SOUTHERN OREGON PICKLEBALL ASSOCIATION

Hello SOPA Members,

This email has lots of great information, and yes — it’s a bit on the longer side. We promise it’s worth sticking with us through the end, as there are some updates you won’t want to miss!

We’re excited to share several important updates as we head into an exciting year for the Southern Oregon Pickleball Association.

New, More Accessible Membership Pricing

One of our priorities is ensuring SOPA remains inclusive and accessible for everyone in our community. With that in mind, we are happy to announce updated membership pricing:

Family Membership: $50 (previously $70)
Individual Membership: $30 (previously $50)

We believe being part of our pickleball community should be affordable, welcoming, and open to all. If you aren't current in your membership or know someone who would like to join, the link is HERE

SOPA Mission Statement
The mission of the Southern Oregon Pickleball Association (SOPA) is to support the growth and development of pickleball in Southern Oregon by fostering opportunities for play, promoting healthy lifestyles, and building a strong, connected pickleball community.

Our 2026 Strategic Plan outlines clear priorities in five focus areas:

Youth Engagement & Development
Tournaments & Events
Instructor and Referee Training
Membership Growth & Community Engagement
Advocacy & Local Partnerships

Through collaboration, volunteerism, and community passion, SOPA is laying the foundation for a vibrant pickleball future across our region.

A Huge Thank You to Our Volunteers & Youth Program Supporters

We want to give a big shout out to all of the volunteers who helped teach pickleball in our local elementary schools, at McLoughlin Middle School, and through the Eagle Point Unified Sports program this past year. It has been incredible to see the excitement from the kids and the positive impact these programs are having in our community.

Eagle Point Unified Sports students

A special thank you as well to everyone who donated paddles. Because of your generosity, we were able to donate 30 paddles to Prospect Charter School, allowing them to implement pickleball into their PE program.

We are also excited to share that our youth pickleball program is officially up and running. This year we hosted open play sessions for middle and high school students, as well as our first youth round-robin pickleball tournament, with 18 participants. It was an absolute blast, and we are so grateful to the volunteers who made that event such a success.

Howard Memorial Sports Park Courts Update

Progress on the new courts at Howard Memorial Sports Park is coming along nicely. Several cement pads have been poured, electrical and water lines are in place, and the project is really starting to take shape.

We are incredibly grateful to the donors who have made these courts possible. Their generosity is creating a lasting impact for pickleball in our community.

Thank you to all our donors and a special THANKS to those who gave 10K and above:

Lithia Motors, Inc.
Spartan Properties
Sid & Karen DeBoer Foundation
Bryan & Stephane DeBoer
Mark & Lauren DeBoer
Quinn Hill Foundation
Marquess & Associates
Ashland Springs Hotel
The Wes Howard Foundation
The City of Medford
Cindy Selbe
Fred Krasner
Todd and DeAnn Winter
Carl and Nancy Sash
George and Molly Morgan
Jason and Chelsea Broesder

Medford Summer Classic Pickleball Tournament – June 5–7, 2026

We are preparing for our annual Medford Summer Classic Pickleball Tournament, scheduled for June 5–7, 2026, at Fichtner Mainwaring Park. If the new courts are completed in time (which we are very hopeful for), the tournament will be held at the Lithia & Driveway Pickleball Park at Howard Memorial Sports Park near Rogue X.

We are thrilled to announce that this year’s Medford Summer Classic Pickleball Tournament will be partnering with CASA of Jackson County! A portion of the proceeds from the tournament will go directly to support their vital work.

The mission of CASA of Jackson County is to provide specially trained community volunteers who advocate for abused and neglected children, helping them find safe and permanent homes. By participating in the tournament, you’re not only enjoying great pickleball—but also making a meaningful impact in the lives of local children in need.

This year’s tournament will be a USA Pickleball sanctioned event and we have added some money prize divisions. We are currently looking for:

Tournament committee members
Volunteers willing to help during the tournament

If you are interested in helping, please contact sopa-admin@sopickleball.org.

As a SOPA member, you will receive a discount on tournament registration.
The code to use for Members Only is NOT VISIBLE HERE (add this in the discount box when registering).

USA Pickleball Membership Requirement & Benefits

Because this is a USA Pickleball sanctioned tournament, all participants must be members of USA Pickleball. The annual membership cost is $12. Join the USAP here.

Benefits of a USA Pickleball membership include:

A free sleeve of Franklin X-40 pickleballs for new members
Eligibility to play in sanctioned tournaments, Golden Ticket events, and Nationals
Digital access to Pickleball Magazine and the annual instructional guide
Tailored educational content and exclusive member emails
Participation in the Tiered Points System, where players earn points through sanctioned events. Tiered Points System information: https://usapickleball.org/tps/

SOPA Board Opportunity – Communications & Social Media

We continue to look for someone interested in helping SOPA with social media and communications as part of our board. If you or someone you know may be interested, we would love to connect.

Thank you for being part of SOPA and for helping us grow pickleball throughout Southern Oregon. We are excited about the future and grateful for the community that makes it all possible.

Please email us at sopa-admin@SOPickleball.org with any questions or if you are interested in being involved!

Best,

DeAnn Winter
Southern Oregon Pickleball Association

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