Roaring Fork Pickleball Association upcoming events

Road to 4.0 - Part 1 (09/06/2026)

Sun, 06 Sep 2026 15:00:00 GMT

Join the Road to 4.0 - Part 1
with coaches Marc Nelson & Bonnie Scott:

1. Precision Under Pressure: Advanced Consistency & Targets
2. Third Shot Mastery: Drop, Drive, or Hybrid
3. Win the Kitchen: Patterns, Pressure & Setups
Note: Minimum of 8 participants must be signed up for the clinic by Sept 1 or clinics will be cancelled.

Marc has years of coaching experience at The Picklr, Mile High Pickleball, and TeachMe.to. His coaching philosophy emphasizes strong fundamentals, smart decision-making, and building repeatable skills that translate into improved match play—rather than drilling for the sake of drilling.

Whether working with beginners or competitive players, his goal remains the same: to help players understand the “why” behind each shot, build confidence, and improve in a way that lasts. He prides himself on creating a learning environment where players feel supported, challenged, and clearly coached—because improvement happens fastest when players feel seen and understood.

Marc began playing pickleball in 2020 after discovering the sport during the pandemic, and it quickly became more than just a game. What drew him in was the combination of strategy, movement, and community—elements that closely align with his background in high-level officiating and athlete development.

Prior to pickleball, Marc spent 23 years as a USA Rugby referee, including serving as a National Referee Manager for Major League Rugby and USA Rugby. He is also a World Rugby Trainer of Education, specializing in teaching officials how to break down complex concepts within the Laws of the game and communicate them clearly under pressure. That experience directly informs and shapes his approach to coaching pickleball today.

Join the Road to 4.0 - Part 2
with coaches Marc Nelson & Bonnie Scott:

Mon, Sept 7th

1. Dominate the Transition Zone
2. Hands Battle & Speed Control
3. Advanced Doubles IQ: Anticipation, Poaching & Partner Play

Note: Minimum of 8 participants must be signed up for the clinic by Sept 1 or clinics will be cancelled.

Road to 4.0 - Part 2 (09/07/2026)

Mon, 07 Sep 2026 15:00:00 GMT

Join the Road to 4.0 - Part 2
with coaches Marc Nelson & Bonnie Scott:

1. Dominate the Transition Zone
2. Hands Battle & Speed Control
3. Advanced Doubles IQ: Anticipation, Poaching & Partner Play
Note: Minimum of 8 participants must be signed up for the clinic by Sept 1 or clinics will be cancelled.

3.0 Round Robin, September 10, 2026 5:30pm-7:30pm (09/10/2026)

Thu, 10 Sep 2026 23:30:00 GMT

Fun Round Robin for 3.0 level players. 12 minute games. Nancy Heard will be running the 3.0 Round Robins this year. Thank you Nancy!

First 16 players will secure a spot. We will keep a waitlist and those people on the waitlist will have first dibs on the next 3.0 level Round Robin.

If you do not show up day of the event, or are more than 5 minutes late, you will not be able to play in the next Round Robin. It is very much an inconvenience to the person in charge and the participants. Please give a minimum of 24 hours notice so someone on the waitlist can be notified and confirmed. Thank you in advance for understanding.

3.0 Skills:

Consistent and purposeful serve.
Sustains dink rallies
Controls pace at net
Basic shot selection

Advanced Clinic with Jared Carlson (09/11/2026)

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 14:00:00 GMT

Level up to 4.5 clinic

Ready to break into 4.5? This 2-hour clinic for 4.0 players zeroes in on the shots that make the difference: third shot selection, controlling the net, dinking with patience, plus live coached gameplay to put it all together. Capped at 8 players, working directly with a pro.

4.5-5.0 Round Robin, 5:15pm-7:15pm (09/15/2026)

Tue, 15 Sep 2026 23:15:00 GMT

Must have a 4.5+ rating, have competed in a 4.5-level tournament, or be vetted and approved to participate.

Team Prep Clinic (09/16/2026)

Wed, 16 Sep 2026 06:00:00 GMT

Carbondale Classic Team Prep Clinic

Get tournament-ready as a team!

The Carbondale Classic is a team tournament, and success depends on more than individual skills—it takes communication, strategy, and teamwork. This clinic is designed specifically to help teams prepare to compete with confidence.

