Pickleball Tournament Information
1. How many participants should a tournament have?It all depends on the number of courts and the time you have. Normally, it is recommended to calculate six teams per court per day, i.e., for six courts, you would want to have a maximum of 36 teams. It is up to you and how comfortable you are with managing the schedule. It is also recommended to accept fewer teams if it is your first pickleball tournament. Even if you have organized many tournaments in other sports, you will find that pickleball has its own characteristics, and it is better to start with a smaller tournament at first to get used to a pickleball tournament and then adjust for your next tournament. Work with your Tournament Director to decide what will work best for you and your organization.
2. What are Competition Categories for a pickleball tournament?Pickleball tournaments are usually held over three days (Friday, Saturday, Sunday iscommon). Each day will focus on one of three popular competition categories, Womens Doubles, Mens Doubles and Mixed Doubles. Some larger tournaments will add Youth, Mens and Womens Singles and add a fourth day to the schedule. Ultimately, the sponsoring organization and tournament director will make the final decision on who plays on which day, depending on the number of players registered in each competition category.
3. What are the Skill Levels for a Pickleball Tournament? Pickleball tournaments offer skill levels for most players. Tournaments usually start at the 3.0 (Advanced Beginner) skill level although a few may offer a 2.5 (Beginner) skill level. Tournaments will also offer events for skill levels 3.5 (Intermediate), 4.0 (Advanced Intermediate), 4.5 (Advanced), and 5.0 (Pre-Professional). Large tournaments will offer professional levels of events (Skill Level 5.0+).
4. What are the Age Groups for a Pickleball Tournament? Choosing age groups for your tournament should be based on the target player audience that you want to attract with your tournament. The average age of a pickleball player in the U.S. is now 30 years old, however there are many players in the mid- to older-adult age groups and younger participants in the 14+ groups that remain competitive and enjoy tournaments. However, it is important to remember that older adults do not want to play with younger players, even at the same skilllevel. Therefore, you should consider a logical separation of age groups to allow forcompetitive and fun playing experience for all players. Here are some options:
OPTION 1 OPTION 2 OPTION 3 OPTION 4 OPTION 5__ 19-29 __ 19-39 __ 19-34 __ 19-24 __ 50+__ 30-39 __ 40-49 __ 35-49 __ 25-29 __ 70+__ 40-49 __ 50-59 __ 50-59 __ 30-34__ 50-59 __ 60-69 __ 60-69 __ 35-39 __ 60-69 __ 70+ __ 70+ __ 40-44 __ 70+ __ 45-49
__ 50-54
__ 55-59
__ 60-64
__ 65-69
__ 70+
Despite your best efforts to keep age groups separated for reasonable and equitablecompetition, you cannot make everyone happy. Try and find a format that will please most players. You also need to consider a daily plan for how many participants will play in each age group and skill level, and how many courts you will need in your venue to run each competitive category bracket. Keep it easy for you!
5. How much time should I schedule for each match? There are several factors to consider with this question. First, what is your choice for Match Format (Single Elimination with Consolation Bracket, Double Elimination with Consolation Bracket, Round Robin or Pool Play). Second, are your matches played one game to 11 or 15 or are they best two out of three games to 11. More potential games mean more time required. Third, higher skill levels tend to go faster due to the quality and speed of the games. Here are some approximate game times:One game to 11, win by one with two timeouts/team 15-25 minutesOne game to 15, win by one with two timeouts/team 20-30 minutesTwo out or three games, win by two, two timeouts/team/game 45-60 minutesIt may be best to calculate all your games using the highest amount of estimated time. That will better give you a chance to better determine how many teams you can handle at any given time during each play day, the amount of time each competition bracket will take and the courts you will need to complete the bracket through to the medal rounds. Finally, figuring this all out will help you decide when to start your tournament each day and how long you will be there later in the afternoon or early evening. Other timing considerations are 1) if you choose a round robin format, each round of players must be done with that round’s play before you announce the next round matchups, and 2) if you have a team or teams that have a bye in one of the rounds, try to get that team to play in the first match of the next round. Your Tournament Director will keep the matches flowing as quickly as possible. This will keep players from complaining if they wait too long to play their next match.
