Planning Tool For Tournament Directors to run US Senior Pickleball Circuit Events

Below are the guidelines for US Senior Pickleball Circuit Events. Please feel free to reach out to any one of our Zone Directors for any questions.

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US Senior Pickleball

Circuit Events

USSP Tournament Planning Tool 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 Brackets 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 pickleballbrackets.com and the USSP website: usseniorpickleball.com.
The tournament administrator must give the USSP Zone Director administrative access to the tournament on Pickleball Brackets.

Tournament Balls and Paddles:

US Senior Pickleball Circuit Events will only use IFP-approved balls and paddles for tournament play.
Franklin Sports has provided X-40 balls in the past at discounts to US Senior Pickleball for Circuit Events.

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 PickleballBrackets 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 PickleballBrackets are eligible for the point/prize reward system. To learn how to register your USSP membership in Pickleball Brackets, CLICK HERE.

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+)

65+ – 80+ / 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+ – 80+ / 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+ – 80+ / 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+ – 80+ / 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 an SSIPA International Circuit Event by offering competition for 50+ age groups.
International tournaments are encouraged to follow the SSIPA Planning Tool and Guidelines/Procedures 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 SSIPA board will make the final determination regarding international tournaments.