How to Send a Text or Email to a Specific Tournament Player
Sometimes you need to reach a single player about something specific — a registration question, an event reminder, or a logistical detail. Pickleball Tournaments (PT) gives you two ways to message an individual attendee directly from the Attendees screen: a system email or a direct text message. This guide walks through both options so you can pick the right one for each situation and reach the right player in seconds.
The full video covers attendee management end-to-end. Skip to the 5:00 mark for the messaging and texting walkthrough.
Table of Contents
- Before you start
- How to find the player on the Attendees screen
- How to send an email to a specific player
- How to send a text to a specific player
- Email vs. text — which to use when
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Related Resources
Before you start
Both messaging options are available from your tournament's Attendees screen. To send a text, texting must already be enabled for your tournament — it's an opt-in feature with a small per-player fee, available to directors in the US and select other countries.
RecommendedIf you don't see the Send Text option, texting may not be enabled for your tournament yet. You can turn it on from your tournament setup. Emailing is available by default — no setup required.
How to find the player on the Attendees screen
Both messaging options start from the same place — the player's row on the Attendees screen.
- Open your tournament and go to the Attendees screen.
- Scroll or search to locate the specific player you want to contact.
- Click Options next to that player's name.
- Choose Send Message (email) or Send Text from the menu.
Use your browser's find shortcut (Ctrl + F on Windows, Cmd + F on Mac) to jump straight to a player's name on the Attendees screen if your list of searched players is long.
How to send an email to a specific player
Emailing a specific attendee is the best choice when your message has detail, links, or needs to be read carefully.
- From the player's row on the Attendees screen, click Options.
- Select Send Message.
- Enter a subject and your message in the email window.
- Click Send.
The player will receive the email at the address tied to their Pickleball.com account.
WarningPlayers will only receive emails if they have a valid email address on their Pickleball.com profile. If a player says they didn't get your message, ask them to check their junk or spam folder before re-sending — system-generated emails sometimes get filtered, especially the first time.
How to send a text to a specific player
Texting is the right choice for time-sensitive notifications — court changes, weather updates, or quick check-ins.
- From the player's row on the Attendees screen, click Options.
- Select Send Text.
- Type your text message.
- Click Send.
The player will receive a direct text to the phone number on their profile.
WarningPlayers will only receive texts if they have a valid mobile number with the correct country code on their Pickleball.com profile and have not opted out of receiving messages. If a text fails to send, have the player double check their profile or follow up with an email instead.
Email vs. text — which to use when
| Situation | Best choice |
|---|---|
| Detailed instructions, multiple links, or anything the player should read carefully | |
| Court change, weather update, or other time-sensitive alert | Text |
| Player has not responded to email and you need a faster channel | Text |
| Texting is not enabled for your tournament | |
| You want a written record the player can refer back to |
Frequently Asked Questions
Why don't I see the Send Text option?
Texting is an opt-in feature with a small per-player fee. If it isn't turned on for your tournament, the Send Text option won't appear. You can enable texting from your tournament setup. Emailing is available by default.
Can I send a text or email to a group of players at once?
The Attendees screen workflow described here is for messaging one player at a time. For broader announcements, PT has bulk-messaging tools available through the Live Console (during a tournament) and through the tournament's communication tools (before tournament day). See Related Resources for a full guide on configuring tournament communication.
Does the player know the message came from me?
No - be sure to include that information!
Can players reply to my message?
Players can reply to emails — their response goes directly to the email address on file for you or your tournament. Players cannot reply to texts. Texts from PT are one-way, so if you need a back-and-forth conversation, send an email instead or include your phone number in the text if you'd like the player to call you.
Related Resources
- How to Manually Add a Player to your Tournament
- How to Withdraw a Player from the Tournament
- Managing Weather Delays: A Guide for Tournament Directors
- How to Configure Tournament Communication and Contacts in PT
Need a hand reaching a player? Reach out to support@pickleball.com and we'll help you find the fastest way to connect.