Chesterland Kids Pickleball Tournament: A kids-only pickleball tournament will be held on July 20 at the Chesterland pickleball courts at Parkside Park. The event is open to players of all skill levels who have never played in a tournament. Entry requires a $20 donation to the GoFundMe for West Geauga Pickleball Court Lights.
Tournament Details and Registration
Organizer Barry Leven shared that players must register individually, not in teams. The format will be gauntlet style, meaning winners play winners and losers play losers.
“So you’re always having competition that’s kind of at your level,” said Barry Leven.
Participants need to know basic rules and how to keep score. Kids aged 8 to 13 will play from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and those aged 13 to 17 will play from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. The top three finishers will receive awards.
The Vision Behind the Tournament
Barry Leven, a former vocational teacher, said the idea came from his passion for helping kids.
“Thirty-two years and I loved going to work every day,” said Barry Leven.
He noticed how active the courts are, especially at night, with many families visiting regularly.
“Our courts in Chesterland are filled with kids, especially at nighttime, and I thought how cool it would be to have a tournament,” said Barry Leven.
“Parents are up there every night. Grandparents, every night, come and play with their kids,” he added.
A Rare Opportunity for Young Players
Barry Leven said youth pickleball events are uncommon in Ohio. “This is a real rare opportunity.”
The courts, which opened last July, have stayed busy since. Twenty-four volunteers helped build them, raising $64,000 for the project.
The courts may also host more adult tournaments this year. Last year, one tournament was for volunteers, and another was run by the Kiwanis Club of West Geauga.
“One of the things I love about pickleball is that grandparents can play with their grandchildren and be competitive with them,” Barry Leven said.
He compared pickleball to skiing, saying it allows entire families to play together.
When Barry Leven first pitched the idea to Chester trustees in 2022, four million people played pickleball. Now, over 20 million people play the sport in the U.S.
Parkside Park is located at the corner of State Routes 306 and 322.
News in Brief: Chesterland Kids Pickleball Tournament
A kids-only pickleball tournament will take place July 20 at Parkside Park in Chesterland. Open to players aged 8–17 who have never played a tournament, the event will feature gauntlet-style play. Entry is $20, and top players will receive awards. Registration is required by email.