To be eligible to represent New Zealand in the Pickleball World Cup 2024, players must;
- All players wishing to be considered for tournament representation are to compete in Pickleball
tournaments in New Zealand.
- Have returned a completed PNZA Player Nomination and Declaration Agreement within two
weeks of notification for tournament representation (this will be emailed out once teams have been selected).
- Be a financial / affiliated member of PNZA or one of its affiliates.
- Be a New Zealand citizen and hold a current a New Zealand passport.
- Have demonstrated to the satisfaction of PNZA that they are not suffering any physical or
psychological impairment that would prevent them from competing to the highest standard.
- Have no pending criminal charges or convictions.
- Have not acted in a manner so as to bring a Player, the sport or PNZA into public disrepute.
- Accept and adhere to Sport NZ’s anti-doping regulations.
* A Player may appeal to the nominated 'Team Coordinator' and PNZA board, in writing, against their non-selection as long as the player meets the eligibility/selection criteria.
** Follow this link to sign up as a financial/affiliated member of PNZA -
https://www.pnza.org.nz/membership-join/
5) Trials:
The Team Coordinator and PNZA board member representative will offer an optional one day 'trial' for applicants who wish to meet and showcase what they have to offer in person rather than just apply. This will also be a chance to network with potential team members, meet the team organising this event, and of course ask any questions. The trials are open to everyone applying and will be held at the Albany Tennis Park on Saturday 1st June, 2024 from 2.30pm-6pm.
6) Timeframes for team(s) selection:
- Applications open from April 2024 and will close on May 24th, 2024. Last video applications (if applicants wish to submit one) need to be submitted by May 27th, 2024.
- Successful/unsuccessful applications for the shortlist will be notified via email on June 2nd, 2024.
- 15 minute interviews with the short listed applicants will begin on June 3rd, 2024 through until June 7th, 2024.
- Teams will be announced on June 14th, 2024.
7) Additional event prior to the Pickleball World Cup:
There is a seperate tournament being run from Wednesday to Friday with your standard Singles, Gender Doubles and Mixed Doubles. This is not part of the Pickleball World Cup (and you don't represent your country in these events) however it will be a great way to maximise the opportunity of playing great pickleball against other players from other countries. It is encouraged that all players selected for the Pickleball World Cup team, take part in this event as additional training with your team mates. It will also be held at the same venue as the Pickleball World Cup so a chance to get a feel for the surface, conditions, weather, lighting, tournament ball etc. Link to this event can be found here :
https://pickleballbrackets.com/ptd.aspx?eid=2e6c8812-a002-4f38-b280-fcef63d32c0f
7) Contacts for Team New Zealand: Pickleball World Cup 2024:
Team Coordinator (for both Open and 50+ teams):
Matt Carter
022 302 7886
nzpickleball@gmail.com
PNZA board member representative:
Ange Brady
021 082 41835
ange.brady@pnza.org.nz
8) Videos:
If you wish to submit a video to support your player application, please submit via the below links. Videos should be no longer than 3 minutes. You can include what you like, but some ideas for topics/questions covered could include;
- How you started your pickleball journey?
- What you like most about pickleball?
- What your team mates would say about you as a partner/team member?
- How often you currently train and play?
- What representing New Zealand would mean to you?
- What you feel you can bring to the team better than anyone else?
- What side of the court you play on and/or what style/strategy of play you enjoy most?
- Add any footage of you playing in a variety of scenarios (offensive, defensive, patient, attacking, resetting etc)
All the best everyone, we will be in touch on your application outcome on June 2nd, 2024.
