How to run a pickleball tournament

Running a pickleball event is mostly planning. Set sign-ups, fees, and format first. Game day stays calm.

1. Pick the shape of the event

Decide days, courts or fields, and how many games each team gets.

• Split skill divisions before sign-up opens.
• Court count caps your draw more than team count.
• Share the live bracket so players stop asking.

2. Open sign-up

Publish one page with dates, fees, format, and rules. Share that link everywhere.

In The Rooster, that page is your event. Teams sign up. You see who paid. See registration and payments.

3. Choose a format

• Round robin: Play everyone in the group.
• Pool into a bracket: Seed a cut after pool play.
• Single elimination: A fast championship draw.
• Double elimination: Keep more teams playing longer.

4. Build the schedule

Set times and fields. Teams should see the next game without asking you.

Use schedules and brackets so the draw stays live.

5. Run game day

Post scores as games finish. The bracket moves. Teams get the update.

• Take doubles or mixed sign-ups
• Set skill divisions
• Build round robins and brackets
• Post scores teams can see on their phones

6. Keep people in the loop

Send one update if a field or time changes. Skip the group text.

Create the event free, or get free setup help.