Pickleball Slam registration to end March 9

Event to be conducted at Englewood and Sarasota locations

Pickleball has become a very popular activity in Sarasota County. Photo courtesy Sarasota County

The Sarasota County Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Department is accepting registrations for its seventh annual Pickleball Slam, which will be held from March 27 through March 29 at locations in Englewood and Sarasota, the county has announced.

The event will “accommodate players with 3.5 skill levels and above,” a news release says.

Registration forms are available at Arlington Park and the Englewood Sports Complex or by phone, the release notes. Registration will close on Friday, March 9.

Competitions will be held on the outdoor courts at the Englewood Sports Complex, located at 1300 S. River Road, and on the indoor court at Arlington Park, which is located at 2650 Waldemere St. in Sarasota, the release notes.

The slam will be an open-play, double elimination tournament, following USA Pickleball Association (USAPA) rules, the release explains. Players may compete in up to two events: men’s (March 27), women’s (March 28) or the mixed doubles (March 29) divisions, the release says. The cost is $10 for each initial event and $5 for a second event, the release adds.

“Each division will be divided into two age brackets (if enough teams register) and will be based on average age of enrollees for that grouping,” the release explains. “T-shirts will be provided to all participants, and awards will be given to the top finishers,” the release notes.

For more information, call the county Contact Center at 861-5000 or visit www.scgov.net.