The State Championship Series
CALIFORNIA
The Southern California State Championship Series is a multi-tournament tour located at four separate Pickleball facilities around Southern California. Beginning July 2024, there will be four tournament stops, approximately once per month. The fourth and final event, the Southern California Amateur Pickleball Championships, will be held in November 2024. All locations are to be determined.
Amateurs are defined as any player that has not qualified for any pro main draw in any Pickleball competition during that same calendar year..
THE SERIES IS OPEN TO OUT-OF-STATE RESIDENTS
The Championships
Points will be awarded to all entrants in each separate age, skill, and class bracket at each event based on finished position. The Championship final event will be worth double points.
FOR 2024, ONLY THREE SCORES WILL BE USED TOWARDS THE FINAL RANKINGS.
These will consist of the 3 best scores from the 4 stops. If a player has a poor performance at an event, or they can’t make every event, this will not ruin the entire season points-wise.
AGE GROUP CHAMPIONSHIPS
After the Championship final event, the players with the highest point totals in each age/class (regardless of skill designation) will be crowned the season champion of each division. For example, there will be one overall 11-13 Boys Singles Series Champion determined by the highest total points-getter of all 11-13 Novice, Intermediate, and Expert Boys.
OVERALL CHAMPIONSHIPS
Additionally, there will be overall Mens/Boys and Womens/Girls Series Champions in Singles, Doubles, Mixed Doubles awarded to the highest points-getter of all respective age brackets combined. For example, there will be one overall Mens/Boys Singles Series Champion determined by the highest points-getter of all Mens/Boys Singles competitors combined.
COLLEGE CHAMPIONS
We will also crown Men’s and Women’s College Season Champions in Singles, Doubles, and Mixed Doubles utilizing the same points system. College athletes MUST be included on a college team roster to be eligible (See Rosters).
There will be no separate College-specific brackets. Instead, College champions will be determined by the College player with the most points in each class. For example, if Madison Monroe finished 4th overall in Womens/Girls singles points and she is the highest ranked college player AND she is rostered on a College roster, then she will be considered the Overall College Champion.
HIGH SCHOOL CHAMPIONS
We will also crown Boys and Girls High School Season Champions in Singles, Doubles, and Mixed Doubles utilizing the same points system. High School athletes MUST be included on a high school team roster to be eligible (See Rosters).
There will be no separate High School-specific brackets. Instead, High School champions will be determined by the High School player with the most points in each class. For example, if Madison Monroe finished 4th overall in Womens/Girls singles points and she is the highest ranked High School player AND she is rostered on a High School roster, then she will be considered the Overall High School Champion.
MEMBERSHIP
Each player must pay a yearly membership fee to the APBA and be in good standing to qualify for end of season Championship awards. See the membership page for more information.
The Jersey Numbers
At the end of each season, each player will have two final season points rankings in each class – their age group ranking and their overall ranking. In the following season, the player can choose which number to run on the back of their jersey.
Age group rankings will be represented by Red numbers and overall rankings will be represented by Gold numbers. For example, if a player finished #6 in their age group and #22 overall in Singles in 2024, starting in 2025 they could choose to use a Red #6 or a Gold #22 on the jersey they wear in Singles competition. Black or white numbers outlined or highlighted in red or gold will be accepted.
For 2024, since there are no results from 2023, numbers will be assigned after Event #1, from age group results only. For example, if a team wins silver the first event of the season in 2024 in 10 and under mixed doubles, both players will be assigned the Red #2 for the remainder of the 2024 season to be used in all their mixed doubles games. Tie breakers TBD.
Players without a ranking will be assigned a number at registration starting at event #2. Starting at event #2, all player’s numbers MUST be displayed on the back of the jersey for each respective class. All players without ranking will use black numbers only.
Numbers must be located on the back of the jersey, minimum 10″ in height.
Note: The physical numbers or printing will not be provided by APBA. We will make every effort to have a printing option on-site at each event, at player’s expense. It is recommended to have this done in the time between events.
The Age Brackets
Age Divisions as follows:
12 and under Boys
12 and under Girls
13-14 Boys
13-14 Girls
15-17 Boys
15-17 Girls
18-29 Men
18-29 Women
30-39 Men
30-39 Women
Season age: The age bracket players will enter for the ENTIRE season is based on their age on the last day of the Championship Final. For example, if at the beginning of the season, a player is 59 years old, but his/her birthday is on the last day of the Championship Final and he/she turns 60 on that day, the player will play in the 60-69 age bracket the ENTIRE season.
40-49 Men
40-49 Women
50-59 Men
50-59 Women
60-69 Men
60-69 Women
70 and over Men
70 and over Women
Mens/Boys Open (any age, no points series, prize $ at each event)
Womens/Girls Open (any age, no points series, prize $ at each event)
Note: In any Open Doubles classes, competitors may compete with any partner, regardless of age. All players MUST be entered in a corresponding age bracket and class to compete in Open.
