1ST ALUMNI PICKLEBALL TOURNAMENT 2026

I. Tournament Format All categories shall follow a bracketed tournament format consisting of four stages: Round Robin Eliminations → Quarterfinals → Semifinals → Finals A. Elimination Round (Round Robin) 1. Participating pairs shall be distributed into four brackets, subject to the final number of registered entries. 2. Each pair shall compete against every other pair within its assigned bracket. 3. Matches shall use traditional side-out scoring, played to 11 points, win by 1. 4. Teams shall switch ends when the leading team reaches 6 points. 5. The top two pairs from each bracket shall advance to the quarterfinals. 6. Bracket rankings shall be determined by the number of wins and the established tiebreaking procedures. B. Quarterfinals 1. Eight qualified pairs shall compete in single-elimination matches. 2. Bracket winners shall be matched against runners-up from other brackets. 3. Matches shall be played to 11 points, win by 2, with a maximum score of 13. 4. Teams shall switch ends when the leading team reaches 6 points. 5. Each pair shall be allowed one 1-minute timeout. 6. The four winning pairs shall advance to the semifinals. C. Semifinals 1. Four qualified pairs shall compete in single-elimination matches. 2. Matches shall be played to 11 points, win by 2, with a maximum score of 15. 3. Teams shall switch ends when the leading team reaches 6 points. 4. Each pair shall be allowed one 1-minute timeout. 5. The two winning pairs shall advance to the championship match. 6. The two losing pairs shall compete for third place. D. Championship and Third-Place Matches 1. The championship match shall determine the Champion and 1st Runner-Up. 2. The championship shall be played to 15 points, win by 2, with a maximum score of 21. 3. Teams shall switch ends when the leading team reaches 8 points. 4. Each pair shall be allowed one 1-minute timeout. 5. The third-place match shall determine the 2nd Runner-Up and shall follow the semifinal scoring format. All matches shall use traditional side-out scoring, where points are earned only by the serving team. II. Bracket Ranking and Tiebreaking Procedures To ensure fair and consistent results, the following ranking procedures shall apply during the elimination round. A. Number of Wins Teams shall initially be ranked according to their total number of matches won. The pair with the highest number of wins shall receive the highest ranking. B. Two-Way Tie When two pairs have identical win-loss records, their head-to-head match result shall determine their ranking. The winner of their direct encounter shall be ranked higher. C. Three-Way Tie or More If three or more pairs finish with identical records, the following procedures shall be applied in sequence: 1. Record Among Tied Pairs: Only matches involving the tied pairs shall be considered. The pair with the best win-loss record among those matches shall rank higher. 2. Point Differential: If the tie remains unresolved, the total points scored minus the total points conceded in all elimination matches shall determine the ranking. The pair with the higher point differential shall rank higher. 3. Total Points Scored: If the point differential remains equal, the pair with the higher total points scored during elimination matches shall rank higher. 4. Final Tiebreaker: Any remaining tie shall be resolved through a predetermined procedure announced by the Tournament Committee before competition begins, such as a playoff match. When a tiebreaker separates one pair from a multi-team tie, the ranking procedure shall be reapplied to the remaining tied pairs. III. General Tournament Rules 1. Player Eligibility: Participants must meet the eligibility requirements of their registered category. The Tournament Committee reserves the right to verify qualifications and playing experience. 2. Player Registration: All participants must complete the official registration process and settle the required registration fee before participating. 3. Category Classification: Players must register under the appropriate skill-level category. Any misrepresentation of playing experience or qualifications may result in disqualification. 4. Match Attendance: Players must be present and ready when their matches are called. A five-minute grace period shall be observed, after which the absent pair may be declared to have forfeited the match. 5. Player Substitution: Substitution shall not be permitted once a pair has played its first match, except under exceptional circumstances approved by the Tournament Committee. 6. Officiating: All matches shall be supervised by designated referees or match officials. Referee decisions on factual calls shall be respected, subject to applicable appeal procedures. 7. Sportsmanship: Players must demonstrate respect toward opponents, officials, organizers, and spectators. Unsportsmanlike behavior, verbal abuse, or deliberate misconduct may result in warnings, penalties, or disqualification. 8. Equipment: Players must use appropriate pickleball paddles, footwear, and sports attire. The Tournament Committee shall provide or designate the official tournament balls. 9. Medical Concerns: Players are responsible for assessing their physical readiness. Matches may be suspended when necessary for player safety. 10. Schedule Adjustments: The Tournament Committee reserves the right to modify match schedules, court assignments, and tournament arrangements due to unforeseen circumstances, provided that changes are communicated fairly to affected participants. 11. Protests and Disputes: Any protest must be raised promptly through the designated referee or Tournament Director. The Tournament Committee shall resolve disputes in accordance with the published tournament rules. 12. Final Authority: The Tournament Director and Tournament Committee shall have final administrative authority over tournament matters, subject to the official rules and established appeals process.