Road to Minors (RTM) Tournament Series is a tournament series to provide a pathway for amateur players to qualify for one of D.C. Pickleball Team’s Minor League Pickleball (MiLP)DUPR 12-22 rosters. The top performing players in the RTM Series will have a chance to showcase their skills during the RTM Cup (Finals) at the end of the year through MLP format play. It will also allow players to build their DUPR profiles and gain valuable match play experience while being evaluated by the D.C. Pickleball Team coaching staff and front office.

RTM Schedule and Registration

The RTM tournament schedule is listed below and you can sign up through the DTL and DCPT website and/or directly on pickleballbrackets.com.

Round 1: Friday, Feb 28 – Sunday, March 2 & Friday, March 7 - Sunday, March 9 (Fairfax)

Round 2: Friday, April 11 – Sunday, April 13 & Friday, April 18 - Sunday, April 20 (Fairfax)

Round 3: Friday, May 23 – Sunday, May 25 & Friday, May 30 - Sunday, June 1 (Fairfax)

*Final Registration Deadline for 1st weekend of tournaments will be the Wednesday before the 1st day (e.g. Feb 26th for Round 1. The Final Registration Deadline for the 2nd weekend of tournaments will be the Sunday before the 2nd Friday (e.g. March 5th for Round 1).

Round 4: Friday, June 27 – Sunday, June 29 (Annandale)

Round 5: Friday, July 25 – Sunday, July 27 (Annandale)

Round 6: Friday, August 22 – Sunday, August 24 (Annandale)

Round 7: Friday, Sept 19 – Sunday, Sept 21 (Annandale)

Round 8: Friday, October 17 – Sunday, October 19 (Annandale)

Round 9: Friday, November 14 – Sunday, November 16 (Annandale) - RTM CUP

The Dink Minor League Pickleball Nationals: December

RTM Levels - RTM will mirror the DUPR rating session levels:

Level 1: 3.0-3.49 (men’s/women’s/mixed doubles)

Level 2: 3.5-3.9 (men’s/women’s/mixed doubles)

Level 3: 4.0-4.49 (men’s/women’s/mixed doubles)

Level 4: 4.5+ (men’s/women’s/mixed doubles)

Level 5: Open Division (men's/women's/mixed doubles)

RTM Format

All players sign up with a partner for each division they want to play. There will be a maximum of 8 teams (16 players) registered per division (i.e., DUPR level 1 (3.0-3.49) men’s doubles will have a maximum of 8 teams. DUPR level 1 (3.0-3.49) women’s doubles will have a maximum of 8 teams and so on). There will be a waitlist if a particular division fills up. Waitlist entrants will be notified 24 hours beforehand if they have entered. DTL may choose to offer multiple “flights” of the same division if one division does not fill up (i.e., if DUPR level 1 (3.0-3.49) men’s doubles only get 1 signup and DUPR level 2 (3.50-3.99) men’s doubles gets 14 signups DTL will run two sessions for level 2 and cancel level 1 for that day).

If 4 teams registered: Every team will play against each other once for best 2 out of 3 games each match. Each game will be played to 11 points win by 1. All 4 teams will then advance finals. Seed 1 vs. Seed 2 for Gold/Silver and Seed 3 vs. Seed 4 for Bronze. Finals will consist of 1 game to 15 win by 2.

If 6 teams registered: Every team will play against each other once in round robin format with a guarantee of 5 games. The top 4 teams from each will advance to the semi-finals. The winners of semifinals will play for 1st/2nd while the losers of semifinals will play for 4th.

Every pool play round and semi-finals will consist of 1 game to 15 points, win by 1.

Finals will consist of 1 game to 15 points, win by 2.

If 8 teams registered: There will be 2 pools of 4 teams. Every pool will play round robin format and get a guarantee of 3 games. The top 2 teams from each pool will advance to the semi-finals. The winners of semifinals will play for 1st/2nd while the losers of semifinals will play for 4th.

Every pool play round and semi-finals will consist of 1 game to 15 points, win by 1.

Finals will consist of 1 game to 15 points, win by 2.

Tournaments at DTL Fairfax will be allotted 3 hour time slots. Each tournament should complete in approximately 2.5 hours (6 total rounds with 3 courts being used).

RTM Point System

RTM Gold:

1st Place (1,000)

2nd Place (700)

3rd Place (400)

4th Place (200)

5th Place (100)

6th Place (50)

RTM Silver:

1st Place (700)

2nd Place (400)

3rd Place (200)

4th Place (125)

5th Place (75)

6th Place (25)

RTM Bronze:

1st Place (400)

2nd Place (250)

3rd Place (100)

4th Place (75)

RTM series points are awarded to players across three divisions (men’s doubles, women’s doubles, and mixed doubles) throughout the calendar year culminating to RTM Cup qualification. Players acquire separate points for each division (i.e. a player who plays men's doubles and mixed doubles will have separate points accumulated for men's doubles and separate points accumulated for mixed doubles). Points accumulated for different divisions (e.g. Mens Doubles vs. Mixed Doubles) will be tracked separately.

RTM Requirements

- All players must have an active DUPR account and rating

- All players must be a DUPR member of Down the Line Fairfax, Down the Line Annandale, and DC Pickleball Team

- All players must participate in a minimum of two (2) RTM DUPR sessions held at DTL before you can register for any of the RTM Tournament dates other than the first Tournament date where only one (1) RTM DUPR session will be required

RTM Series Perks

- All participants will receive an RTM branded shirt

- Medalists will receive DCPT x DTL merch (1st, 2nd, 3rd place)

- Sponsored giveaway items at each tournament

- An opportunity to make the DCPT MiLP rosters

- Build your DUPR profile for D.C. Pickleball Team to track and evaluate as you make your way along the Road to Minors

- A chance to win MLP DC tickets by joining the DCPT & DTL DUPR Club Accounts

- Social media promotion through DTL & DCPT channels

There is a No Refund policy for all DUPR rating sessions and RTM tournaments 7 days before the day of the event. If you cancel and someone on the waitlist is able to fill your spot DTL may issue you a refund as long as the cancellation is made 48 hours prior to the day of the event. Service fees cannot be refunded.