How to easily get your starter DUPR Rating

Hey everybody, it’s Dr. Gordon Jones, your Brain Fitness and Pickleball Performance Coach.Today I want to walk you through something that I think is going to help a lot of newer pickleball players, especially those of you who are starting to play more, getting into better games, thinking about leagues or tournaments, or just wanting a better idea of where your game really stands.But, this is also for those who have been playing awhile, but for some reason have not thought to track your progress through the DUPR system.We are going to talk about your DUPR starter rating and how the My DUPR Coach starter assessment can benefit you.Your access to this series is freely given, so would you consider making a contribution to our non-profit mission of spreading the benefits of pickleball to the world?Now, if you have been around pickleball for very long, you have probably heard people ask, “What’s your DUPR?” And for a lot of newer players, that can be confusing.You may know you are getting better. You may be beating some people at open play. You may be losing to others. You may have people telling you, “You’re probably a 3.0,” or “You’re playing more like a 3.5,” but you do not really know where you are.That is where this process comes in.This gives a new player a way to get a Coach-Assigned DUPR starting point so you can begin your DUPR journey with more clarity. It does not mean your rating is fixed forever. It simply gives you a starting baseline so you can understand your game, find appropriate competition, and keep improving from there.So in this video, I’m going to walk through the simple checklist you need to complete before your rating session.This checklist is for players who are preparing for a DUPR Rating Session with me.The key phrase here is Pre-DUPR.This process is designed for players who do not already have an established DUPR rating from logged matches.So let me make that really plain.If you already have a DUPR rating because you have been logging matches in the DUPR app, this is probably not the process for you. Once you have actual match results in the system, the DUPR algorithm is already working off your results.But if you are new to DUPR, you do not have a rating yet, and your doubles rating shows as NR, which means Not Rated, then you may be eligible for a Coach-Assigned DUPR.This is especially helpful for players who are ready to move beyond casual open play and begin understanding where they fit in structured play, leagues, tournaments, and skill-based groups.So before you show up for the session, we want to make sure all the setup work is done.That way, when we get on the court, we are not spending your time trying to fix apps, accounts, passwords, and login problems. We can actually focus on your pickleball.The first step is simple.You need to have a DUPR account.You can do that by downloading the DUPR app from the App Store, going to https://dupr.com on your computer, or completing the DUPR account setup inside the My DUPR Coach app when prompted.The big thing I want you to check is this.Once you are logged in, look at your Doubles Rating.If it says NR, that means Not Rated. That is what we are looking for if you are going through this starter assessment process.The Coach-Assigned Rating applies to your Doubles DUPR Rating. It does not change your singles rating.Also, and this is very important, do not create a second DUPR account if you already have one.If you already have an established DUPR rating from logged matches, do not try to start over with a new account just to get a Coach-Assigned Rating. That can create problems for you, for your account, and for the coach.So the first step is: get into DUPR, make sure you can log in, and confirm that your doubles rating is not already established.That keeps everything clean and legitimate.Now we move to the second app, which is the My DUPR Coach app.This is the app we use for the coaching side of the starter assessment process.On this slide, you will see my unique app link and the QR code. You can either scan the QR code or use the link to download the app.https://link.myjourneypickleball.com/pjr95iJWxObThis is where a lot of players get tripped up, because they think, “I already downloaded DUPR. Why do I need another app?”The answer is that the DUPR app is your main player rating account. The My DUPR Coach app is the coaching and assessment connection that allows me to evaluate your skills and submit a Coach-Assigned Rating when appropriate.So think of it this way.The DUPR app is where your rating lives.The My DUPR Coach app is where the assessment process gets organized.You need both connected properly so the rating can actually show up where it is supposed to show up.So on this slide, scan the QR code or use the link, download My DUPR Coach, and then we go to the next step.Once you have downloaded the My DUPR Coach app, it will ask you to choose whether you are a player or a coach.You want to select I am a Player.Then, when you are setting up your account, you will enter my coach code.You can see the code on the slide.My Code: 6hpu6tgThat code connects you to my team inside the My DUPR Coach system.After that, go ahead and complete the account setup. Answer the registration questions, including the section about your DUPR goals.Do not rush through that part. It helps me understand what you are trying to do with your game.Are you just trying to get placed in better games? Are you trying to play your first league? Are you preparing for tournaments? Are you trying to move from recreational play into more competitive play?That information matters because the rating is not just a number. It is a starting point for your development.One little technical note. If the app gives you an “invalid name” alert, remove special characters, spaces, or periods. The name fields may only accept letters.That is not a big deal. Just clean up the entry and keep going.Once the account is fully set up, you should be taken to the dashboard