In this episode of The Dink Tank, we speak with Kevin Turain, Treasurer of the Middletown Pickleball Association (MPA), about the remarkable growth of their organization from humble beginnings to a thriving community with 27 courts and 600+ members. Kevin shares insights on tournament organization, ladder leagues, beginner programming, and the social dynamics that make pickleball so addictive.

Key Topics Covered

[00:01:30] Kevin's pickleball origin story and how his wife Ike introduced him to the sport
[00:04:15] The history of MPA - from Stanley and Marsha Volkins' DIY courts to 27 professional courts
[00:07:45] MPA's unique partnership with the city of Middletown for court maintenance and programming
[00:09:30] The "Learn to Play" program - free beginner lessons with 10 different skills stations
[00:12:40] Tournament organization - managing 400-450 players in a single day
[00:15:20] The different ladder league formats (novice, intermediate, advanced, women's, seniors)
[00:18:45] How DUPR rating integration works with league play for accurate skill matching
[00:22:10] Court access, the webcam system, and 24/7 playing opportunities
[00:24:35] MPA membership benefits ($75 annually) and discounted equipment
[00:27:50] Tournament advice for beginners and understanding rating systems
[00:30:15] Breaking through skill plateaus with professional instruction
[00:33:40] The psychology of pickleball's addictive nature and social dynamics
[00:36:20] Traveling and finding pickleball courts anywhere with the Pickle Play app

Notable Quotes

"The courts are lit until 11 p.m., and our lights turn on at 5 a.m... so if the weather's right, you can go out and play." - Kevin Turain on MPA's accessibility

"I found that I'd get better, feel good about some skills, and then plateau. The only way I was able to get out of that plateau was to get some lessons from a professional instructor." - Kevin Turain on skill development

"Most games last less than 15 minutes. You have a relationship with three other people for 15 minutes... Usually in that time, you decide 'I'd like to play with them again' or 'I wouldn't like to play with them again.'" - Kevin Turain on pickleball's social dynamics

Resources Mentioned

Middletown Pickleball Association: MiddletownPickleball.com
Pickle Play app for finding courts nationwide
DUPR rating system for accurate skill assessment
Pickleball Central for discounted equipment (available through MPA membership)
Professional instructors mentioned: Todd Jungling (Pickleball Max) and Cammie Stoner

Connect With Us

Email questions: bpwoodall@yahoo.com

Sponsors

Cedar Bay Farm

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#Pickleball #PickleballCommunity #PickleballTournaments #TheDinkTank #PickleballLeagues #DUPR #LearnToPlayPickleball

Court Side with Kevin: The Story of Middletown Pickleball Association

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