In a tournament, your biggest opponent isn’t the person across the net—it’s the voice in your head. When you miss an easy dink or get a bad line call, your “Flight or Fight” response kicks in, causing you to rush and make more errors. The secret to winning isn’t hitting better shots; it’s slowing your heart rate down. You must have a Physical Reset Routine between every single point.
It was my first pickleball match with a professional referee officiating. And I found myself unusually nervous.
The kitchen turned into a fiery cauldron; I became hyperaware of my surroundings.
Not only did it freak me out that someone was watching the match, but I didn’t know what to expect. The referee, who was super nice, explained that part of the gig entails calling the score before each serve. A minor detail, yet one more thing to think about during the tournament final.
The match got underway, and the first rally ended abruptly when my assigned partner was called for a kitchen violation.
“KITCHEN!”
There’s that ref again!
Drew Pierce is a USA Pickleball Ambassador, PPR certified coach, and tennis crossover who covers beginner tips, paddle releases, and the sport’s growing culture. Read more on his About page or tune into Pickle Rock Radio.