The IAPF will provide resources covering all aspects of running a facility with pickleball courts:

•Operational Metrics
•Facility Programming
•Marketing and Member Acquisition
•Technology, Software and Apps
•Facility Build-out and Maintenance
•Food & Beverage
•Pro Shops
•HR & Staffing
•Banking / Finance / Mergers and Acquisitions
•Insurance
•Legal and Intellectual Property
•Exit Strategies
 

Anyone running or working in a pickleball facility faces challenges and questions.  The IAPF provides resources to address them.  Here are some of the topics we plan on covering in articles, webinars, and at our annual conference:

  • How to determine the optimal mix of memberships, open play, and formal programming (clinics, coaching, leagues, tournaments)
  • How can we attract large tournaments to our facility?  Can they be profitable?
  • What are the key KPIs we should be tracking at our facility?
  • What membership model should we use, if any?
  • What amenities should we have in our facility?
  • How do we find the best products for our courts?
  • What is the best way to clean our courts?  How often?
  • What is the best court surface for our courts?
  • What software should we use to run our facility?
  • Should we add video replay technology?  Should we roll it into our membership or charge separately?
  • If we serve alcohol how do we protect ourselves legally?
  • How food and beverage can add to our bottom line?  Or not?
  • What about a self-serve bar?  Pros and Cons.
  • Should we be open 24/7?
  • We have outdoor courts - what about noise issues?
  • Scheduling solutions for municipal courts.  Do they work?
  • The most important hire my facility can make.
  • Incentivizing facility employees.
  • How to get the best results from our banking relationship.
  • Should we add another facility to our existing facility or facilities? 
  • Looking for opportunitistic acquisitions.
  • Balancing the tennis/pickleball tensions in our facility.
  • What are the three most important coverages we must have in our insurance?
  • What legal minefields should we be avoiding?
  • Trademark and IP issues.
  • I want to sell my facility.  What should I expect?
  • Court cameras on public courts - is it possible?
  • What is the magic number of courts for my facility?
  • Pickleball player demographics.
  • Compensation and benefrit numbers and guidelines.
  • What types of special events should I consider holding for my members?
  • Best marketing practices to sell memberships?
  • How to open a facility on time?
  • How to add pickleball to an existing tennis/golf/country club?
  • Best rules for public pickleball courts.
  • Should I hire a club pro?  Best candidates?
  • First aid must-haves for a pickleball facility.
  • What should I feature in my Pro Shop?
  • Alternatives to running our own Pro Shop?
  • How should we consider spectator seating when designing our facility?
  • Do we have anough parking?  Rest rooms?
  • Strategies to handle unexpected emergencies - like clogged toilets, power outages.
  • Negotiatiing a facility lease - what to do and not do.
  • Can I get my local government to help finance my facility?
  • Working with sports promotion agencies to promote my facility?
  • Case Studies - did you know the average Chicken N Pickle does over $15 million in revenue, hosts 2,500 events, and has 500,000-700,000 customer visits per year?
  • How to host pickleball tournaments at your facility.
  • How can I finance my first facility?  Additional facilities?
  • Sports tourism and how it can benefit my facility.
  • How do I choose facility management software?
  • Working with paddle and ball companies for sponsorship.
  • How to get local companies to be facility sponsors.
  • Are food trucks the answer for my facility?
  • How many private event spaces should my facility have?
  • What makes a pickleball facility "state-of-the-art?"

 

In addition to articles, case studies, and research results, the IAPF will host

  • Webinars packed with useful information, including the opportunity to ask your questions
  • Interest group areas on the web site to interact with others who share your challenges and solutions
  • Member directory
  • Regional meetups where we will visit facilities of interest and network with other facility owners and staff
  • Annual conference and tradshow packed with relevant content and networking opportunities
  • Supplier Directory
  • Supplier RFQ opportunities if you are looking for bids on court surfacing, noise abatement, facility furnishings and similar
  • A pickleball facilities Job Board

 

Become a Founding Member

The IAPF is a new association and we are just getting started!

Any new member before December 31, 2024 will be considered a Founding Member.  What to expect as a Founding Member:

 

  • Status as “Founding Member”

  • Bonus of extra membership months with expiration of Dec 31, 2025

  • Subscription to the Business of Pickleball for 12 months ($299 value)

  • Access to back issues of the Business of Pickleball

  • Copy of the 2024 Pickleball Player Profile survey (value of $199) - October 2024

  • Copy of the 2024 Global Pickleball Report (value of $499) - November 2024

  • Copy of the 2024 Pickleball Facilities Survey and Metrics Report - December 2024

  • Copy of the 2025 Pickleball Player Profile survey 

  • Copy of the 2025 Global Pickleball Report 

  • Copy of the 2025 Pickleball Facilities Survey and Metrics Report

  • Copy of the 2025 Pickleball Facilities Salary Survey

  • Copy of the 2025 Pickleball Facility Membership Model Report

  • Special Interest Groups with content and networking

  • Free Job Board Listings

  • Free RP/RFQ postings

  • Subscription to the bi-monthly Pickleball Facilities Magazine in 2025

  • Access to articles, guides, documents and case studies covering a wide range of topics

  • Access to live and archived webinars - Q4 2024 schedule

  • Access to Directory of Pickleball Facility Suppliers

  • Regional Meetups to tour pickleball facilities, network and explore topics with experts

    • Q1 2025 in South US

    • Q2 2025 in Midwest US

    • Q3 2025 in Western US

    • Q4 2025 in Eastern US

  • Conference and Trade Show in Q4 2025

 

 

To join, click a membership option below and then select the Organization Membership Application button and enter the requested information.

Membership is by facility.  You may have unlimited employees sign up under their facility During the application process you will have the ability to enter in those employees you would like to be members through your organization.  Employees can be added, modified, or removed at any time.

 

This is the membership for a single pickleball facility. Any employee of this facility can join under this organization at no charge. $499

This is the membership for pickleball Franchisor companies. Any employee of this company can join under this organization at no charge. Franchisees are not allowed to join under this membership type. $5,000

This is the membership for a single parks and recreation department. Any employee of this department can join under this organization at no charge. Normally $299, but through October 31 just $259!

This is the membership for a single pickleball facility located outside the US or Canada. Any employee of this facility can join under this organization at no charge. $299

This is the membership for suppliers who sell products or services to pickleball facilities. Any employee of this company can join under this organization at no charge. $1,999
Special launch pricing through October 15th of $999

 

If you have multiple facilities you would like to be members please reach out to us for details on discounts.  info@pickleballfacilities.org.