TOURNAMENT FAQ
It's better to provide enough rather than too little information. Here's a list of answers to the most common questions you might have regarding the tournament. And if something vital is missing, please don't hesitate to ask, preferably before submitting your registration. We will update the list accordingly.
When will the Finland 2nd International Pickleball Tournament be held?
The Tournament will be held on June 9–11, 2017.
Where will the Finland 2nd International Pickleball Tournament be held?
The Tournament will be held in Espoo, in a city just next to our capital Helsinki. The indoor courts are located at Esport Center, in Tapiola Sports Park. The street address of the venue is Koivu-Mankkaantie 3, Tapiola, Espoo. See the map.
How do I get to the venue?
Our capital area has an excellent public transportation system. From Helsinki Airport there is a commuter train that takes you to Helsinki city center in less than 30 minutes. An Airport Bus is also available. The brand new western metro line from Helsinki City center is expected to be opened during spring 2017. There will be a station 100 metres from the venue. If the metro is not operating in June, there will be several bus lines both from Helsinki city center and around Espoo that stop within few hundred metres from the venue. More info: check out the How to get here page.
What is the playing venue like?
Esport Center is the largest indoor sports complex in the Nordic countries. For our tournament we can have up to 16 badminton courts (2x8) available in one big hall divided with a hanging curtain. The total number of courts used will be optimized and decided depending on the number of participants. Correct kitchen lines will be marked and lowered badminton nets will be used. The badminton net posts will stay in place. The floor is professional flexible indoor sports floor that is easy on your feet.
Spacious changing rooms with showers, saunas (of course in Finland!) and lockable lockers for personal items are available (coin deposit). There is also a Pro Shop where you can purchase apparel etc. you might need. In addition, a free wi-fi is available at Esport Center. The password can be obtained from the reception.
Are there lunch, snacks and drinks available at the venue?
Yes. Esport Café in the same building (see photos) serves soup and salad lunches on Saturday and Sunday until 3 pm. The price is 6,50–10 € per meal. We will do our best to organize the schedules so that every team has time to enjoy a quick proper lunch. Sandwiches, baquettes, energy and protein bars & drinks, candy, coffee, soda, etc. are also for sale at the café all day long throughout the tournament.
In the registration form we ask your tentative intention to buy the lunch (this helps the kitchen in their preparation). The lunch will be paid directly at the café.
Is tap water drinkable?
Yes. In Finland tap water is very, very clean and pure. So it’s safe to fill your water bottles from any tap. Remember to hydrate!
Have you arranged first aid service at the venue?
Esport Center has basic first aid kit available (band-aid, bandage, cold packs, etc.). We will also try to arrange a person on site with basic first-aid skills. For more severe injuries, there is a ambulance on call at a nearby Fire station just 2 minutes from the venue. For emergencies, one of the largest hospitals in Finland is located in Espoo less than 15 minutes away. To avoid injuries, please warm up properly before the games and remember to hydrate throughout the days.
Will all the players be insured by the organizer of the tournament?
No. Every participant must take care of their own insurance for travel and injuries. Before submitting the online registration form it is also mandatory for everyone to accept the Release, Permission and Indemnity Agreement Waiver.
Will there be parking near the venue?
There is lots of free parking space available right in front of Esport Center and elsewhere in Tapiola Sports Park area.
What kind of city is Espoo?
Espoo is Finland’s 2nd biggest city and it is located on the south coast, just west from Helsinki, our capital. The nature is very close everywhere in Espoo and scenery changes from 58 kms of coastline with 165 islands in south to wild wilderness and Finland’s southernmost National Park (“Nuuksio”) up north. Espoo has 5 bigger district centers with ca 50,000 inhabitants in each. Tapiola, closest to our venue “Esport Center” is one of them.
Have you arranged accommodation for tournament participants?
Yes. We have made a deal with special prices with one hotel close to the venue. Please read more about accommodation.
Where are the players to this tournament coming from?
We are welcoming players from all countries where pickleball is played! The tournament director may have to limit the total number of participants at some point so send in your registration early!
