Tournament Director Guidelines - Circuit Events
Participation in a circuit event requires certification approval by the association. Complete an application for tournament participation and certification. Be prepared to plan and manage the tournament using pickleball.com software.
Contact the location's Zone Director with any questions. Zones
Circuit Events
The Tournament Director Handbook is for use by tournament directors. This tool will provide guidance and direction during the listing and implementation of a USSP circuit event. The planning tool and tournament guidelines/procedures will be administered by the tournament management with assistance from a USSP Zone Director.
There will be no tournament fees charged by USSP for any USSP circuit tournament.
Full financial responsibilities for a circuit event tournament will be the sole responsibility of the tournament management.
Non-USSP members will pay the full registration cost for a USSP circuit event while members will receive a $10 discount.
To receive the $10 discount, their USSP membership number must be added to their pickleball.com profile.
Tournament Management and venues will be approved by the USSP Zone Director before being approved by the USSP management.
Tournament Management will follow the guidelines for play brackets specified below.
Listing and Access for a Tournament:
- Tournaments will be listed on pickleball.com and the USSP website: usseniorpickleball.org.
- The tournament administrator must give the USSP Events Director administrative access to the tournament on pickleball.com.
Tournament Balls and Paddles:
- US Senior Pickleball Circuit Events will follow USAP guidelines for tournament play, approved balls and paddles.
- Franklin Sports has provided X-40 balls in the past at discounts to US Senior Pickleball for Circuit Events. Franklin Home Page
Logo Use:
- The USSP logo will be provided and may be used for promotions.
- Additionally, the USSP Circuit Event Logo will be used for tournaments.
Play format for Events/Brackets:
USSP tournaments will be developed as age/skill tournaments to the extent that follows:
- USSP uses 5-year age groups from 50-80 and skill levels from 3.0-4.5+.
- Ages are best combined in 10-year increments if/when necessary, with a goal to have 50’s, 60’s, 70s, and 80s playing each other as necessary.
- Skills are combined within age groups with 3.0-3.5 in a group and 4.0+ in a group only when necessary to complete a bracket.
- The goal is to combine as few age/skill groups as possible and to have only round-robin and pool play/single elimination brackets with NO double elimination brackets. This allows players more play for their money.
- When age/skills are combined, multiple medals will be awarded for each age/skill group depending on the age/skill that the player originally enrolled in.
- Players who do not want to be combined with a higher skill group may always choose to play down in age to remain in their skill group.
- Event groupings will be listed for player viewing before bracket development.
- If a player’s event, age/skill does not have three teams, a player may choose to receive a refund before the registration closing day. A $15 processing fee will apply to all refunds. Refunds must be requested in pickleball.com writing (text, email, or a letter) by the registrant.
- Any 50+ age player may play in a USSP Circuit Event, but, only USSP members registered in pickleball.com are eligible for the point/prize reward system. To learn how to register your USSP membership in picklebal.com. Link Accounts
Division Formats:
MASTERS DIVISION (50+55+60+)
- 50 + – 64 / 3 teams will play a double round robin and not lead into playoffs. Medals are awarded based on results. Games are 2 of 3 to 11 win by 2.
- 50+ – 64 / 4, 5 & 6 team brackets will play a straight round robin. 1 game to 15 win by 2. The top 4 teams will move forward. 1 vs 4 and 2 vs 3. Games to 15 win by 2 The winners will play for gold/silver and the losers play for bronze. The gold/silver will be best 2 of 3 to 11 win by 2 and the bronze match will be 1 game to 15 win by 2.
- 50+ – 64 / 7, 8 & 9 team brackets will play a straight round robin, 1 game to 15 win by 2. The top 4 teams will move forward. 1 vs 2 for gold/silver – will be best 2 of 3 to 11 win by 2, and 3 vs 4 for bronze with 1 game to 15 win by 2.
- 50+ – 64 / 10+ teams will play pool play. 1 game to 15 win by 2. The top 2 teams from each pool will move forward. 1 vs 2 and 2 vs 1 will play 1 game to 15 win by 2. The winners will play for gold/silver – will be best 2 of 3 to 11 win by 2 and the losers will play for bronze 1 game to 15 win by 2.
LEGENDS DIVISION (65+70+75+80+85+)
- 65+ – 85+ / 3 teams will play a double round robin and not lead into playoffs. Medals are awarded based on results. Games are 2 of 3 to 11 win by 2.
- 65+ – 85+ / 4 and 5 team brackets will play a straight round robin. Best 2 of 3 to 11 win by 2. Medals are awarded based on results.
- 65+ – 85+ / 6 and 7 team brackets will play a straight round robin. 1 game to 15 win by 2. The top 4 teams will move forward. 1 vs 2 for gold/silver – games will be 2 of 3 to 11 win by 2 and 3 vs 4 for bronze with 1 game to 15 win by 2.
- 65+ – 85+ / 8+ team brackets will play pool play. The top 2 teams from each pool will move forward. 1 vs 2 and 2 vs 1 with 1 game to 15 win by 2. Winners will play for gold/silver – games 2 of 3 to 11 win by 2 and bronze will play 1 game to 15 win by 2.
International Tournament Guidelines:
- International tournaments qualify to be a SSIPA International Circuit Event by offering competition for 50+ age groups.
- International tournaments are encouraged to follow the SSIPA/USSP Tournament Diretor Handbook to the maximum extent possible.
- Tournaments will be identified as: SSIPA INTERNATIONAL EVENTS.
- There are no fees or SSIPA player fees charged to an International tournament for being a SSIPA International Circuit Event.
- Players in international tournaments who are SSIPA members (annual or higher) will receive points for medals in these competitions.
- The Board of Directors will make the final determination regarding international tournaments.
