PICKLEBALL BRACKETS (League Information)

SCPA League/Ladder Play

SCPA uses the Pickleball Brackets software for running League/Ladder (Club Rating) play. Pickleball Brackets will have a League for each Level 2.5, 3.0, 3.5+. The idea of the League/Ladder play is to play a round robin of 4 or 5 players per court with similar ratings and skill in a friendly competitive play.

Players who want to play in the League must set up a Brackets Profile. Once they have set up their profile, selected Strathcona County Pickleball Association as their Club, they must notify Barbara Mullen (Barbara.Mullen@scpa.ca), that they wish to participate in the League.  Once notified they will be added to their assigned league based on their current club rating. 

After players play each session and the scores have been recorded the software will give you a new personal club rating. Players that reach the highest level in their league and maintain the same for 4 weeks, will be moved up to the next level of play. The criteria established for 2024 upward movement is as follows:

League Level	Maximum Rating	Upward Movement
2.5	3.0 (or 3.49)	4 weeks at 3.0 and above move to 3.0
3.0	3.5	4 weeks at 3.5 and above move to 3.5
3.5	4.0	4 weeks at 4.0 and above move to 4.0

There is a cost to the club for using Pickleball Brackets for organizing each game and for providing club ratings.  

For 2024 all players who opt in to play a session will be charged $2.00 which can be paid via Visa / Mastercard. When processing your card payment ensure you insert your postal code  beside the cvc # prior to submitting the payment. 

Player texting in the software is active and when setting up your profile you should ensure that you opt in to receive emails and texts.

• Brackets will allow players to opt in or out for each date on the software 7 days from 9:00 PM to 2 hours before the event. 
• Managers will be on their phone or tablet at the courts and will check-in opted-in players using Brackets Software 15 minutes before the start of the session.
  
• Managers will lock the session and the groups of players will be set by Pickleball Brackets.
• Standard League Session - Games will be first to 11, win by 1 for 4 player courts with a double round robin. 5 player groups will play one round with games to 15, win by 1. The software will assign 4 player groups starting at the top players and then assign 5 player groups as required to match the number of opted in players.  
• Ladder Session (2 up 2 down), Games will be played to set score after completion of round one, 2 players move up and 2 players move down and the second round commences.
• Groups will assign a score recorder for each session, who will announce the server and person who picks the end to play from, then enter the score on their phone after each game. The score will be verified by a member of the opposite team prior to saving the same. 
• Highest seed player of each group gets to pick side for each game based on conditions.
• Club Ratings will be calculated each night after the session.