<p><strong>SCHEDULE OVERVIEW</strong></p>
<p>The tournament will run daily from approximately 8 AM to 10 PM. Players will be moved on and off the courts quickly between games—please be ready to play as soon as your match is called.</p>
<p>For full details, check the <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1AbqYeJC8XpysLuDXWVun1OkQuzJPvlQHg0hDhPqxqdQ/edit?tab=t.0#heading=h.7nvlksbbui58" target="_blank" style="color: #0000EE; text-decoration: underline; font-weight: bold;">Player Packet</a>.</p>
<p><strong>PRIDE PARTY DOUBLES – BONUS FRIDAY NIGHT EVENT</strong></p>
<p>Join us Friday evening for the Pride Party Doubles event — a fun, lightly competitive round robin celebrating Pride through inclusive and spirited play. This event is included with your tournament registration and requires advanced registration.</p>
<p>This event is open to players of all ages and skill levels. Any two players can team up, regardless of gender identity or pairing style. While medals will be awarded, the event is not DUPR rated and is intended to emphasize community, celebration, and connection. Music and a festive atmosphere will be provided — come for the pickleball, stay for the party!</p>
<p><strong>Format:</strong>: Round robin play with medals for the top teams in each division. Requires a partner. This event will not go towards your official DUPR rating.</p>
<p>Pride Party Doubles divisions:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><em>Pride Party Doubles – Beginner Division</em><br>Ideal for new players or casual rec players — come have fun!</li>
<li><em>Pride Party Doubles – Intermediate Division</em><br>For experienced players who enjoy a bit of friendly competition.</li>
<li><em>Pride Party Doubles – Advanced Division</em><br>Fast-paced play for high-level players ready to throw down and celebrate.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>CHECK-IN</strong></p> <p>Players must check in at the tournament desk at least 30 minutes before the start of their event. Players who fail to check in may be withdrawn from the event.</p>
<p><strong>WEATHER AND RAINOUT POLICY</strong></p> <p>Since this is an indoor tournament, weather-related cancellations will not result in refunds.</p>
<p><strong>BRACKET FORMATS</strong></p> <p>All amateur play will be round-robin (pool play) with playoffs. All teams/players will play a minimum of 3 games, with 4.5, 4.75, and 5.0+ divisions playing a minimum of 4 games (at least 3-4 games to 15 or 6 games to 11).</p> <p>The top 4 teams/players from each pool will advance to the playoffs.</p> <p>Gold, Silver, and Bronze medals will be awarded for each event.</p> <p>CASH PRIZES for Gold winners in the Open Division!</p>
<p><strong>VENUE</strong><br>Lost Pines Pickleball Club, Bastrop, Texas</p> <p><strong>PAYMENT</strong></p> <p>Players who or whose partners have not paid within 48 hours of registering may be moved to the waitlist.</p> <p><strong>PLAYERS WITHOUT A PARTNER</strong></p> <p>Players who do not have a partner may be moved to the waitlist 3 weeks before the registration close date.</p>
<p><strong>REFEREE</strong></p> <p>Players will be responsible for their own line calls and scoring. Tournament staff will be available to assist if needed.</p> <p><strong>TOURNAMENT BALLS</strong></p> <p>Balls will be provided and available at the registration desk. Players must return the balls after each match.</p> <p><strong>WARM-UP</strong></p> <p>Players are welcome to warm up on the courts prior to the start of the tournament or on available outdoor courts. Players will be given up to 5 minutes of warm-up time before their first match of the day and up to 2 minutes for each subsequent match.</p>
<p><strong>SKILL LEVELS</strong></p> <ul> <li>Singles, Doubles, and Mixed Doubles categories are divided into multiple skill and age levels.</li> <li>Players may sign up for multiple events in the same day across different categories (e.g., Mixed Doubles and Men's Doubles).</li> <li>Players may register for multiple skill levels within the same category if the events take place on different days.</li> <li>Players cannot sign up for multiple skill levels in the same category on the same day.</li> </ul> <p>Please ensure you sign up for the appropriate skill level. Players who have medaled in higher-level events are not eligible for lower levels (e.g., if you’ve medaled in 4.5 Mixed, you cannot compete in 4.0 Mixed). Players may choose to compete in higher levels if they wish, but players who sign up for lower skill levels may be moved to the appropriate category.</p> <p>For assistance with determining your skill level, please visit <a href="https://usapickleball.org/tournaments/tournament-player-ratings/player-skill-rating-definitions/" target="_blank">this link</a>.</p> <p><strong>TOURNAMENT RULES</strong></p> <p>The event will follow USAPA rules (see: <a href="https://usapickleball.org/what-is-pickleball/official-rules/" target="_blank">USAPA Official Rules</a>). Players may ask questions or report violations at the tournament desk. The tournament director may modify the USAPA rules as necessary for fair play.</p> <p>Tournament directors will not validate all paddles, but players may report any issues to the tournament desk. We will allow players to switch paddles if necessary instead of automatically forfeiting a match, particularly for paddles that are no longer approved despite once being stamped as such.</p> <p><strong>DUPR</strong></p> <p>Scores from the tournament will be submitted to DUPR. It may take 2-4 weeks for results to appear. If you notice any discrepancies in reporting, please reach out to us once the full results are posted.</p> <p><strong>GENDER INCLUSION POLICY</strong></p> <p>We believe everyone, regardless of gender identity, expression, or sex variation, should have the opportunity to participate in the tournament without discrimination. Our goal is to provide a safe, inclusive environment for all players, including transgender and non-binary individuals.</p> <p>This year, we are introducing the "Pride Open" category in addition to the existing Women's, Men's, and Mixed categories. This change is intended to balance community needs while fostering an inclusive, welcoming environment for players of all gender identities. We welcome feedback on how to improve this offering for future events.</p> <p>We understand that gender inclusion is a complex issue and encourage any suggestions or feedback to improve our policies for future tournaments.</p> <p><strong>TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR</strong><br>AJ Davis – Contact: <a href="mailto:support@zerozerofun.com">support@zerozerofun.com</a></p>
