General Guidelines:
Round Robin Format: All tournament events will follow a round robin format.
Events:
Match Format: During Round Robin play, matches will be a single game to 11 points, requiring a win by 2 points. Games are capped at 25 minutes.
Playoffs and Medal Rounds: There will be no playoffs or medal rounds. We will keep a running tally of scores for each park as they compete, and the park with the most points at the end of the day will receive a banner to display at their park.
Skill Level: Please ensure you are signing up for the appropriate skill level. Tournament organizers and team captains have the right to move people up or down as needed.
Organizational Authority: The Tournament Director and Committee reserve the right to modify the format of any bracket, division, or level as necessary to ensure the smooth operation of the event. They also have the authority to change any rules or policies as needed. This adaptability is essential for responding to unforeseen circumstances and enhancing the tournament experience for all participants.
Ratings: Matches will NOT be reported to DUPR by the tournament, however, player ratings on Pickleball Brackets will be updated based on match results. Players are welcome to self report matches to DUPR. If you do not have a DUPR account and want a rating post match, we recommend that you sign up for an account prior to the event so that matches can be self-reported to DUPR by players. Matches will not be able to be entered on DUPR if players do not have a DUPR account/profile.
Additional Guidelines:
1. Players must play with a USA Pickleball-approved paddle. You are responsible for ensuring that the paddle you play with is listed on the Approved Paddle List posted on the USA Pickleball website. JOOLA GEN3 PADDLES ARE NOT APPROVED FOR USE AT THIS TIME.
2. Players are responsible for calling all the lines on their end of the court. Please make all “out” calls loudly, clearly, and promptly, even if they are obvious. The Code of Ethics for Line Calling requires that you give the opponent the benefit of the doubt. When in doubt, the ball is in!
3. Each player's service must comply with USA Pickleball requirements. For a volley serve, when the ball is hit:
a. The server’s arm must be moving in an upward arc.
b. The highest point of the paddle head must not be above the highest point of the server’s wrist.
c. The ball must not be above the server’s waist. For a drop serve, the ball must be dropped from the hand or paddle, with no force added, from an unaided height.
4. Any double hit can be hit twice, but this must occur during a continuous, single-direction stroke.
5. Players may quickly hydrate and towel off between rallies within the flow of the game.
6. Players may call a hinder if they are distracted by a ball, person, or object coming into their
playing area.
7. Players may only receive coaching from someone other than their partner during a time-out.
8. Any player may call a time-out before the server hits the ball to serve. Each team has one
1-minute (standard) time-outs per 11-point game.
9. Each player may request one medical time-out per match to address injuries and medical conditions. When a player requests a medical time-out, medical personnel (or the Tournament Director) will be summoned to assess whether the need is valid. If the request is deemed not valid, the requesting player will be charged a standard time-out (if available) and issued a technical warning. If the player has no remaining time-outs, a technical foul will be issued (resulting in a 1-point score adjustment).
10. In accordance with the USA Pickleball Concussion Protocol, any player sustaining a head
injury will not be permitted to resume play without a written release from a licensed health care
professional.
11. Any player may request the Tournament Director if the player believes that a rule is being consistently violated or when players are not able to resolve a dispute quickly and easily.
12. Players are expected to exhibit good sportsmanship at all times. Any action deemed by the Tournament Director to be unsportsmanlike will result in a verbal warning, technical warning, or a technical foul against the offending player. A game will be forfeited if the player or team receives a technical warning and a technical foul, or three technical warnings, during a match. The match will be forfeited if the equivalent of four technical warnings is obtained.
13. To determine serving team, there will be a number written on the back of the score sheet that one team will need to guess. If they guess right, they can select serve or side, if incorrect the other team selects.
14. Players will have 2 minutes prior to the match to warm up.