Which ball will be used in the tournament?
The Jugs indoor pickleball will be used.
What is the tournament format going to be?
The tournament categories are based on skill level (official or self-estimated). The Tournament Director reserves the right to modify divisions and tournament format based on number of participants to have relatively even number of players and the ensure players maximum amount of games. Groups may be combined or cancelled if insufficient entries, or added if needed. Even the tournament format may be changed from skill-based to age-based if necessary. More details of the format will be available latest after the registration deadline.
What events will be included in the tournament?
Events include Women’s Doubles, Men’s Doubles and Mixed Doubles.
Will this be a sanctioned tournament?
International Federation of Pickleball (IFP) official rules will apply. Official rules can be found at www.ipickleball.org. Note: this is a non-sanctioned tournament. Although we play for medals, we also play to have fun and meet fellow pickleballers from other countries.
How many games am I guaranteed to play?
Participants are guaranteed a minimum of 4 games.
If this is not a skill level tournament, why is my skill level requested?
Your skill level will be used to place you in your age pool to attempt to achieve a fair balance of higher- and lower-level teams in each pool.
How do I determine my rating or skill level?
Go to the International Federation of Pickleball (IFP) IFP Player Ratings Descriptions. Skill levels are determined by the skill level specified on your registration form. You can either use your official skill level or if you don't have one, give your self-estimated level.
What determines my age?
Your age as of June 9, 2017.
What determines the skill level bracket of the team?
The tournament is skill-based and the higher level of the team is used to select the skill group. For example, a team with a 3.0 player and a 4.5 player will be placed in a group according to which the 4.5 level player should belong.
For doubles events, what determines the age bracket of the team?
If the tournament is changed back to age-based, the younger age is used to select the age group. At the time of registration, a team may select to play in an age group younger than the team’s youngest player. For example, a team of 63 year-old players may choose play in any age group below the age of 60. This will be allowed at the time of registration only.
How many players will be allowed in each division?
Player limits are at the discretion of the tournament director. It all depends on how many players will register to the tournament.
What is the tournament schedule going to be?
On Friday evening, June 9th there will be free warm-up play, a referee session, and an exhibition match plus technique clinics by the ProLite pros. Men’s and Women’s Doubles will be played on Saturday, June 10th, and Mixed Doubles will be played on Sunday, June 11th, 2017. More detailed schedule will be announced before the tournament. Please see the Tournament in brief page for more information.
Why must I check-in each day I play?
You must check-in each play day so we know that all the players have arrived and ensure tournament registration is in order. Players will not be allowed to play if any part of their registration is incomplete or their event fees have not been paid.
Will the results be live on the Internet?
Yes. After the tournament we will post the medal winners of each event & category at least on Pickleball Finland’s Facebook page and on our website www.pickleballfinland.fi.
When will the participant list be published?
Lists of participants for each event will be announced as soon as possible after the registration has closed.
When are the pools for play going to be posted?
Pools will be announced for each Event on the morning of play for that event. Due to last minute team or player withdrawals, the pools may change right up to the morning of play. To avoid confusion, the pools will be announced only when they are set for that day’s event.
When does registration open?
Registration was opened on Friday, November 4th, 2016.
When does registration close?
Registration Deadline is 11:59 pm EET, May 19, 2017. Additional registrations will generally not be accepted after the deadline on May 19th. In case there still are players without a partner, the tournament director can make an exception to have full teams. The sooner you register, the better for all.
How do I pay my registration and event fees?
The payment method is bank transfer to the organizer’s bank account. After registration you will receive an email with the fees and bank account number. All fees will be in euros (€). Fees are due immediately, so please register only when you are also ready to pay the fees. For identifying, please submit your name and given reference number with the payment. Players who submit a registration but do not make the payment are NOT registered. No registration will be processed until payment is received.
For foreign payments within EU, please make sure that the transaction is made as a SEPA payment (Single Euro Payment Area), in which the payer and the receiver are not charged any extra. Please note that Pickleball Finland expects to receive the full amount for the fees a player has chosen. For payment outside EU contact us first and let's try to find the best way to pay together. You might want to try Xoom (a service provided by PayPal), which is fast and reliable and only charges 4–5 US dollars fee from the payer. Also Pingit app has proved to work well at least for payments from the UK.
