Technical guidelines
1. Player Placement & Advancement
Fair competition, no sandbagging, accurate player development.
2. How players move up
Beginners: a 3rd podium moves you up to Novice.
Novice: a 3rd podium moves you up to Intermediate.
Intermediate: a 3rd podium moves you up to High Intermediate / Advanced.
High Intermediate / Advanced: the top of the ladder.
Maximum of 3 podiums at each level.
3. Every podium counts the same
Gold, Silver and Bronze each count as 1 podium.
Podiums count across Men's Doubles, Women's Doubles, Mixed Doubles, Age Groups, Mini Tournaments and Open Play Competitions.
4. No playing down
A podium in a higher division means you can't return to a lower one.
An Intermediate medalist may not play Novice.
A Novice medalist may not play Beginners.
A High Intermediate medalist may not play any lower division.
5. Partner skill rule
Teams register at the higher-skilled player's level. That player may not play down because of a lower-rated partner. This applies to Men's, Women's, Mixed and Age Group divisions.
6. Racket sports background
Disclose significant racket sports experience at registration. These players are placed in High Intermediate or higher, regardless of DUPR:
Current or former national tennis players
Current or former varsity tennis players (state the year)
Class A or Open tennis players
Professional racket sport athletes
7. Mandatory disclosure
Not disclosing significant playing history can lead to:
Immediate reclassification
Disqualification
Tournament sanctions
The Tournament Committee may adjust placement based on actual playing ability, tournament history, and podium achievements.
8. General rules
All matches are played under the latest official pickleball rules unless these guidelines say otherwise.
The Tournament Director may change schedules, court assignments, formats and match times whenever needed to keep the tournament running smoothly.
Players must be present and ready to play when their match is announced.
All participants are expected to show proper sportsmanship and respect toward opponents, officials, volunteers and spectators.
9. Round Robin stage
Matches are played to 11 points, win by 1 point.
Teams change courts at 6 points.
At 10-10, a sudden death point is played: the winner of the next rally wins the match.
Time-out: each team gets one (1) time-out per match, 1 minute maximum.
Medical time-out: each player may request one (1) medical time-out, 5 minutes maximum.
10. Quarterfinals
Race to 11 points, win by 1 point.
Change ends at 6 points.
At 10-10, a sudden death point is played.
11. Semifinals, Bronze Medal Match and Finals
Race to 15 points, win by 1 point.
Change ends at 8 points.
At 14-14, a sudden death point is played.
Time-out: one (1) time-out per team.
Medical time-out: one (1) medical time-out per player, 5 minutes maximum.
12. Divisions with eight (8) brackets
Round robin: the top one (1) team from each bracket advances to the Quarterfinals.
Quarterfinals (cross-over): A vs H, B vs G, C vs F, D vs E.
Semifinals: Winner QF (A vs H) vs Winner QF (D vs E), and Winner QF (B vs G) vs Winner QF (C vs F).
Losing semifinalists play the Bronze Medal Match for Third Place. Winning semifinalists play the Championship.
13. Divisions with four (4) brackets
Round robin: the top two (2) teams from each bracket advance to a quarterfinal cross-over.
QF1: A1 vs C2
QF2: B1 vs D2
QF3: C1 vs A2
QF4: D1 vs B2
Semifinals: Winner QF1 vs Winner QF2, and Winner QF3 vs Winner QF4.
Losing semifinalists play the Bronze Medal Match for Third Place. Winning semifinalists play the Championship.
14. Divisions with two (2) brackets
Round robin: the top two (2) teams from each bracket advance to the Semifinals.
Semifinals: A1 vs B2, and B1 vs A2.
Losing semifinalists play the Bronze Medal Match for Third Place. Winning semifinalists play the Championship.
15. Divisions with one (1) bracket
Single round robin: all teams play each other once. The top four (4) teams advance to the Semifinals.
Semifinals: Rank #1 vs Rank #3, and Rank #2 vs Rank #4.
Losing semifinalists play the Bronze Medal Match for Third Place. Winning semifinalists play the Championship.
16. Round robin ranking and tie-breaking
Teams are ranked first by most match wins: the team with the most match victories ranks higher. If teams remain tied:
Two-team tie (identical win-loss records):
Head-to-head result: the winner of the match between the tied teams ranks higher.
Point differential: total points scored minus total points allowed.
Highest points for: the team with the greater total points scored in the round robin ranks higher.
Lowest points against: the team with fewer total points allowed in the round robin ranks higher.
One-point sudden-death playoff: if still tied after all of the above, a one-rally sudden-death playoff decides advancement.
Three-team or multiple-team tie (identical records):
Point differential (points for minus points against).
Highest points for.
Lowest points against.
One-point sudden-death playoff: if still tied, the tied teams play a one-point sudden-death playoff in a format set by the Tournament Director.
In case of wild cards: average point differential is used.
17. Tie-breaker examples
Two-way tie: Team A and Team B both finish 3-2, and Team A defeated Team B in the round robin. Team A advances and Team B ranks below Team A: head-to-head is the first tie-breaker for two-team ties.
Three-way tie: Teams A, B and C all finish 3-2. Go to point differential, then highest points for, then lowest points against, then a one-point sudden-death playoff. For example, Team A (55 for, 45 against, +10) ranks first, Team B (54-46, +8) second, Team C (50-48, +2) third, on point differential.
Second qualifier: Alpha finishes 4-1, Bravo and Charlie 3-2, Delta 0-5. Bravo beat Charlie, so Alpha qualifies as A1, Bravo as A2, and Charlie is eliminated.
18. Default and forfeiture
Players get a 5-minute grace period after the official match call.
Failing to appear within five (5) minutes is a default, and the opposing team is awarded the match.
19. Sportsmanship and player conduct
Unsportsmanlike conduct will not be tolerated.
Verbal abuse, offensive language, harassment, intimidation, paddle throwing, deliberate court abuse, or disrespect toward officials may result in a warning, a point penalty, match forfeiture, or tournament disqualification.
The Tournament Director's decision is final.
Registering means you agree to these