The Skill Brackets
Each age Division will be further divided into the following skill designations:
Novice – recommended 3.5 DUPR and below
Intermediate – recommended 3.5 to 4.5 DUPR
Expert – recommended 4.5 DUPR and above
Skill designations will be based on the honor system. However, since expert points are greater than intermediate points, and intermediate points are greater than novice points, “sandbagging” will typically result in a much lower end of season ranking.
The Classes
Each age/skill division will offer the following classes:
Doubles
Mixed Doubles
Singles*
*70 and Over Men & Women, 60-69 Men & Women Novice and Intermediate play Skinny Singles, unless BOTH players agree to play standard singles. All other age/skill brackets will play standard singles unless BOTH players agree to play skinny singles.
Age, gender, and skill brackets may be combined at tournament director’s discretion to ensure competitive brackets.
The Season Championships
SINGLES
12 and under Boys
12 and under Girls
13-14 Boys
13-14 Girls
15-17 Boys
15-17 Girls
18-29 Men
18-29 Women
30-39 Men
30-39 Women
40-49 Men
40-49 Women
50-59 Men
50-59 Women
60-69 Men
60-69 Women
70 and over Men
70 and over Women
Mens College
Womens College
Boys High School
Girls High School
Season Overall Mens/Boys
Season Overall Womens/Girls
DOUBLES
12 and under Boys
12 and under Girls
13-14 Boys
13-14 Girls
15-17 Boys
15-17 Girls
18-29 Men
18-29 Women
30-39 Men
30-39 Women
40-49 Men
40-49 Women
50-59 Men
50-59 Women
60-69 Men
60-69 Women
70 and over Men
70 and over Women
Mens College
Womens College
Boys High School
Girls High School
Season Overall Mens/Boys
Season Overall Womens/Girls
MIXED DOUBLES
12 and under
13-14
15-17
18-29
30-39
40-49
50-59
60-69
70 and over
College – 1 Man, 1 Woman
High School – 1 Boy, 1 Girl
Season Overall – 1 Man/Boy, 1 Woman/Girl
The Points System
Expert Classes
1st Place – 150 Points + 5 points for each player
2nd – 140 Points + 5 points for each player
3rd – 130 Points + 5 points for each player
4th – 120 Points + 5 points for each player
5th+ – 5 points for each player
Intermediate Classes
1st Place – 100 Points + 3 points for each player
2nd – 90 Points + 3 points for each player
3rd – 80 Points + 3 points for each player
4th – 70 Points + 5 points for each player
5th+ – 3 points for each player
Novice Classes
1st Place – 50 Points + 1 point for each player
2nd – 40 Points + 1 point for each player
3rd – 30 Points + 1 point for each player
4th – 20 Points + 1 point for each player
5th+ – 1 point for each player
Expert Classes earn more points per event than Intermediate classes, who, in turn, earn more points than Novice Classes. This will help deter “sandbagging” – playing in a lower skill bracket may result in individual wins, but will result in lower final season ranking.
For doubles classes, it is preferred that teams stay together for the entire season and the highest point-getters jointly share in the Season championship. However, each player will receive points individually. Players tied for points at season’s end may only share the Championship title if they played every series tournament as a team.
AGE GROUP CHAMPIONSHIPS
Season-End Points Tie Breakers:
in descending order,
1. Higher Finish at Championship Final Event
2. Better record head-to-head
3. Most First Place finishes during season, including final
4. Most Second Place Finishes during season, including final
5. Most Third Place finishes during season, including final
6. Most Fourth Place Finishes during season, including final
7. Most points for during season, including final,
8. Least points against during season, including final,
9. Winner of one Skinny Singles game to 7 OR, if BOTH players agree, by coin flip – at tournament director’s discretion.
OVERALL AGE GROUP CHAMPIONSHIPS
Season-End Points Tie Breakers:
in descending order,
1. Higher Finish at Championship Final Event
2. Higher finish in Age Group Championship
3. Most First Place finishes during season, including final
4. Most Second Place Finishes during season, including final
5. Most Third Place finishes during season, including final
6. Most Fourth Place Finishes during season, including final
7. Most points for during season, including final,
8. Least points against during season, including final,
9. Coin flip
Fees
MEMBERSHIP
Yearly Membership fee: $40 per player through July 1, 2024. ($80 regular price)
Includes T-Shirt, window decal, access to all APBA events and member privileges.
TOURNAMENT FEES
Player single event registration: $25
Class Registrations:
Singles: $50
Doubles $50 per player
Open: $130