home screen and guided through the app.This next step is one of those simple checks that saves a lot of headaches.You want to make sure your account is actually connected to my team.Open the My DUPR Coach app and go to your dashboard.On the right side, under DUPR Coach, you should be able to confirm that my first name is listed.If you are assigned to the wrong coach, or if something did not connect correctly, you can switch teams.Open the menu, select Find a Coach, and that will bring up the DUPR Coach Map. From there, you can search for the correct coach and select Get Your DUPR to update your team assignment.After that, close the app and reopen it.That refresh step matters. Sometimes apps do not show the update right away until you restart them.So the key point here is simple.Before your rating session, make sure you are connected to the right coach.If you show up and you are connected to the wrong person or not connected at all, we have to stop and fix that before the assessment can move forward.This slide is probably the most important technical step in the whole process.You need to link your My DUPR Coach account to your DUPR account.This is what allows your Coach-Assigned DUPR to appear properly.There are two ways to do it.The first way is from the app dashboard. You will tap the plus sign next to NR on the left side, then select Connect.The second way is through the menu. Open the menu, scroll down to DUPR, tap Connect, and then tap Connect again.From there, you will either sign in with your existing DUPR credentials or sign up if you do not already have a DUPR account.After you log in or create the account, you will grant DUPR access to complete the connection.Once that connection works, you should see a confirmation message.Then the plus sign should disappear from your dashboard, and the DUPR menu should show that it is connected.Here is the part I want everyone to hear clearly.This step is required.If your My DUPR Coach account is not linked to your DUPR account, your Coach-Assigned DUPR may not appear correctly in the My DUPR Coach app dashboard or within the DUPR system.So if you only remember one technical thing from this video, remember this.Download the apps, enter the coach code, and link the accounts.That is what makes the whole process work.Once all of that is done, now we get to the fun part.You come to your rating session.During the session, I will evaluate your pickleball skills across the areas listed under DUPR Skills inside your My DUPR Coach app.This is not just me watching one shot and guessing.The goal is to look at the key parts of your game.How do you serve? How do you return? Can you handle the transition zone? Can you dink with control? Can you recognize when to attack and when to reset? Can you keep the ball in play under pressure? Can you play with a partner? Can you make good decisions?A starter rating is not about embarrassing anybody or putting a label on you.It is about giving you a fair starting point.And for a lot of players, that is incredibly helpful, because now you have a baseline.You are no longer guessing.Once the assessment is submitted, you should receive your rating, coaching insights, and, if we record footage, possibly video feedback from gameplay.And this is where I really want players to understand the opportunity.Your DUPR number is not your identity. It is a tool.It helps you see where you are today so you can start building toward where you want to go next.After you receive your Coach-Assigned DUPR, you have a couple of different pathways.The first pathway is to start competing and logging matches.That means you can use your Coach-Assigned DUPR as your starting point and begin playing in DUPR events, leagues, tournaments, and other competitive settings.Once you start logging official matches, the DUPR algorithm begins adjusting your rating based on real results.At that point, your performance begins to speak for itself.The second pathway is to maintain and update your Coach-Assigned DUPR through additional assessment sessions.Some players may not be ready to jump straight into tournaments or official match logging. That is okay.You may want to keep developing, attend another session, and have your rating updated as your skills evolve.That is one of the reasons I like this process. It gives new players a structured way to enter the rating world without feeling like they have to know everything on day one.Whichever path you choose, the larger goal is the same.We want to help you grow as a player.We want you in the right games, with the right level of competition, where you can enjoy the sport, improve your skills, and keep moving forward.So here is the bottom line.If you are a newer pickleball player, or you have been playing for a while but still do not have a DUPR rating, this is a great opportunity to get started the right way.Get your apps set up.Create or confirm your DUPR account.Download My DUPR Coach.Enter my coach code.Make sure you are connected to my team.Link your My DUPR Coach account to your DUPR account.Then come to your rating session ready to play, learn, and get a clearer picture of where your game stands.This is not about chasing a number.It is about understanding your game.It is about getting a fair starting point.It is about giving yourself a pathway to better games, better competition, and better development.Pickleball is more fun when you know where you fit, when you know what to work on, and when you can see your progress over time.So if you are ready to begin your DUPR journey, go through this checklist, get everything connected, and I look forward to seeing you on the court.Let’s get your game measured, get your baseline set, and start building from there.Remember, reset fast and play free.This is now the rhythm of your life.Your access to this series is freely given, so would you consider making a contribution to our non-profit mission of spreading the benefits of pickleball to the world? 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