Sanction a Tournament
Sanction a Pickleball Tournament
Benefits
Why Sanction Your Tournament
Sanctioning your tournament with USA Pickleball offers key benefits including tournament promotion, general event liability insurance, access to exclusive Tournament Director resources, and more.
Embrace the Competition. We’ve Got You Covered.
Once you apply and are approved for USA Pickleball sanctioning, you’ll gain access to valuable resources to help you run a professional, successful tournament.
Tournament Director Handbook and Kit
Receive USA Pickleball’s comprehensive Tournament Director Handbook, filled with step-by-step guidance, best practices, and tips to help you plan, promote, and run a smooth, successful event. And get a box with USA Pickleball promotional items mailed directly to you.
Promotional Support
Your sanctioned tournament will be featured on the USA Pickleball website event calendar and will be highlighted on the ‘Sanctioned Tournament’ social media post shared across USA Pickleball platforms each month.
Insurance Coverage
Receive liability and secondary accident insurance for your sanctioned tournament—providing peace of mind and protection for both you and your players.
Why Should Tournament Directors Care
What Is The Tiered Point System (TPS)?
The Tiered Point System (TPS) is a nationwide USA Pickleball program that rewards Challenger and Champion members with points every time they compete and medal in a sanctioned tournament. For players, it’s an exciting new pathway to Nationals. For tournament directors, it’s a powerful tool to drive registrations, increase competitiveness, and boost the profile of your event.
How It Works
- All sanctioned tournaments are placed into tiers based on:
– Number of registrants
– Golden Ticket status
– Referee format - Each tier is assigned specific point values for participation and placement, with Golden Ticket Tournaments receiving the most points
- Players accumulate points throughout the season (Sept 1, 2025 – Aug 31, 2026)
- Points contribute toward Nationals eligibility and a new Series Point Championship (slated for Spring 2027, with more details to come)
Why It Matters for Tournament Directors
- More Incentive = More Registrations
- Players are now motivated to enter multiple events to increase their point total
- Added prestige for your tournament
- Your sanctioned event becomes a key step in a player’s journey to Nationals and other championship opportunities
- TPS encourages ongoing participation throughout the season
- The more players compete, the more they earn, and the more your tournament stands out.
The more players compete, the more they earn, and the more your tournament stands out.
TPS Grid
Golden Ticket
Tier 1
Tier 2
Tier 3
Size
N/A
400+
200+
N/A
Ref
MMP
MMP
MMP
No Reg.
No Registration
Reg.
Registration
4,500
3,000
2,000
1,000
Gold
13,500
9,000
6,000
3,000
Silver
9,000
6,000
4,000
2,000
Broze
4,500
3,000
2,000
1,000
Frequently Asked Questions
Have additional questions? Contact Us.
What are the types of sanctioning offered by USA Pickleball tournaments?
USA Pickleball offers three main levels of sanctioning: Standard, Medal Match Plus (MMP), and No-Referee. Each has different requirements regarding referees and eligibility for tournaments.
Who can participate in a USA Pickleball sanctioned tournament?
Only USA Pickleball Champion and Challenger level members may compete in sanctioned events.
What benefits do sanctioned tournaments provide for players and organizers?
Liability and accident insurance for participants and staff, use of USA Pickleball branding for promoting events, pathway to Nationals through the Tiered Points System and support with organizational resources for setting up and managing events.
How are sanctioned tournaments recognized, and what promotional advantages do they receive?
What rules and formats must be followed to sanction a tournament?
Tournament organizers must use approved formats and abide by rules established in the official USA Pickleball Rulebook. This includes specific scoring options and bracket structures.
Do I have to use a specific set of ratings or tournament software?
No, you have flexibility in the ratings system and software that you choose to use, but you can use any of the approved software providers.
- pickleballtournaments.com
- pickleballden.com
- UTRsports.net
- livepickleball.com
- pickleballmanager.net
- cleverpickleball.com
As for ratings, you can use either DUPR or UTR-P.