The Father-Daughter Bond Behind Pro Pickleball’s Rising Stars
A Candid Conversation Between Mary Brascia and Her Coach and Father, Vinnie
Mary Brascia, one half of the professional women’s doubles pairing “The Brascias” with her sister Maggie, sat down with her father and coach, Vinnie Brascia, for a Thanksgiving edition of her podcast, The MaryGoRound. In an insightful back-and-forth, the two discussed the origins of their shared passion for pickleball, controversial issues in the professional game, and what’s next for the sport’s fastest growing stars.
Energized by recent success but still hungry for more, Mary reflected on how grateful she feels for pickleball coming into her life. She also emphasized the ups and downs of playing with a loved one, encouraging listeners not to give up during the inevitable challenging times.
03:27 - How did the Brascia's get started in pickleball?
Vinnie first discovered pickleball on his 50th birthday, when he decided to try it out with Mary’s mom at their local community courts. Several of their old tennis friends were there playing, and Vinnie was immediately hooked by the social and fun nature of the game.
He got Mary and Maggie into pickleball because of their tennis backgrounds, thinking they would enjoy the activity as much as he did. At the time, Vinnie knew nothing of tournaments or a professional tour. He simply viewed pickleball as a fun new hobby to share with his family. Little did he know how far it would take them.
05:26 - More Nationals Recap & Thoughts on the Rating System for Amateurs
Of the 60-70 players Vinnie coached who competed at Nationals this year, none plan to return next year due to major dissatisfaction. He hopes USA Pickleball addresses issues raised in post-tournament surveys.
The biggest complaint was that many players' USTPR ratings don’t accurately reflect their skill level, forcing them to play in brackets that are too low. They get wrongly accused of sandbagging, diminishing enjoyment.
Vinnie emphasized the need for an improved, precise rating system so players can compete at their true level. Allowing people to play up if desired would also help. Fixing these problems is critical for Nationals to succeed moving forward.
08:12 - The Progressive Draw
Vinnie loved the new progressive draw format for pros at Nationals. Playing matches as a best of five rather than best of three heightened the event’s prestige, similar to Grand Slams in tennis.
He also believes the progressive draw better accommodates fans, allowing them to plan around specific match times. However, the long days took a toll on players competing in multiple events like Mary. Adjustments to scheduling may help alleviate fatigue.
Overall though, extending pro matches to three out of five games distinguished Nationals as a marquee tournament. Vinnie hopes the format continues next year across more events.
10:32 - Line Calling in Pro Pickleball
Unequivocally, Vinnie stated that line calling responsibilities must be removed from the players in professional pickleball. No other pro sport asks its athletes to simultaneously compete and officiate.
Adding more officials on court could help, but the ultimate solution is installing camera and review technology on every pro court. This would allow close calls to be conclusively resolved while taking pressure off players.
The progressive draw facilitates reliable line calling systems since matches spread across courts rather than bottle necking late in the day. Hopefully next year’s expanded tour schedule will feature enhanced accuracy through video review.
13:33 - Partner dropping and contracts
Partner dropping is an unfortunate reality spreading on the pro tour, leaving dumped players stranded. Vinnie suggested formal partnership agreements stipulating exit plans as a way to mitigate harm.
Though financial penalties could be included for early departures, the primary objective would be providing a road map for evaluating and potentially dissolving teams. This would help temper surprise drop notices, which currently often arrive abruptly by text.
By outlining measures partners can take to work through issues or mutually separate, player contracts would inject more transparency and fairness into the partner selection process.
15:25 - Looking ahead at the 2024 schedule
As a meticulous planner, Mary already has all 2024 tournaments plugged into her calendar. She’s both excited and anxious about the jam-packed slate combining PPA and MLP events.
Vinnie expects further tweaks but views the current schedule as reasonable preparation needed for a professional sport. The presumed format echoing Dallas with an MLP weekend preceding PPA tournaments makes sense to him.
He does recognize the strain of back-to-back 14 day commitments for players. Taking advantage of progressive draw match gaps to explore host cities or schedule fun activities will be crucial for maintaining balance and staving off burnout.
Summary
Sitting down with her father and longtime coach for a holiday edition of her podcast, Mary Brascia covered plenty of ground discussing controversial issues, her rise to stardom, and what to expect next year in professional pickleball. From their family’s serendipitous entry into the sport to problems that need addressing as it turns increasingly mainstream, the conversation highlighted growth both on a personal level and within pickleball more broadly.
It was a rare chance to hear about the close-knit dynamics propelling “The Brascias” in an individual sport from Vinnie’s unique perspective as both a parent and mentor. Between his recounting of their local introduction to pickleball and asserting the need for measures like line calling technology on the pro tour, Vinnie spoke with the passion of an invested insider and the measured analysis of a devoted coach.
Above all, the love and support flowing between father and daughter provided a timely reminder heading into Thanksgiving of the human connections that make life and sports meaningful. Even with professional pressure and ambition continuing to escalate, keeping sight of and strengthening those bonds with loved ones amid adversity promises to lift both Mary and the sport of pickleball higher still.
- 0:00 - The MaryGoRound Podcast Episode 10 Trailer
- 0:22 Hertz Gold Cup, Nationals, 2024
- 0:50 Holiday Season
- 1:20 Playing with a loved one
- 2:31 My Dad
- 3:27 - How did the Brascia's get started in pickleball?
- 5:26 - More Nationals Recap & Thoughts on the Rating System for Amateurs
- 8:12 The Progressive Draw
- 10:32 - Line Calling in Pro Pickleball
- 13:33 - Partner dropping and contracts
- 15:25 - Looking ahead at the 2024 schedule ₂⁴
- 18:50 - Q&A, Vinnie becomes the host
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