Players will work on:

Team communication and partner chemistry
Match strategy and shot selection
Court positioning and movement
Serving and returning with purpose
Transition play and point construction
Competitive decision-making under pressure

Drills and game play will emphasize working together as a team, making smart tactical decisions, and supporting one another throughout a match.

Registration: At least two members of your four-person team must register together.

Whether your goal is to win your division or simply enjoy a great tournament experience, this clinic will help your team build the skills, confidence, and chemistry needed for success at the Carbondale Classic.

All levels welcome.

Coaches Jared Carlson and Nannette Weinhold

PRICING: $50

4.0 Round Robin, September 17, 2026. 5:15pm-7:15pm (09/17/2026)

Thu, 17 Sep 2026 23:15:00 GMT

Fun Round Robin for RFPA members 4.0 level players. 12 minute games.

First 16 players to sign up will secure a spot. We will keep a waitlist and those people on the waitlist will have first dibs on the next 4.0 level Round Robin.

Please take note: Since we do not have a club rating system we will assume 4.0 level players are signing up. Do not sign up if you are a 3.5 player because you want to play up. This is an opportunity for 4.0 level players to play with those of similar ability.

No Show policy:

If you do not show up day of the event, you will not be able to play in the next Round Robin. It is very much an inconvenience to the person in charge and the participants. Please give a minimum of 24 hours notice and cancel on the website where you registered, do not send an email to the club. The hosts do not have access to the RFPA email. Someone on the waitlist will be notified and confirmed.

Please do not send someone in your place. It is not fair to the person who signed up and is on the waitlist.

Thank you in advance for understanding. Your cooperation will help things run effortlessly.

RFPA Round Robins are for RFPA members only.

Advanced Clinic with Jared Carlson (09/18/2026)

Fri, 18 Sep 2026 14:00:00 GMT

Level up to 4.5 clinic

DUPR Ladder League 5:30-7:30 (RFPA members only- all levels welcome) (09/22/2026)

Tue, 22 Sep 2026 23:30:00 GMT

Ladder League Format & Rules

Before Play Begins

All players will be assigned a number based on their DUPR rating, with #1 being the highest-rated player and #16 the lowest.
Each player will receive a numbered wristband to wear throughout the event.
Players will begin on courts according to their ranking:
- Court 1: Players 1–4
- Court 2: Players 5–8
- Court 3: Players 9–12
- Court 4: Players 13–16

Team Formation

For each game, the highest-numbered and lowest-numbered players on each court will be partners.

Example: On Court 1, Player 1 partners with Player 4, competing against Players 2 and 3.

Game Format

Games are played to 11 points, win by 2.
A 15-minute timer will be used. If time expires before the game is finished, the current score will stand.
Important: DUPR only accepts results when at least one team has scored 6 points. If time expires before either team reaches 6 points, play will continue until one team reaches 6.

After each round, all game scores will be recorded for DUPR submission, and players will move according to the ladder rules.

Ladder Movement

After each game:

One player moves up one court.
One player moves down one court.
The other two players remain on their current court.

The player moving up will be the member of the winning team with the best win-loss record for the day.

The player moving down will be the member of the losing team with the lowest win-loss record for the day.

If players are tied in win-loss record, the wristband number (initial ranking) will be used as the tiebreaker.

Once players have moved to their new courts, new partnerships are formed using the same format: the highest and lowest wristband numbers on each court become teammates.

Additional Notes

Players cannot move above Court 1 or below the lowest court.
If play on the top or bottom court becomes repetitive, the organizer may introduce a mix-up to keep games fresh and competitive.
The primary objective is competitive, enjoyable play while generating accurate DUPR results.

Contact me, preferably via text. I'm Blake Preston. I'm 25, I live in Carbondale, work at RFTA and have never missed a 3rd shot drop
Email: note2bp@gmail.com Phone: 970-404-2475

2.5 Round Robin, September 29, 2026 5:30pm-7:30pm (09/29/2026)

Tue, 29 Sep 2026 23:30:00 GMT

Fun Round Robin for 2.5 level players. 12 minute games. Nancy Heard will be running the 2.5 Round Robins this year. Thank you Nancy!

First 16 players will secure a spot. We will keep a waitlist and those people on the waitlist will have first dibs on the next 2.5 level Round Robin.

2.5 Skills:

More consistent serve and return
Attempts soft shots
Developing control at net and with volleys
Learning positioning