After the registration deadline on May 19, 2017, can I add an event, order the tournament T-shirt or sign up for the tournament dinners?
This will be up to the tournament director. All practicalities such as printing the tournament t-shirts and confirming the number of people participating the tournament dinner have to be made well in advance. Therefore we cannot guarantee that changes are possible after the deadline. But you can always ask!
The tournament t-shirt I ordered is too big/small for me. Can I change the size?
Unfortunately not. The shirts are made to order in advance, so we don’t have extras. But you can of course always ask other players to swap shirts with you. If you are uncertain about the size, please ask us.
After the final registration deadline of May 19, 2017, can I change my partner?
In some instances, yes; such as a partner illness or injury. The substitution can only be made with a player already registered in the tournament and if she/he is still without a partner. Otherwise this procedure may result a lot of extra work and series of changes in teams and pools. Note: if you want to change your partner, please always consult first the Tournament Director by sending us an email.
If I am playing in Men’s Doubles or Women’s Doubles, am I also allowed to participate in Mixed Doubles?
Yes, of course. You are more than welcome to play in two events.
Who is eligible to play in this tournament?
Any player who is at least 15 years old may participate. Players under 18 must have their parents’ permission to participate and be under their supervision.
When I registered I listed my partner. Is he/she registered also?
No. Every player must submit his/her own registration. Only those individuals who have submitted their own registrations by May 19, 2017 and paid registration and event fees will be considered registered.
What if I want to register for an event, but I don’t have a partner?
When filling in the online registration from, mark ALL the events you would like to participate in (even though you wouldn't have a partner in them yet), plus simply indicate that you need a partner for certain event(s). Unfortunately we cannot guarantee that there will be a partner for every player. The tournament director reserves the right to decide who will be matched with whom.
In case you don't already have a set partner, you can register and put yourself on a partner waiting list. We will try to find you one. However, we strongly recommend that you try to find one yourself by using the Tournament Players' Facebook Group. This would save us a lot of time and effort. NOTE: Please send us an email immediately if/when you have found a partner.
What if my partner gets injured during the tournament; can I get another partner for my other event?
You can only get a partner from those already registered in the tournament. You cannot substitute another player once the event starts. If you or your partner can’t play, please inform us at the Venue. We can then possibly find a replacement for you or your partner and at least we know the withdrawing player will not be showing up the day of the event. All changes after the registration deadline are subject to approval.
If I have to cancel my registration and withdraw from the tournament, can I get a refund?
Yes, as long as your refund request is emailed to pickleballtournament.finland@gmail.com and received by May 26, 2017 11:59 PM EET. Players will receive a refund equal to the registration, events and tournament dinner (but not the optional tournament t-shirt), less a 15 € processing fee plus optional bank transaction charges. Cancellations sent after May 26, 2017 will not qualify for a refund.
What if I have registered and paid all fees but eventually a partner cannot be found for me. Can I get a refund?
Yes, as long as your refund request is emailed to pickleballtournament.finland@gmail.com and received by May 26, 2017 11:59 PM EET. Players will receive a refund equal to the registration, events and tournament dinner (but not the optional tournament t-shirt), less a 15 € processing fee plus optional bank charges. If you have registered to two events but you only cancel one of them (and participate in the other) due to no partner found, the 10 € fee will be returned (no processing fee charged). All cancellations sent after May 26, 2017 will not qualify for a refund. Please be in contact with us well in advance before May 26th to check if we have found a partner for you. If you find a partner yourself, please inform us immediately.
When will I receive a confirmation of entry?
Once you have registered online and paid the fees we will send you a payment request with all the events and selected fees entered. It is your responsibility to correct any errors or omissions before paying the fees. After the payment has been received we will send you a confirmation. If necessary, email us at pickleballtournament.finland@gmail.com.
NOTE: Information in this FAQ may be updated and is subject to changes.
