About the TOURNAMENT & EVENT

Which division should I sign up for? 
Pickleball 101 - Beginners of all ages welcome! No prior experience necessary. A fun way to learn about and play pickleball in a safe, non-judgmental environment. 

Intermediate Social - You may want to sign up for this division if:

• You have played before and you enjoy the game, or maybe you've taken some lessons and you're ready to test your skills in a match.
• You can return a serve and keep a rally going. 
• At least one player on your team knows how to keep score and remembers whose turn it is to serve and on which side.
• You are at least 8 years old
• Your main objective is for everyone to have fun!

Intermediate Plus - You may want to sign up for this division if:

• You like to have fun, but you take your pickleball game a little more seriously.
• You have a self-assessed DUPR rating of 3.5 or above.
• You know Erne and Bert (and we are not talking about the Sesame Street characters!)
• You take being called "competitive" as a compliment.
• You're a banger who can hit body bag shots (but you promise not to at this family-friendly charity event!).   

Can kids play?
Yes, kids of all ages are welcome to participate in the Pickleball 101 beginner clinic. And kids age 8 and above are welcome to play in the tournament in either division. Parents are not required to participate WITH their child in the clinic or tournament and may attend as a spectator, but we do ask that adults supervise their children. Children may not be dropped off without adult supersivion.    

Can I play on a team with my kid?
Yes, kids age 8 and above can play in the tournament in either division. Kids can form their own doubles teams or kids may play with an adult. That's one of the great things about pickleball - age does not really play a role in how good you might be! We will do our best to create fair matchups, but final assignments will depend on the pool of registered players.

What if I've never played before?
Pickleball 101 is for you. Beginners of all ages welcome! No prior experience necessary! 

Do I need to bring my own paddle?
You are welcome to bring your own, but Chipshot does have paddles and balls available for use at no cost to you. (It's included in your registration at all play levels.) 

What do we win?
A cool trophy, but most importantly bragging rights

What is there to do if I'm not playing pickleball?
All attendees will have access to all the amenties at Chipshot, including ping pong tables, basketball hoops, shuffleboard, yard games, arcade games, and premium golf simulators. Plus, a yummy lunch catered by Strings Brewery.   

I can't be there the whole time, can I still play in the tournament?
The match schedules may vary depending on the length of each match, so we can't guarantee individual start and end times. It's no fun to win by forfeit, so please come and stay for the whole day to ensure all teams get to play their assigned matches. Plus, you'll want to stick around for the raffle prizes! If you can't stay the whole time, we'd love to have you join us as a spectator or in Pickleball 101. 
 

About FUNDRAISING

Do we have to fundraise?
No, fundraising is optional. We would love your help in raising awareness about what CIS does in our community, but fundraising is not required to participate. (But we have a hunch your family and friends would love to support you!) 

Where will the money go?
All proceeds from the Paddles for Tassels event will go to support more than 5,000 local students through Communities In Schools' case management, literacy tutoring, afterschool, summer camp, workforce development programs. CIS Jax is embedded in 37 K-12 public schools across Duval County. Many CIS students face serious academic challenges, and your funds go towards identifying the root causes of those challenges and meeting their needs, in and out of the classroom. Thanks to you, students may receive school supplies, uniforms or other clothing, hygiene products, food, tutoring, mentoring, or any other assistance their families need. You are empowering students to stay in school, graduate and achieve in life. Learn more about CIS at: www.cisjax.org    

Are donations tax-deductible?
Yes, Communities In Schools of Jacksonville is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Our EIN is: 59-3027895

What if someone wants to pay by check or Donor Advised Fund?
We will ensure you get fundraising credit for any checks we receive. Checks may be dropped off or mailed to us at: 

Communities In Schools of Jacksonville
532 Riverside Avenue, Suite 3-OH
Jacksonville, FL 32202