As a pickleball player who wants to gain more experience, the next step is to join tournaments and do your best to win. But aside from preparing hard for your first tournament, you should know how pickleball tournaments work.
After reading this comprehensive guide, you will learn everything about pickleball tournaments. It includes the different event categories, formats, rules, and the scoring system.
How Do Pickleball Tournaments Work?
Pickleball tournaments are competitive events where players are usually divided according to skill levels. Winners advance to the next round and will play against other winners, while losers may face another losing player until a player is eliminated from the tournament. As a grand winner of a pickleball tournament, you will receive a trophy, cash, and other incentives. Therefore, a pickleball tournament is a battle to be the best.
Sanctioned vs Non-Sanctioned Tournaments: What's the Difference?
Generally speaking, there are two types of pickleball tournaments - sanctioned and non-sanctioned. The main difference is that the former is authorized by one of the sport's governing bodies, such as USA Pickleball. On the other hand, non-sanctioned tournaments are smaller-scale matches. Below are the other differences between them:
Sanctioned Tournaments
- Played by professional and amateur players
- Very competitive but well-organized
- Have strict, specific rules
- Often offer cash prizes for the winners
- Results affect a player's UTPR or DUPR. For more details, read our Pickleball Player Skill Ratings Guide.
- Most events have referees and line judges.
Non-Sanctioned Tournaments.
- Professional and amateur players may also play it
- Events are not necessarily competitive
- May offer small cash prizes to winners
- Results don't affect players' official rankings
- Referees and line judges are not required
Related Post: USA Pickleball-Sanctioned Tournaments Guide: Pros and Cons
USA Pickleball Tournament Event Categories
According to Section 12 of the 2024 Official USA Pickleball Rulebook, players can either be grouped according to gender or mix men with women in doubles. And since pickleball is for everyone, players using wheelchairs have separate tournaments. To give you an idea, here are different event categories in pickleball tournaments under USA Pickleball:
- Men: Singles and Doubles
- Women: Singles and Doubles
- Mixed: Doubles
- Wheelchair: Singles and Doubles
Note: Players using wheelchairs may also play in Doubles (Men and Women) or Mixed Doubles with either standing or players who use wheelchairs.
What are the USA Pickleball-Approved Events?
If you want to play in a tournament sanctioned by USA Pickleball, there's always a place for you, depending on your age. Here, players are categorized into three major age groupings - Juniors (18 and below), Adults (19 and above), and Seniors (above 50). Their ages on December 31st of the tournament year determine their ages for the entire tournament year. Below are the USA Pickleball-approved events.
Junior Events
- Girl's 12 and below: Singles, Mini Singles, Doubles, and Mixed Doubles
- Girl's 14 and below: Singles, Mini Singles, Doubles, and Mixed Doubles
- Girl's 18 and below: Singles, Mini Singles, Doubles, and Mixed Doubles
- Boy's 12 and below: Singles, Mini Singles, Doubles, and Mixed Doubles
- Boy's 14 and below: Singles, Mini Singles, Doubles, and Mixed Doubles
- Boy's 18 and below: Singles, Mini Singles, Doubles, and Mixed Doubles
Adult Events
- 19 and above: Men's & Women's Singles, Men's & Women's Mini Singles, Doubles, and Mixed Doubles (May also be labeled "Under 30" to encourage Junior participation)
- 30 and above: Men's & Women's Singles, Men's & Women's Mini Singles, Doubles, and Mixed Doubles
- 40 and above: Men's & Women's Singles, Men's & Women's Mini Singles, Doubles, and Mixed Doubles
Senior Events
- 50 and above: Men's & Women's Singles, Men's & Women's Mini Singles, Doubles, and Mixed Doubles
- 55 and above: Men's & Women's Singles, Men's & Women's Mini Singles, Doubles, and Mixed Doubles
- 60 and above: Men's & Women's Singles, Men's & Women's Mini Singles, Doubles, and Mixed Doubles
- 65 and above: Men's & Women's Singles, Men's & Women's Mini Singles, Doubles, and Mixed Doubles
- 70 and above: Men's & Women's Singles, Men's & Women's Mini Singles, Doubles, and Mixed Doubles
- 75 and above: Men's & Women's Singles, Men's & Women's Mini Singles, Doubles, and Mixed Doubles
- 80 and above: Men's & Women's Singles, Men's & Women's Mini Singles, Doubles, and Mixed Doubles
Note: The Mini Singles format is only available as an approved format for the amateur brackets 3.0 – 5.0. For more details, please visit USA Pickleball's Approved Formats page.
