The Pickleball Tournament Survival Guide with PIG’s Mike Hoxie: How to Skip the 4-Hour Wait, Spot the Good Ones, and Make It to Happy Hour on Time

You’re standing on the court, paddle in hand, staring at an empty net while the Tournament Director is nowhere to be found and your "10:00 AM start time" has officially become a suggestion. 

We’ve all been there… trapped in a bracket that feels more like a gridlocked parking lot than an elite player experience.

In this episode, joining us in the hot seat is Mike Hoxie, the "Tournament Titan" and founder of Pickleball Is Great (P.I.G.). Mike has spent years modernizing pickleball tournaments from paper and pencil to seamless, text-messaged operations. He’s the expert on keeping the game moving, from coordinating the senior games at the Huntsman to managing high-stakes matches with prize money.

We're gonna dive into the organized chaos of the pickleball community with a man who has seen more court time than a Franklin pickleball. We talk about the massive pickleball growth of the last decade and the transition from the retail sports management grind to the "island style" pace of running over 150 pickleball events a year.

Here’s what we’re pouring out in this episode:

• Why elite sports management means ditching the "zero occupancy" money grab to prioritize early finishes and cold drinks over keeping courts 100% jammed all day.
• How referee certification diffuses 50% of on-court "hooking" and arguments just by letting players know the teacher is watching.
• How the pickleball community is leading the charge by turning pickleball events into massive fundraising engines for non-profits.
• Why your pickleball training should include playing against fresh bloods to see if your pickleball strategy actually holds up outside your local bubble.

We’ll also discuss why recreational pickleball players often get burned out by bad experiences and why the best pickleball strategy starts with reading the fine print before you hit that tournament registration button.

So, grab a Kahlua and cream, put down the rulebook, and find out how to spend more time dinking and less time checking your watch. Let’s get you out of the parking lot and back into the kitchen!

Cheers,

Casie & Lauren
Dinks on Tap

 

Let’s keep the conversation going! Connect with us:

Instagram: @dinksontap

Facebook: @DinksonTap
Website: dinksontap.com

Learn more about the Mental Caddie or LPV Coaching, check out Lauren’s website or book a Chemistry Call. 

 

Ways to connect with Mike Hoxie and Pickleball is Great (PIG):

 

Pickleball Is Great - 10 Years!

https://pickleballisgreat.com/

 

www.facebook.com/PICKLEBALLISGR8/

twitter.com/pickleballisgr8

https://www.youtube.com/@PickleballisGR8/

 

**We are celebrating 10 years in the Tournament Management Business.  Coast to Coast and now international with tournaments in Japan, Mexico, and soon Tahiti

 

 

Upcoming Tournaments

 

2026 Pickle Money Ball - Mar 19, 2026 - Mar 22, 2026

https://pickleballtournaments.com/tournaments/2026-pickle-money-ball

 

**New tournament with $600,000 in prize money - paid down to the 16th position.  DUPR Skill based.  Last minute registration ends 3/4/26

 

USA Pickleball Golden Ticket - Washington 7/9/26 to 7/12/26 (seattle)

https://pickleballtournaments.com/tournaments/usa-pickleball-golden-ticket-washington

 

**Our first USA Pickleball Golden ticket tournament! Registration starts in April!  Challenger membership of $12 a year required for every player

 

Kimo Dejon's 1st Annual Tahiti Senior Pickleball Tournament

Jun 02, 2026 - Jun 03, 2026

https://pickleballtournaments.com/tournaments/kimo-dejons-1st-annual-tahiti-senior-pickleball-tournament-by-pig