UPDATED START TIMES AS OF JULY 30

SATURDAY AUGUST 3 START TIMES

1. Major League Pickleball (skills 2.5, 3.0, and 3.5) (start time 8:30 a.m.)

2. Mens Doubles 4.5 (start time 12:30 p.m.)

3. Womens Doubles Skill 3.5 (age 50+) (start time 1:15 p.m.)

4. Mens Doubles Skill 3.5 (age 50+) (start time 1:15 p.m.)

SUNDAY AUGUST 4 START TIMES

1. Mixed Doubles Skill 3.0 (age 50+) (start time 8:30 a.m.)

2. Mixed Doubles Skill 3.5 (age 50+) (start time 8:30 a.m.)

3. Mixed Doubles Skill 3.5 (all ages) (start time 8:30 a.m.)

4. Mens Doubles Skill 3.0 (all ages) (start time 12:45 p.m.)

5. Womens Doubles Skill 3.0 (all ages) (start time 12:45 p.m.)

6. Major League Pickleball (skills 4.0/4.5) (start time 1:15 p.m.)

Welcome to the AMBERWOOD PICKLEBALL OPEN hosted by Ottawa's "Pickleball Dave", which will be held August 3-4, 2024 (the Civic Holiday weekend) at the Amberwood Village Golf and Recreation Club in Ottawa, ON. Ottawa's "Pickleball Dave" has organized more than 30 pickleball tournaments and is the author of the "Ottawa/Gatineau Pickleball News" newsletter. His main priorities when running tournaments are to give teams more games against more teams, allowing a high % of teams into the playoffs, and ensuring that waiting times between games are reasonable and predictable so players know when to eat and when to stretch.

There are options for recreational and less experienced players (skill 2.5-2.75), as well as for more experienced intermediate and advanced players. There will be two Major League Pickleball style "team events" (register as an individual, but will play as part of a larger team of 4-8 players), as well as traditional doubles events (register with a partner of your choice).

~ join waiting list if an event appears full, as some events may be able to accommodate additional players at a later time ~

The tournament will use the Franklin X-40 outdoor ball (same ball as the Pickleball Canada National Pickleball Championships August 20-24), which makes this a great opportunity for teams to practice before heading to the National Championships.

The tournament will use signage with all tournament results and the sequence of matches to help players understand the progress of the tournament and predict when they will play next, with regular verbal updates on waiting times; tournament director and volunteers will announce matchups and find players when its their turn to take a court. The PB brackets cellphone text service will not be used, and scores will not be captured in PB brackets in real-time. The tournament director will attempt to input results into PB Brackets after the tournament is complete.

Referees are not guaranteed for medal matches. However, TD will strive to find referees (and referees in training) to referee medal matches.

Registration Cost: $40 for first event; $20 for second and subsequent events; Pickleball Brackets charges a $5 US service per fee per event (to a maximum of $10USD even if you play 3 events)

FORMAT - TRADITIONAL DOUBLES EVENTS (REGISTER WITH A PARTNER OF YOUR CHOICE AND PLAY AS A TEAM OF 2)

- minimum 4 games to 15 points or 5 games to 11 points per team (depending on number of teams)

- 8 teams per event will make the playoffs (maximum of 12 teams per event, but the goal is 8-10 teams per event, 2 pools of 4 teams or 2 pools of 5 teams)

- gold/bronze medal matches will be best 2/3 games to 11 points (unless both teams agree, due to heat/fatigue, to one game to 15 points)

Medals: gold, silver, and bronze medals will be presented to the top 3 teams in each event based on playoff results

FORMAT - MAJOR LEAGUE PICKLEBALL (MLP) STYLE "TEAM EVENTS" (REGISTER AS AN INDIVIDUAL, AND BE ASSIGNED TO A TEAM OF 4-8 PLAYERS)

- minimum 4 games to 11 points, plus

- minimum 1 "team game" in round robin (where all players on the team play, with new players rotating into the game every 5 rallies) (rally scoring to 25 points)

- playoffs for top 4 teams (team games, rally scoring to 25 points, with new players rotating into game every 5 rallies)

- gold medals will be presented to the winning team

EVENT #1 (Saturday, August 3 from 8:30am - 1:00pm)

Major League Pickleball Team Event for players of skills 2.5 (recreational), 3.0 (low intermediate) and 3.5 (high intermediate). The goal is to have each team with a minimum of 2 players at the 2.5 skill level, a minimum of 2 players at the 3.0 skill level, and a minimum of 2 players at the 3.5 skill level. Players can expect to play most games against players of a similar skill level (e.g. 2.5s would play other 2.5s), but you might play 1 or 2 games with a player who is 0.5 away (e.g. a 3.5 and a 3.0 may play against a 3.5 and a 3.0). Players will register as an individual, and will be assigned to a larger team. The exact size and skill breakdown of each team will be determined once the registration numbers at each skill level are known. Tournament director will make best efforts to ensure gender parity in the composition of the teams, as well as each games. This may not be possible in all cases.

