Premier Pickleball League – Season 1 April, 2024
The Premier Pickleball League is the first league of its kind in the UK. It was founded in 2023 by Ed Hares, Emily Jelly, Louis Laville, Freddie Powell and Mollie Knaggs to give the top pickleball players in the country more opportunities to regularly compete against each other. The format of the league sees 6 teams of 6 players battling it out across 6 weekends throughout the year to see who comes out on top to win the coveted Evelina trophy. Each team plays each of the other teams twice across the season with each tie being comprised of 1 men’s singles, 1 women’s singles, 1 men’s doubles, 1 women’s doubles and 2 mixed doubles matches. The team that finishes top of the table after playing all their ties is crowned the in-season champion and then an overall champion is crowned after a finals weekend is played out. Seedings for finals weekend are done based on final standings after all in season matches are completed and then a straight knockout draw is played.
I was privileged to captain a team in Season 1 made up of Pep Guiliano (vice / co-captain), Bernie Audibert, Emerson Gregory, Emma Wrixon and Suzanne Rouse. Our team sponsor was The Pickleball Store, owned by Lloyd Attrill. The teams were decided through a snake draft with each captain taking turns to pick their players. I was incredibly happy with my picks and excited to be part of a team of incredible people and players. I was very excited to help the players on my team develop using things I had learnt in my pickleball journey thus far, as well as learn from them about how to be a good captain and have a lot of fun out on court together.
After many close matches and battles throughout the season our team ended up being crowned the in-season champions. I loved everything about Season 1 –
The concept was an incredible way to get more regular opportunities to see our fellow pickleball players / friends from across the country and really helped to further cement the camaraderie and friendships within our pickleball community.
It gave players the opportunity to compete with and against the top players more regularly.
It helped create more motivation for players to practice and improve to do well for their team.
It gave the captains experience in how to lead and coach a team.
It helped continue to put pickleball in the UK on the map and show how we are constantly evolving and improving as a pickleball nation.
It brought players of all ages together.
It gave players who weren’t picked / didn’t enter the draft for Season 1 a goal and something to aim for in being selected for Season 2.
It gave brands within the pickleball space an opportunity to sponsor a team and promote their products.
Because our team finished top of the table after all the in-season matches were completed, we went into the finals weekend as the number 1 seed. After winning our quarter final match, we went down in a dreambreaker in the semi-finals, to the eventual champions RAQT led by James Chaudry. We bounced back to win the 3rd / 4th playoff and finish 3rd overall. My main goal for Season 1 was that the players on my team all improved across the season and were better players at the end of the season than they were at the start of the season. I felt as a team we achieved this and I can’t commend them enough for how much they supported each other and pulled together in tough situations. I was so proud of our team spirit and overall performance. We were very lucky to have Lloyd and The Pickleball Store as our team sponsor. Lloyd attended every weekend, creating amazing content and brought such a fun and positive attitude to everything he was a part of.
After an incredibly successful Season 1, the PPL team have great things planned for Season 2. The league will grow to include Masters (50+) and Challenger divisions to give more players the chance to be a part of the league. The aim is that alongside the matches there is also a festival that runs at each of the 6 weekends. Players of any ability will be able to sign up and enjoy rec play throughout the day. There will also be opportunities to sign up for coaching clinics delivered by some of the top players within the league. I can’t wait to be a part of Season 2! Keep up to date with all the Premier League Pickleball news and results at their website Franklin Premier Pickleball League
