Come join us for our 1st Youth Tournament, February 7-8 at Armory Pickleball Bellingham!
EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION OPENS December 23, 2025. REGISTER NOW TO SAVE $$$
Early Bird Registration is $40
REGULAR REGISTRATION OPENS January 15, 2026.
Regular Registration is $45
LATE REGISTRATION OPENS January 23, 2026.
Late Registration is $50.
Registration closes January 30th at midnight.
HOTELS: We have discounted rates available from local Marriott, Hampton, and Holiday Inn hotels. Promo codes and contact information are below.
Marriott is offering a discounted rate when booking online at both the SpringHill and TownePlace hotels.
Go to Marriott.com, and input code A5258 as a "Special Rate."
SpringHill Information
Hotel Address: 4040 Northwest Ave, Bellingham, WA 98226
Hotel Phone: (360) 714-9600
TownePlace Information
Address: 4050 Northwest Ave, Bellingham, WA 98226
Phone: (360) 714-9700
The Hampton Inn in Bellingham is offering a special 20% off rate to MLK tournament registrants! Please go to https://hil.tn/iy7qzd to redeem this rate when you make your reservation.
Hotel Address: 1055 W Bakerview Rd, Bellingham, WA 98226
Hotel Phone Number: (360) 812-7200
The Holiday Inn and Suites near the Bellingham Airport is offering a special discount rate to our tournament registrants.
Go to https://shorturl.at/LlDuS to redeem this rate when you make your reservation
Hotel Address: 4260 Mitchell Way, Bellingham, WA 98226
Hotel Phone Number: (360) 746-6844
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE:
All start times are estimates and may change once registration is closed.
SATURDAY, February 7th: Age 12 and Under events (Coed Doubles, Coed Singles)
SUNDAY, February 8th: Age 13-16 events (Coed Doubles)
- Start times for each event will be finalized after registration closes and announced by Tuesday, February 3rd. We reserve the right to make changes due to unforeseen circumstances, but we will do our best to keep the tournament running on schedule and let all players know as soon as possible about any changes.
- You and your partner register separately. Once you register, your partner must register within 4 days or YOU WILL BE MOVED TO THE WAITING LIST and your spot is no longer secure as the event may fill. For people who have registered and are still on the waiting list at the end of the tournament, a full refund will be issued.
**Once an event's max number of players is hit, all new registrations will go to the wait list**
FORMAT:
- Round-robin games, with medal matches for the top 4 teams based on round robin standings.
- There will be a maximum of 8 teams per doubles event, and 8 players per singles event. With round-robin, this means a guarantee of 7 games. If fewer than 8 teams are registered for an event, 5 games will be guaranteed.
- For pool play (before medal round) games are to 15, win by 2 with rally scoring.
- For medal rounds, games are to 21, win by 2 (cap at 25) with rally scoring.
- At the end of pool play, medal rounds are determined based on the following criteria, in order: 1) games won, 2) head to head, 3) point differential, 4) head to head point differential, and 5) point differential against next highest team. Standings are always based on games won unless there is a tie, which is broken by the next scoring metric (head to head), and so on.
SCORING:
We will be using the 2026 USA Pickleball provisional rally scoring rules for this tournament. PLEASE READ ON: There are different ways to do rally scoring. Please read this carefully and then practice using this rally scoring method before playing at the tournament.
🏓 Rally Scoring Doubles — Quick Reference Guide
👋 The 2026 USA Pickleball provisional rally scoring rules have been developed to help create a faster-paced format that simplifies scoring and is more engaging for players and spectators alike. This guide gives you the essentials of rally scoring so that you can feel confident in your game and focus on having fun during the tournament.
🏛️ Rally Scoring Doubles is provisionally approved for tournaments by USA Pickleball under Rule 12.B.1.a of the 2026 Official Rulebook.
🔢 What Is Rally Scoring?
- A point is awarded after every rally, no matter who served.
- No second server — the player that serves serves until they lose a rally.
- Pool play games are won by 2 points and can be won without being the serving team
- Medal matches must be won by 2 points, and can be won without being the serving team.
🔄 Serving & Positioning Rules
*Situation* *What Happens*
Game Start Starting server serves from right (even) side at 0–0
Winning a rally Same server continues serving until a side-out (changing sides with each point earned).
After each rally The team that wins the rally gets a point and changes sides.
Losing a Rally Side out. Other team gets a point and becomes the serving team.
(The team that loses the rally doesn't change sides.)
Score is Even Starting server (identified with a wrist band) is on the right side
Score is Odd Starting server (identified with a wrist band) is on the left side
After Side Out Players switch sides to correct position. New server starts serving from right side.
(Player position will always match the score)
🏓Winning the Game
- You do not have to have served to score the winning point
- You need to win by 2 points for round-robin matches (pool play).
- For medal matches you need to win by 2 points.
DUPR:
-This is a DUPR-rated tournament. Scores will be automatically uploaded to DUPR following each event.
CONCESSION AND SWAG:
Water and some free snacks will be provided. There are also items for purchase in the Armory Pickleball pro shop including Armory and tournament-specific merch, paddles, and other pickleball accessories.
PAYMENT:
Payment via credit card (Stripe) is due when you register. There is a non-refundable service fee of $5 per player. See refund policy below.
PADDLES AND BALLS:
- Selkirk Pro S1 balls will be used. You can purchase this ball here: https://tinyurl.com/bdc37akv
- Paddles must be UPA (United Pickleball Association) or USAP (USA Pickleball, formerly known as USAPA) approved. Your paddle must have an approval sticker from one organization OR the other (it does not need both)
- Pickleball Tournaments charges a $5 service fee for registering for EACH of the first TWO events. To avoid paying an unnecessary service fee, if you are wanting to CHANGE events, be sure to drop the first event BEFORE adding the second event. If you add a second event first and then drop the first event, you will be charged the second event fee of $5. No extra fee is charged for signing up for more than two events.
- A minimum of 5 games are guaranteed. Number of games played and points per game will depend on registration. Our goal is to maximize the number of rallies each team gets to play, and the number of other teams each team gets to play, while staying on schedule to ensure that each event starts on time. Pool play will be round-robin (each team plays every other team in your pool). Under special circumstances and with advanced notice, we may use waterfall format (playing 4 best matches before the medal round).