What are the Different Pickleball Tournament Formats?
As of 2023, USA Pickleball has five tournament formats - Single Elimination with Consolation (Pro and Senior Pro Player Brackets), Single Elimination Without Consolation, Double Elimination, Round Robin, Pool Play, and Non-Pool Play. Some are different in many ways, while others are almost identical.
Single Elimination
With Consolation
In this format, the first player or team shall win by at least 2 points in the specified match-winning point. All the losers from each round shall go to the so-called consolation bracket and play to win the third place (bronze medal). They will be eliminated once they lose in the second round. The final two players or teams in the winning bracket shall play to win either the first (gold medal) or second place (silver medal).
Without Consolation
This format is for professional and senior professional pickleball players only and has no consolation bracket. The scoring system is the same as for the Single Elimination with Consolation. Therefore, the only existing places are the first (gold medal) and second place (silver medal). There's no third place (bronze medal), and the tournament officials shall determine the final standings of other players or teams.
Double Elimination
This format is similar to the Single Elimination with Consolation since players who lose twice shall be eliminated from the tournament. However, players who lost only once still have a chance to win the gold or silver medal. It's because the consolation bracket winner will play against the winner of the winner's bracket in the championship round. If the consolation bracket winner wins, there will be a 15-point tie-breaker match.
Round Robin
In this format, all players or teams shall play against each other, and the games may use any of the approved tournament scoring systems. The player who won the most number of matches will be the winner of the tournament. As explained below, if two or more players or teams are tied, there will be a tie-breaker. Once a tie has been broken, there will be subsequent tie-breakers until a final winner is declared.
Pool Play and Non-Pool Play
These two formats are somehow similar to round-robin since all players or teams will play against each other. Based on the results, teams would be seeded in a single or double-elimination bracket. For the pool play, the players will be divided into two or more pools. On the other hand, players in a non-pool play have no qualifier matches, and all of them will either be in a single elimination or double elimination. It's that simple.
Is Mini-Singles Tournament an Approved Format?
Yes, mini-singles is an approved format based on the 2024 Pickleball Rules and Updates. However, mini-singles events are only for the amateur brackets 3.0 – 5.0, not for professional tournaments. Such events are not approved as golden tickets to major tournaments, such as the annual US Pickleball National Championships.
Commonly known as skinny singles, mini-singles is similar to singles, except that players should only use half the pickleball court. This format is played down the line (directly across) or cross-court (diagonally). For complete details, feel free to read our Pickleball Skinny Singles Rules Guide.
Pickleball Tournament Scoring Systems
For USA Pickleball-sanctioned tournaments, the recommended scoring system is best of two out of three games to score 11 points and win by two points. However, there are other options, such as best three of five games to 11 points, one game to 15, or one game to 21. All formats require players to win by two points. For round-robin brackets, players may also use one game to 11 and win by two points if the bracket has six or more teams.
Round Robin Tie-Breaker Rules
For the pickleball round-robin format, some players may have the same number of wins and losses. But since only one player or team should be declared the final winner, USA Pickleball-sanctioned tournaments have tie-breaker rules. Here they are:
- For the first tie-breaker, there will be head-to-head matches that the tied teams should win.
- For the second tie-breaker, there will be a point differential for all games played. For instance, Team A won the first two games of the first match, and the scores were 11-8 and 11-4. Then, the same team won again in their second match with scores of 11-9, 2-11, and 11-6. Combining the two-point differentials (+10 and -2), Team A will now have a total point differential of +8.
- If there's a need for a third tie-breaker, the head-to-head matches will be based on point differential.
- For the Fourth tie-breaker, if the players or teams are tied for second place, the point differential will be used against the first-place player or team.
What if a Player or Team Withdraws from a Tie-Breaker?
Again, pickleball players or teams with the same number of wins shall go into a tie-breaker. If one withdraws from the bracket, they are no longer eligible for a tie-breaker. For instance, Teams A, B, and C had three wins each, but Team C withdrew. Therefore, Team C is automatically the third placer, and Teams A and B will play to win first and second place, respectively. You may also read our Pickleball Rules Guide on Match Retirements, Withdrawals, and Forfeits.
Final Thoughts
Playing in pickleball tournaments can be challenging but significantly helps you improve your skills. It's also an excellent way to socialize with other players. If you haven't played yet, I suggest you read our First Pickleball Tournament Tips. But if you already have, what was your experience? Do you plan to continue playing in tournaments? We would love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.
