Tournament Sanctioning

By choosing UPA-A for tournament sanctioning, you ensure a professionally organized event that adheres to the highest standards of competition and participant satisfaction. The UPA-A Sanctioning Guidelines guarantee every aspect of your tournament is carefully considered and prepared for, setting the stage for a memorable and successful event.

Full sanctioning can be found here.

  • There are three age categories:
    • Juniors: 18 and under
    • Adults: 19 and over
    • Seniors: 50 and over
  • A player’s age for the full tournament year is based on their age as of December 31 of that year.
  • Exceptions may be granted at the discretion of the Tournament Director.

Juniors

  • May “play up” in older junior divisions or enter 19+ adult divisions.
  • Competitive Junior events will follow this format:
    • Divisions: 12U, 14U, 16U, 18U
    • Tournament Directors have discretion to use all or some of the age divisions.

Adults and Seniors

  • May enter any event for which they are not too young.
  • Example: A 52-year-old may enter a 19+, 35+, or 50+ event; a 45-year-old may enter a 19+, and 35+, but not a 50+.

 

  • DUPR Rated events are organized by DUPR skill level, not age.
    • Open Rated Event: Any age may participate
    • Junior Rated Event: Only players 18 and under
    • Senior Rated Event: Only players 50 and over

  • Players are placed by DUPR rating.
    • Players with low DUPR reliability may be reclassified at the discretion of the Tournament Director.
    • Players can be moved to a different rated division if brackets must be combined or Tournament Director feels it necessary for fair and competitive play.
  • Players may play up in rating, but not down.
  • Brackets are typically differentiated by .5 increments. 
  • Players are eligible as long as their rating is no higher than the next bracket rating.
  • Example: A tournament has 3.0, 3.5, 4.0, 4.5 brackets. A 3.2 rated player would be suggested to play 3.0 but may play up in a 3.5, 4.0, or 4.5 bracket. A 3.7 rated player would be suggested to play in a 3.5 bracket or play up 4.0, 4.5, but may not play down in a 3.0 bracket.

Tournament Scoring Options

  • Recommended Format: Round Robin, Games to 11 win by 1
  • Alternate Format: Bracket Play, Best 2 of 3 games to 11, win by 2.
  • Games may be played to 11 or 15.
  • Matches may be:
    • One game
    • Best 2 of 3
    • Best 3 of 5
  • Weather Exception:
    • In case of inclement weather, the Tournament Director may approve:
      • Game to 7 or 9 points
      • End change at 4 points (for game to 7) or 5 points (for games to 9) in a single-game match or tiebreaker.
  • Points are scored only by the serving team or player.
  • If the receiving side wins the rally at game point, it is a side out, and no point is awarded.
  • The Tournament Director may choose rally scoring
    • Each rally results in a point.
    • Games are played to 15 or 21
    • Players stay on their side of the court.
      • Players can swap positions between games, at a time out, or during an end change
    • The team winning the rally retains serve.
    • Serves alternate between partners, right side serving on even and left side serving on odd.

Tournament Formats

There are three tournament formats that may be used. The particular format is determined by the Tournament Director.
  • Double Elimination Bracket
  • Round Robin
  • Team Play

List of UPA-A Pickleball Approved Events

 

12U, 14U, 16U, and 18U gender doubles, gender singles, and mixed doubles. 

Junior events may be structured at the Tournament Director’s discretion to best fit the needs of Junior participation.

19+ and 35+ gender doubles, gender singles, and mixed doubles.

50+ gender doubles, gender singles, and mixed doubles.

*Tournament Directors may use their discretion and add senior age groups (55+, 60+, 65+, etc…)  as appropriate.

Coming Soon

Contact us to begin the process of sanctioning your pickleball tournament with UPA. Whether you’re hosting a local competition or a national championship, we’re here to support you every step of the way.

As pickleball grows, new players are introduced and countries around the world begin to build out the infrastructure necessary to fuel this sport, proper guidance and regulation is imperative. 

By choosing UPA for tournament sanctioning, you ensure a professionally organized event that adheres to the highest standards of competition and participant satisfaction. Our years of experience operating PPA and MLP events across the world provide us with best in class experience and operational procedures. The UPA checklist guarantees that every aspect of your tournament is carefully considered and prepared for, setting the stage for a memorable and successful event.

If you are associated with a National Governing Body who is affiliated with UPA, discounts from Pickleball Wholesale are available, please contact your NGB for further details

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