Factory Team Competition

The Factory division is the perfect way for manufacturers to go head-to-head with other manufacturers to prove their product’s/program’s superiority. The APBA’s unique team competition format provides a truly level playing field allowing small manufacturers to compete with major manufacturers. This competition provides major promotional value to manufacturers – amateur players have a distinct affect on influencing other players in their buying decisions -all at a much lower investment than pro players.

Nearly every manufacturer has an ambassador program. The APBA amateur points series provides a vehicle for these ambassadors to not only prove their worth, but gives their sponsors an opportunity and reason to promote these individual athlete’s successes in a much more broad way. Not only can a manufacturer promote their athletes season championships, but their successes in individual matches as well. For example, hypothetically, if Factory Continuum’s Mark Jones playing in 18-29 Expert singles were to defeat Jeff Smith in the second round of any other tournament, there wouldn’t be much to hype up about it. But in our format, if Factory Continuum’s Mark Jones (#6 in 18-29 Men’s Singles points) defeated Factory Selkirk’s Jeff Smith (#1 in points), now there is absolutely something to brag about on your socials. Our system provides CONTEXT to these common battles and stories from every event.

Additionally, our Factory regulations require teams to wear matching uniforms. The better the design, the more attention these uniforms will garner, also providing another channel of merchandise sales – people love wearing team jerseys.

All manufacturers work with amateurs on varying levels of sponsorship. Our program provides a new and significant way to leverage these advertising spends, and maybe, more importantly, quantify them. As our program grows nationwide, the promotional opportunities will scale accordingly.

Factory Team Regulations:

• Entries limited to recognized Equipment Manufacturers – paddles, shoes, apparel, and other pickleball equipment, to be approved by APBA. 
• Primary team name MUST be designated as the primary Sponsor/Manufacturer, preceded by the word Factory. There may be a secondary designation in the name: For example: Factory Selkirk/San Diego Picklers. Teams must have verifiable authorization from Factory to utilize its name.
• Only two separate teams may identify with a Factory, i.e. the Factory may only sponsor two teams in this division.
• Team members MUST use the manufacturer’s stated products in competition, unless otherwise approved by APBA.. 
• ALL players on Manufacturer Teams must be Expert Level

Rosters

Two weeks prior to the first tournament entered for team competition, each competing Factory Team 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 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 teams will designate six separate players for Team competition at that event, per team sheet. 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. 

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 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 Factory Team Sheet MUST include at least two female players and 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

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 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 Team One-time Season Registration: $100 per team

Each FactoryvTeam Sheet per event: $100

FAQ

Q: How does a Factory Team form?

A: The most common way for a team to form, especially on a local/regional level, would be for an individual to approach a manufacturer with a proposal. This individual should have the majority of a team of expert level players already interested, with enough individual accolades to interest sponsors.
Inversely, if a manufacturer wants to field a team, they can reach out to people they know in the area or actively search for someone who could manage the program in that area – maybe a player or a parent of one of the youth players.
The APBA is a great resource for helping make these things happen! We are here to help!