Team Competition Series
Completely revolutionary to the sport of Pickleball, The Series will offer unique team competitions open to all levels of competitors. The Team Series provides the opportunity for teams of manufacturers, colleges, high school, pickleball clubs or coaching/training teams, and other groups to compete on a level playing field.
We are here to help walk you through anything you need with team creation and management!
Divisions
There will be five divisions that will compete for Series Championships as follows:
Factory (click for more info)
College
- Entries are limited to APBA approved and authorized colleges.
- Players must all currently attend/be enrolled/accepted in the college represented, no graduated players allowed.
- Primary team name MUST be designated as the college, i.e. Team San Diego State University. There may NOT be a secondary designation in the name.
- Players on team may be a combination of Intermediates and Experts.
High School
- Entries are limited to APBA approved and authorized Schools.
- Primary team name MUST be designated as the School, i.e. Team Los Angeles High School. There may NOT be a secondary designation in the name.
- Players must all currently attend, or entering freshman year the next semester, the high school represented, no graduated players allowed.
- Players on team may be a combination of Novice, Intermediates and Experts.
- High School teams MUST have at least one designated adult Team Manager. A youth player may assume a Team Captain role at individual events, performing the duties of a Team Manager if necessary, upon prior approval from APBA.
Trophy
- No limits on team creation or origins – please keep team names family-friendly. APBA reserves the right to reject any team name.
- Teams may be comprised of Novice, Intermediate and Expert players.
- Trophy teams may only enter two Experts (one male, one female) for team competition per event.
- Trophy teams may use any player that is not registered to any roster. Trophy team players are not locked to any roster.
Rosters
Two weeks prior to the first tournament entered for team competition, each competing Factory, College, High School, and Club must register their team (fee applies) and submit a team roster, including a designated Team Manager. These players will be locked to that roster for the remainder of the season. No team hopping.
Factory, College, High School, and Club teams may add un-rostered players at anytime during the season, provided a new roster is submitted a minimum 14 days before the start of the event in which they are to be entered into team competition.
Team Sheets
At each event, each Team Manager will submit a Team Sheet (entry fee applies) to enter Team competition.
FACTORY AND CLUB
Factory and Club teams will designate six separate players for Team competition at that event. There is also an optional 7th player that may be added to the Team Sheet, whose score may replace the lowest score of the original six players.
COLLEGE, HIGH SCHOOL, AND TROPHY
College, High School, and Trophy teams will designate four separate players for Team competition at that event. There is also an optional 5th player that may be added to the Team Sheet, whose score may replace the lowest score of the original four players.
Two team sheets may be entered per event – the same players may be designated but only once per sheet., and they must be entered in a different class. For example, Tiffany James may be entered in Singles on Team Sheet 1, but cannot be entered in Singles on Team Sheet 2.
Format
Each player on each Team Sheet will earn points based on finish position and number of players in their respective class. Only the top 6 Factory/Club or top 4 College/High School/Trophy scores on each sheet will be counted towards a total score. If two team sheets are entered, only the top scoring sheet at each event will be used for rankings. The other sheet and its score will be discarded.
Each Team Sheet MUST include at least two female players.
Each Factory and Club Team Sheet MUST also include at least two youth (17 and under) players.
The top Team Sheet score from each event will be totaled at season’s end to determine a Series Champion. Scores from the Championship Final event will be doubled.
Points
Team Sheet Points, All Divisions:
1st – 50 points, plus 1 point for every player entered in the class
2nd- 45 Points, plus 1 point for every player entered in the class
3rd – 40 Points, plus 1 point for every player entered in the class
4th – 35 Points, plus 1 point for every player entered in the class
5th+ – 1 point for every player entered in the class
All Divisions EXCEPT Factory, add:
1 point for each Novice score not dropped on Team Sheet
2 points for each Intermediate score not dropped on Team Sheet
3 points for each Expert score not dropped on Team Sheet
5 points for each Open Class score not dropped on Team Sheet
Tie Breakers:
Ties ARE allowed at each individual event.
Tie breakers will be enforced ONLY in season-end points as follows:
in descending order,
1. Most points at the Championship Final Event,
2. Most First Place finishes on Team Sheet at the Championship Final Event,
3. Most Second Place Finishes on Team Sheet at the Championship Final Event,
4. Most Third Place finishes on Team Sheet at the Championship Final Event,
5. Most Fourth Place Finishes on Team Sheet at the Championship Final Event,
6. Most Experts on Team Sheet at the Championship Final Event,
7. Most Intermediates on Team Sheet at the Championship Final Event,
8. Most Novices on Team Sheet at the Championship Final Event,
9. Winner of one Skinny Singles game to 7 OR, if BOTH Team Managers agree, by coin flip – at tournament director’s discretion.
Uniforms
- Each team must wear matching uniforms at each event (same solid color shirt/jersey, at a minimum).
- For Factory, College, High School, and Club teams, the team name must be clearly identified on the jersey and as close to identical across all team shirts as possible – failure to comply could result in player disqualification from team competition at that event.
- Factory teams’ jerseys must say Factory on the jersey.
- The aim is to look as professional and uniform as possible, with each team being clearly identifiable. That said, be creative and have fun with it!
Fees
Factory, College, and Club Team One-time Season Registration:
$100 per team
High School: $50 per team
Trophy: None
Each Team Sheet per event:
Factory: $100
Club/Shop/Coaching: $100
College, High School, and Trophy: $50