EVENT #2 (Sunday, August 4 from 12:45pm-5pm)

Similar to event #1, but is catered to players at the 4.0 and 4.5 skill level. Best efforts will be made to achieve gender and skill balance among the teams and in games played. The exact size and skill breakdown of each team will be determined once the registration numbers at each skill level are known.

In addition to traditional doubles games (2 players vs 2 players), teams will get at least one "team game" where all team members compete as one unit against another team (with new players rotating into the game every 5 rallies)

WEEKEND SCHEDULE

SATURDAY AUGUST 3 MORNING (8:30AM - 1:00PM)

- Major League Pickleball Style Team Event for players of skills 2.5 (recreational), 3.0 (low intermediate) and 3.5 (high intermediate). Each team will include players of skill 2.5, 3.0, and 3.5.

- Mens Doubles 4.0, age 50+

SATURDAY AUGUST 3 AFTERNOON (1:15PM - 5:45PM)

- Mens Doubles 3.5 (age 50+)

- Womens Doubles 3.5 (age 50+)

- Mens Doubles 4.5 (any age)

SUNDAY AUGUST 4 MORNING (8:30AM - 12:30PM

- Mixed Doubles 3.0 (age 50+)

- Mixed Doubles 3.5 (any age/all ages welcome)

- Mixed Doubles 3.5 (age 50+)

SUNDAY AUGUST 4 AFTERNOON (12:45PM - 5:00PM)

- Mens Doubles 3.0 (any age)

- Womens Doubles 3.0 (any age)

- Major League Pickleball Style Team Event for players of skills 4.0 and 4.5 Each team will include players of skill 4.0 and 4.5.

ALE Restaurant (Amberwood Lounge and Eatery)

This fully licensed restaurant is next to the pickleball courts with a great outdoor patio overlooking the golf course, and a great inside atmosphere. Grab a meal and a drink before or after your pickleball event.

https://www.aleottawa.ca/

FREE FREEZIES (limited)

A limited number of freezies (popsicles) will be available each day in a cooler that will be onsite. First come first serve while supplies last. I'd ask you limit yourself to one at a time to leave some for other players.

MAJOR LEAGUE PICKLEBALL STYLE TEAM EVENTS

I will do my best to accommodate all players interested in the Major League Pickleball style team events. However, these events require teams of equal size and even distribution of skill levels; so it is possible that a small number of players may not be able to be accommodated and will depend on how many players register. If a player cannot be accommodated for this reason, they will receive a full refund (no administration fee), and tournament director will also e-transfer them a refund of their Pickleball Brackets Service Fee to ensure the player does not lose any money.

Also, if TD feels a player is not close enough in skill to the rest of the field of players, he may suggest a move to a different skill level to ensure the most competitive matches (players most similar in skill level) for all players involved . If the player is not interested and wants to withdraw in this circumstance, they will receive a full refund.

WEATHER

For weather related issues, see the weather section below.

PLAYER WITHDRAWALS

Please withdraw early if you cannot play, as late withdraws cause scheduling issues, extra work, and may mess up the draws for other players.

For player withdrawal/refund requests received up until Sunday, July 28, players will receive a full refund of their registration fees minus a $10 administration fee (if withdrawing from 1 event only) or a $15 administration fee (if withdrawing from 2 or more events).

For player withdrawal/refund request between Monday July 29 or Tuesday July 30, players will receive a full refund minus a $20 admin fee (or a $25 admin fee if withdrawing from 2 or more events)

There will be no refunds issued for withdrawals on Wednesday August 31 and afterwards.

The PB Brackets service fee is charged separately ($5USD per event, to a maximum of $10USD even if you play 3 events) and cannot be refunded.

WEATHER

This is an outdoor tournament, and we will do our best to complete events even if there are delays due to rain/extreme weather.

If one of your events cannot be completed, you will receive a full refund of your registration fees minus a $10 administration fee. If two or more of your events cannot be completed, you will receive a full refund of your registration fees minus a $15 administration fee.

The PB Brackets service fee is charged separately ($5USD per event, to a maximum of $10USD even if you play 3 events) and cannot be refunded.