AGEISM VERSUS SKILL LEVELS

AGEISM VERSUS SKILL LEVELS A 72+ YEAR OLD 4,0 PICKLEBALL PLAYER CANNOT BE EXPECTED TO PERFORM WITH THE SAME MOBILITY AND AGILITY OF EVEN A 50 TO 62 YEAR OLD 4.0 PLAYER, SO SAYS THE SUPER SENIOR INTERNATIONAL PICKLEBALL ASSOCIATION (SSIPA).  THAT IS WHY THE MAJOR TOURNAMENTS HAVE 5 YEAR AGE BRACKETS AT THE DIFFERENT COMPETITIVE SKILL LEVELS.  ASSUREDLY, THERE ARE EXCEPTIONS TO THIS ASSERTION.

It's similar to a 3.0  player of 25 years of age matched against a 4.0 rated player  45+ years of age.  That 20 year difference is more significant in the outcome of the game than a 1 point difference in skill levels.  Same goes for the 20 year difference between the 52 and 72 year old players.

"SIPPA"  has gained recognition and acceptance with national and international pickleball governing bodies and various associations.  Yes we have Senior Pickleball alive and well here in Maryland well represented by a large demographics of players 55 years and older. 

Even our Senior Olympics utilize the 5 year age brackets. But often it becomes difficult to fill in all skill levels simply because a lot of older players have dropped out of the game due to the non-accommodation factor of downgrading a seniors skill rating in accordance with being forced to compete with younger players.  Example a 75 year old 4.0 doubles teams is forced to compete against a 4.0 rated 65 year old doubles team.  Ten (10) years is a lot of provides a lot of mobility and agility advantages for the 65's versus the 75's. 

A five to nine year age variance should be equivalent to a downgrade minimum of a half skill point lower.  A  ten year age variance should be equivalent to one whole point of skill level equivalent.  Let's level the playing field. 

I AM DOING AN INTEREST POLL FOR A GEASERS TOURNAMENT FOR 72 YEARS+ SUPER SENIORS AT 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5 LEVELS.  THE AGE BRACKETS WOULD BE 72 - 77, 78- 83. 83 -88 AND 88+. 

WITH ENOUGH INTEREST WE COULD EVEN SETUP UP GEASER LADDER LEAGUES. 

I am hoping to bring back some of our Super Seniors who have stopped playing because of their inability to compete against their peers. If we can get more Super Seniors to return to pickleball, we could fill those higher age brackets.