How to Run a Pickleball Tournament
Pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in America, and everyone wants to run tournaments. Whether you're organizing a rec center round robin, a charity doubles event, or a competitive bracket tournament, this guide covers everything you need.
Choose Your Format
Round Robin (Best for Social/Rec Events)
Everyone plays everyone in their group.
Pros:
- Guaranteed multiple games per person
- More social, less pressure
- Good for mixed skill levels
- Easy to understand
Cons:
- Time-intensive
- Doesn't produce dramatic "championship" moment
- Needs consistent group sizes
Use when: You want everyone to have fun and play a lot.
Single Elimination Bracket
Lose once, you're out.
Pros:
- Quick and efficient
- Exciting knockout drama
- Works for any number of teams
- Clear champion
Cons:
- Could travel far for one game
- Bad day = done early
- Less forgiving for beginners
Use when: Time is limited or you want high-stakes competition.
Double Elimination
Lose twice, you're out.
Pros:
- One bad game doesn't end your tournament
- More games for everyone
- Fairer outcome
Cons:
- Takes roughly 2x as long
- More complex bracket
- Can be confusing to track
Use when: You have time and want fairness.
Pool Play + Bracket
Groups play round robin, top teams advance to bracket.
Pros:
- Guarantees minimum games
- Seeds the bracket based on performance
- Best of both formats
Cons:
- More complex scheduling
- Needs careful pool balance
Use when: You have 12+ teams and want both social play and competitive finals.
How Many Courts Do You Need?
Pickleball tournaments move fast. Each game takes 15-25 minutes.
With 2 courts:
- 8 teams = ~2 hours
- 16 teams = ~4 hours
- 32 teams = ~8 hours
With 4 courts:
- 8 teams = ~1 hour
- 16 teams = ~2 hours
- 32 teams = ~4 hours
With 6 courts:
- 8 teams = ~45 min
- 16 teams = ~1.5 hours
- 32 teams = ~3 hours
Assumes single elimination, 20-min average games
Skill Level Divisions
Most tournaments divide by skill rating (DUPR, UTPR, or self-rating):
Skill Levels:
- 2.0-2.5 — Beginner: Learning rules, inconsistent serve
- 3.0-3.5 — Intermediate: Consistent serve, basic dinking
- 4.0-4.5 — Advanced: Strong all-around game, strategy
- 5.0+ — Pro/Elite: Tournament winners, exceptional skill
Self-Rating System (If No Official Ratings)
Ask players to self-rate with clear descriptions:
- Beginner: Played less than 6 months, still learning rules
- Intermediate: Play regularly, can sustain rallies
- Advanced: Compete in other tournaments, strong fundamentals
- Expert: Win most games against advanced players
Event Types
Doubles (Most Common)
- Men's Doubles
- Women's Doubles
- Mixed Doubles (one man, one woman per team)
Singles
- Men's Singles
- Women's Singles
- Note: Singles requires more court space—players cover whole court
Age Divisions
Popular brackets: 19+ (Open), 35+, 50+, 65+, 75+
Fun/Themed Events
- Round robin "mixer" (random partner each game)
- King/Queen of the court
- Skinny singles (half court)
- Ladder tournaments
Registration & Sign-Ups
Information to Collect
- Name
- Email/Phone
- Skill rating or self-assessment
- Age (if age divisions)
- Partner name (for doubles)
- Shirt size (if giving swag)
- Waiver signature
Pricing
Typical entry fees:
- Casual rec event: $10-20/person
- Competitive amateur: $30-50/person
- Sanctioned tournament: $50-100/person
Factor in: court rental, balls, prizes, insurance, referee costs
Day-Of Schedule Template
16-team double elimination, 4 courts, starting 8 AM:
- 7:00 AM — Setup: Nets, signage, check-in table
- 7:30 AM — Check-in opens
- 8:00 AM — Player meeting: Rules, format, questions
- 8:15 AM — Round 1 begins
- 10:30 AM — Round 2
- 12:00 PM — Lunch break (30-45 min)
- 12:45 PM — Semifinals
- 2:00 PM — Finals
- 2:45 PM — Awards
Buffer Time Between Games
Always add 5-10 minutes between scheduled games for:
- Court cleanup
- Players switching
- Score reporting
- Bathroom breaks
Equipment Checklist
Essential
- Pickleballs (outdoor: Dura, Franklin X-40; indoor: Jugs, Onix)
- Backup balls (they crack)
- Portable nets (if not permanent)
- Printed brackets (backup to digital)
- PA system or megaphone
- First aid kit
- Scorekeeping solution
Recommended
- Canopy tents for shade
- Folding tables and chairs
- Coolers with water/ice
- Snacks
- Extension cords
- Phone chargers
- Prize table display
Scorekeeping Options
Option 1: Paper Brackets
- Print bracket on poster board
- Update with marker after each game
- Pros: No tech needed, visible to all
- Cons: Messy, hard to update, no remote access
Option 2: Digital Bracket
- Create online bracket that updates in real-time
- Share link with all participants
- Everyone can check progress from their phone
Option 3: Per-Game Scoreboards
- Each court has a digital scoreboard
- Players or refs update scores live
- Spectators follow individual games
Create free pickleball scoreboard →
Option 4: Combined Leaderboard
- For round robin: Track wins, point differential
- Auto-calculates standings
- Determines who advances to bracket play
Common Problems & Solutions
"Two teams tied in round robin"
Tiebreakers in order:
- Head-to-head result
- Point differential
- Points scored
- Coin flip
"Player disputes a line call"
- For rec play: Replay the point
- For competitive: Use refs or challenge system
- Prevention: Brief players on honor system before play
"Running behind schedule"
- Shorten games (first to 11, no win-by-2)
- Run more courts simultaneously
- Skip warm-up time
- Implement "hard time cap"—whoever's ahead when time expires wins
"Unbalanced skill levels"
- Re-bracket based on early results
- Add consolation bracket for early losers
- Next time: Require verified ratings
"Weather issues" (outdoor)
- Have indoor backup location if possible
- Set rain policy in advance (delay vs cancel)
- Communicate via text/email immediately
Money & Budgeting
For a 32-player event at $30/person:
- Revenue: $960
- Court rental (4 hours): $200
- Balls (3 dozen): $90
- Prizes: $150
- Insurance: $100
- Misc: $100
- Net: ~$320 (or reinvest in next event)
Legal Stuff
Waivers
Always have players sign a liability waiver. Include:
- Acknowledgment of physical risk
- Media release (photos/video)
- Personal responsibility for injuries
Insurance
Options:
- Facility's insurance (check coverage)
- Event insurance (one-day policies available)
- USA Pickleball membership includes some coverage
Ready to Host?
Get your tournament set up with free tools:
Good luck with your event!