6. How do I decide which format to use in a Pickleball Tournament? Players tend to favor a round robin format because even if a team does not have the best win-loss record, they are assured to play a minimum number of games based on the total number of teams in the round robin bracket. For example, if there are six teams, there will be five rounds of play. Each team will play a minimum of five games. Highest ranking teams will then move forward to play in the medal round matches. If time is an issue in a round robin format, you may want to have rounds with one game to 11 or 15, win by 1. In events with six teams or less, you can offer games to 15, win by 2, simply to make teams feel like they can maximize play time for their registration fees. If you have four teams, then allow for a double round robin format, where all teams play each other twice. Here, games to 11, win by 1 are recommended. As noted above, other options exist for you to choose for match formats, i.e., Single Elimination with Consolation Bracket, Double Elimination with Consolation Bracket, or Pool Play. Single Elimination with Consolation Bracket means that all teams start in the “Winner Bracket”. As soon as a team loses its first game, it drops to a Consolation Bracket. If that team wins all its matches in the Consolation Bracket, it wins the Bronze Medal. Only the top two teams in the Winner Bracket can play for Gold and Silver. Double Elimination with Consolation Bracket also means that all teams start in the “Winner Bracket”. When a team loses its first match, it drops into a “Consolation Bracket”. Any loss in the bracket is the second loss and that team is out of the competition. The loser of the Consolation Bracketreceives the Bronze, while the Winners of both Winner and Consolation Brackets play for Gold and Silver. Pool Play usually means you have more than 12 teams. You split the field evenly into two pools and each pool plays their own round robin. Commonly the two top teams will play the second-place teams from the opposite pool. Losers play for Bronze, winner play for Gold and Silver. Pre-Medal and Medal playoff matches may have one of two favored formats. This is usually a one game to 15, win by 1, change ends at 8 points. As noted above, the last two teams in a Consolation Bracket or the 3rd and 4th place teams in a Round Robin or Pool Play format will play this match format for the Bronze Medal. Gold-Silver playoff matches or almost exclusively best two out of three games to 11, win by 2, change ends at six if a third match is necessary. For Double Elimination formats, the winner of the Consolation Bracket will play the winner or the Winner Bracket for Gold or Silver Medals. If the winner of the Consolation Bracket wins the best of two out of three games match, this means that the winner of the Winner Bracket has now lost its first game. This forces a final one game to 15, win by 1. Whoever loses this game (second loss for either team) is awarded the Silver Medal; the winner receives the Gold Medal.
7. How many teams are there in each category? The total number of teams in a tournament competition category is rarely more than 10-12 teams and most smaller tournaments cap the maximum number or teams at 14. This allows the tournament director to best decide on what format will be used for each bracket within a competition category. Here is a typical breakdown of how you should organize your tournament competition category bracket formats based on the number of registered teams you end up with. Brackets with 3 teams play a double round robin, 1 game to 15, win by 2, change ends at 8. The top team has a bye while the other two teams play for Bronze. The winner of that match plays the top team for Gold/Silver. This match is best 2/3 games to 11, win by 2, change ends at 6. Brackets with 4 to 9 teams play 1 game to 11, win by 2, change ends at 8 or 1 game to 15, win by 2, change ends at 8. Top four teams move to a playoff; 1 versus 4 and 2 versus 3, all with a referee. Winners play for Gold/Silver, best 2/3 games to 11, win by 2, change ends at 6. Non-Winners play for Bronze, one game to 15, win by 2, change ends at 8. Brackets with 10 or more teams are split into two pools. Top two teams from each pool move to a playoff; Both 1st -place teams play, and both 2nd -place teams play. Both matches are 1 game to 15, win by 2, change ends at 8. Winners play for Gold/Silver, best 2/3 games to 11, win by 2, change ends at 6. Non-winners play for Bronze, 1 game to 15, win by 2, change ends at 8.
8. How do you manage registration? There are several pickleball software programs and online applications available to help you in the organization and management of your tournament. The most popular and recognized software is PickleballBrackets.com. It does have nominal fees for each event and player registration. If you choose to take player registration manually, it is more challenging, and you will have to create your registration and scorekeeping forms. Using a manual method also requires you to have players send you emails, texts and personal messages to register, answer questions, communicate tournament information and court assignments.
9. How do you manage payments? There are several options to receive player payments. If you are using a software program to manage registration, you can set up your tournament in the software that the players use to pay and confirm their registration. A common program is STRIPE, if you register your tournament through PickleballBrackets.com. The sponsoring tournament organization may also set up their own STRIPE account.Other options include setting up an Escrow Service or Online Payment for players toregister through. You can also consider E-transfer by email or text, or even take payment on-site only on game days. It depends on what method you are most comfortable to facilitate covering expenses for your tournament.
10. How do you manage refunds? Each tournament director is responsible for managing their refund policy depending on their needs and expenses, but each player should have a chance to receive a refund in case they have to withdraw for injury, illness or other personal reasons. The tournament director may decide to deduct an administration fee from any refund. A tournament director can also decide to give a full refund, a partial refund or no refund, but it is always at the discretion of the tournament director. Information regarding the tournament refund policy should be explained to players in the tournament email page, or through a tournament email message prior to players registering.
11. How do you manage match results?If you choose to use a software program, all the tournament match results will have to be entered into the software program. The internal algorithms will calculate the results and team eligibility pre-medal and medal match participation in each competition category and bracket. If you choose not to use a software program, there are several online pickleball organizations that offer scorecards to collect match results, as well as forms to keep track of bracket standings and which teams will be eligible for pre-medal and medal participation. Manual systems are more time-intensive on your part and can take time and focus away from your overall tournament organization and management.
12. What awards do you want? This is a subjective decision on the part of the tournament sponsor organization. Although you cannot please everyone, pickleball tournaments traditionally offer medals (Gold, Silver and Bronze). Some tournaments will offer a cash prize for 4th place in addition to the top three medals, so all four teams in the medal matches receive something. Some players prefer cash prizes while others feel it is important to stay with medals. First time players take pride in winning a medal as a souvenir of their achievement, while others no longer find it that important. Other options open to you are cash prizes, gift certificates or merchandise (commonly referred to as “SWAG”). Whatever you choose, ensure you specify what your awards or prizes will be in your pre-tournament communication with prospective players.
To set up your own Pickleball Tournament, contact:Suzanne Remington“Pickleball Tournaments by AZ Pickleball ChickTM”www.azpickleballchick@gmail.com(520) 330-2655