Hello APPL Players,
We wrapped up our 2025 season in grand style with four days of APPL State Championships at Pueblo El Mirage. Over 95 regional champion teams from across Arizona battled through 300+ matches, crowning 27 State Champions! The atmosphere was electric, with record crowds cheering on their favorites and soaking up the sunshine. On a bigger stage, we are working with leagues in Florida, California, Oregon, and North Carolina to establish an American Team Pickleball League (ATPL). This will give our champions a chance to compete nationally. Stay tuned — big things are ahead!
In the off season our volunteers take a quick vacation and then start working on improvements to make our league better and more enjoyable for you, our customers. Last month we worked closely with Pickleballscores to make your APPL Index visible only to you. As a reminder, we adopted this rating system last year to address the overwhelming feedback we received to “make skill levels fair.” And while we are still committed to using the APPL Index, we also recognized that the transition would pose its own set of challenges that would warrant special considerations during the transition. Knowing that and based on your feedback, we will be implementing some changes in the coming 2026 season of which you may take advantage. Ultimately, our goal remains to fully adopt the APPL Index without adjustments or appeals.
Read on for more details about the APPL Index and other pertinent information. We wish you a safe and enjoyable summer ahead.
Greg Mather
“A Champion is someone who gets up even when they can’t.”
Jack Dempsey
Get Your APPL Gear On
We’re excited to announce our new partnership with PickleHigh®, a premium American pickleball brand known for top-notch apparel, paddles, and gear.
APPL now has its very own official online Team ProShop, hosted on PickleHigh’s secure Shopify-powered platform. Check out the exclusive APPL collection: custom team gear, high-performance wear, leggings, stemless wine glasses, and more!
Every purchase supports APPL’s programs and future growth, while you rock your team’s colors with pride. Check out the new APPL collection today!
Fast Track Appeal Option
Did your rating drop within .15 of the flight level in which you just played? And do you want to continue playing at that level next season? If your answer is yes, then we have good news! If you wish to MOVE UP in skill level for the upcoming season, you are eligible to submit a Fast Track Appeal if:
- Your APPL Index is within 0.15 of the higher desired skill level AND
- You played at that desired skill level last season
Important to Note:
- Submissions should be made by players, not their Captains using the button under Resources/Player Resources on the APPL website.
- The APPL Index itself is not adjusted—only your Roster Rating changes.
- The Pickleballscores system will not accept registration on a lower team, nor will you be eligible to play as an exception player at a different level. You will ONLY play at the appealed Roster Rating level.
- The three (3) Exception limit allowing players with an APPL Index of .5 lower than the team skill level remains unchanged. Please consider this carefully before submitting a Fast Track Appeal.
- Fast Track Appeals are open now and will provide a quicker review than the Standard Appeals process.
Players whose APPL Index is more than 0.15 away from their desired level must wait for the Standard Appeals process later this summer. Fast Track Appeals apply to moving up only, not down. Appeals to move to a lower skill level will be very limited next season, including medical appeals.
Kicking Off White Mountain Region
| Our White Mountain Summer League is off to a fantastic start! With 7 divisions, 7 locations, and 39 teams — that’s 471 registered players — we’re seeing incredible growth, especially at the lower skill levels. It’s proof that pickleball is still one of Arizona’s fastest-growing sports! We wish all White Mountain Summer League players a fantastic season! |
APPL is focusing on building up the number of players and teams in our 2.5 skill level and we need your help! Right now, our 2.5 flights are where the biggest opportunity for growth lies. We’re asking all current APPL players to help us recruit new 2.5 players to our league. These are often your friends, neighbors, or rec partners who play regularly but haven’t made the leap into organized play yet. Let them know that they don’t need to be “great”—just game!
How You Can Help:
- Personally invite 2.5-level players to team up or sign up as a Free Agent (see below).
- Encourage them to pair up with similar age and skilled players to form a team.
- Recommend that they go to the APPL website and sign up for our Newsletter (red button on home page).
Whether you’re a 3.0, 3.5, or beyond, chances are you know someone who would thrive in our 2.5 division. Let’s give them that first nudge. Together, we can grow the game, one player at a time!
Free Agents: Looking for an APPL Team?
Every season, hundreds of eager players want to join a team, but sometimes it just doesn’t happen. These “Free Agents” can use our Player Seeking a Team (PSaT) program to receive a list of other nearby players with similar skills. Captains of existing teams can also use this pool of Free Agents when they are looking for additional players. Fill out the PSaT form under GET STARTED on the APPL website starting July 15, 2025 — and yes, you must re-submit this form each year!
Want to start your own team? Indicate you’re open to captaining — we’ll send you everything you need to get started.
APPL Index & Roster Rating
Your APPL Index is the number that is adjusted every time you play in an APPL Match. This number is private and only visible to you in your Regional Pickleballscores Website. To see it, log into your Regional Pickleballscores Website (you can get there from the APPL home HERE. Once you are logged in, click the Profile button at the very top in the white space above the banner. When you get to the next screen, click the Profile button in the banner area. Directly under your name you will see your APPL Index with the full 3-digit detail and your Roster Rating, which is your APPL Index rounded down to the nearest .05 whole number.
Roster Ratings are visible to other APPL players. To see someone’s Roster Rating, log into your Regional Pickleballscores Website as above, but do not click Profile. Make sure the buttons in the Banner start with “Home”. In the banner area, click the Ratings button towards the right side. APPL Players are listed by Roster Rating from high to low. You can use the drop-down filters to sort the list.
Patience is in Your DNA!
By NPL Senior Pro Brian Martin
| Have you ever hit a ball into the net and then uttered the words “I need to be more patient!” It usually happens after a long rally is ended with a shot into the net. We got too excited to finish the point and in an overzealous state we hit a shot we shouldn’t have. We kick ourselves and wish we would just make better decisions on the court. By understanding the DNA’s of pickleball, you will make less errors and win more points! Think of your DNA’s as a series of steps on a ladder. DISADVANTAGE – NEUTRAL – ADVANTAGE – SCORE. If you advance through the steps one at a time, you will be more efficient in your play. If you try to skip a step like trying to SCORE from a DISADVANTAGE, those unforced errors will haunt your game!  |
| DISADVANTAGE – Reset the Ball – Our opponents are at the NVZ and we’re not – I’m compromised or my partner is out of position – I’m off balance & reaching for the ball |
| NEUTRAL – Find an Advantage – Our opponents are at the NVZ and so are we – I’m balanced – I can place a ball that will pressure my opponent |
| ADVANTAGE – Stress the Opponent – We are at the NVZ and our oppenents are not – In control and dictating play – My opponents are in trouble and I’ll keep them there |
| SCORE – Finish the Point – I have a clear “put-away” ball that will finish the point – Relaxed with short and compact swing – I can place the ball where my opponent can’t get it |
| ThatPickleballGuy has a great video HERE that shares similar ideas. By consistently recognizing if we have an advantage or not, the more likely we are to hit the appropriate shot. The best players look smooth and make less errors because they are getting back to neutral when compromised and not trying to put away balls until they have created an advantage. Reset that ball when you are at a Disadvantage and pressure your opponent when you are Neutral to gain an Advantage. Scoring will feel easy when you walk up and down the ladder as the scoring shot will just “Pop-up” for you! APPL Team Trainings will begin again in December – You can learn more from NPL Senior Pro Brian Martin HERE. |
