Competition in biology and sociology, is a contest between two or more organisms, animals, individuals, groups, etc., for territory, a niche, for a location of resources, for resources and goods, for mates, for prestige, for recognition, for awards, for group or social status, or for leadership. Competition is the opposite of cooperation. It arises whenever at least two parties strive for a goal which cannot be shared or which is desired individually but not in sharing and cooperation. (From Wikipedia)

Until recently, one of the skills lacking in my pickleball tool kit is competitiveness. I truly didn’t care if I won or lost games. I was fine being bunny #1–last in the race to the finish…

Some of the people I play with can recite the scores in each of their daily games. And good for them.

I am usually more concerned about learning lots, laughing, and getting a good sweat on.

I’ve had other players tell me that I should take more ‘kill’ shots and that I don’t ‘put it away’ enough.

And that was probably true. I would have rather kept playing than end the game.

But that all changed because of a player named “Herb” and because we’re going to start competing in a ladder league for pickleball.

First, all about the ladder league. A ladder league is designed so that players most often play with others of similar skill levels. A player’s ranking on a ladder is based on a winning percentage (ratio of points won to total points possible). Players move up or down the ladder based on their cumulative winning percentage.

After the first few weeks of the ladder league play, higher skilled players will have higher winning percentages and be ranked higher on the ladder.

Newer players and players who don’t adapt their play to their opponents’ strengths and weaknesses will have lower winning percentages and be ranked lower on the ladder.

While I hope to use all the skills I’ve worked so hard to develop and move up the ladder, over the last few days I’ve decided that I only want to be higher than Herb and some of his friends.

Herb and his friends are very similar in many ways. They are in their late 60’s and early 70’s; they believe a woman’s place is NOT in the gym on the pickleball court; and they believe that they are better than most of the male players and ALL of the female players.  (Player pictured below is NOT Herb  but looks a lot like him.)

Herb and I played against one another today. He was trying spin shots and trick plays to beat me and my partner. I was fine with that until I saw the look of disgust in his eyes whenever I played one of his shots well. Then  I decided the gloves were off; that’s when I started playing his shots right back at his feet to make him miss.

If a man made those shots, he’d say, “Good shot.” If a woman (any woman, not just me) made them, he was very quiet.

Obviously, playing against Herb and his cronies is helping me develop my competitive side.

I can’t wait to beat the sh*t out of them!!!!!!

And I’ll wave to them from my place higher up on the ladder. 🙂