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COURTSMITH PICKLEBALL SERIES

OFFICIAL RULES & COMPETITION STRUCTURE

Champions Are Forged On The Court

Inaugural Season – Louisiana Division (2026)

I. COMPETITION OVERVIEW

The 2026 Courtsmith Pickleball Series consists of:

  • Four (4) Regular Season Events
  • One (1) State Championship Major

The Regular Season establishes rankings and seeding. The State Championship determines the ultimate title winner.

Courtsmith is a structured championship circuit. This is not a recreational tournament.

II. DIVISION STRUCTURE

All divisions are based strictly on DUPR rating at time of registration.

Rating Bands
  1. 2.75 – 3.24
  2. 3.25 – 3.74
  3. 3.75 – 4.24
  4. 4.25 – 4.74
  5. 4.75+

Minimum: 4 teams required to run a division
Maximum: 8 teams per division

If the 4.25–4.74 or 4.75+ division does not meet the 4-team minimum, those divisions may be combined into a single 4.25+ bracket. Tournament Director retains discretion for competitive balance.

III. COMPETITION CATEGORIES

Each rating division is available in:

  • Men’s Doubles
  • Women’s Doubles
  • Mixed Doubles
  • Senior Men’s Doubles (50+)
  • Senior Women’s Doubles (50+)
  • Senior Mixed Doubles (50+)

Senior divisions require both players to be 50 years of age or older. All categories follow identical competitive structure and advancement format.

IV. DUPR POLICY & DIVISION INTEGRITY

  • A DUPR account is required.
  • A team’s DUPR rating is locked at the moment of registration for each tournament.
  • Rating changes occurring after registration will not alter division placement for that event.
  • Players may compete one division above their rating.
  • Players may NOT compete below their rating.
  • Unrated players must enter the 2.75–3.24 division.
  • All matches are submitted to DUPR.

This policy protects competitive integrity and rating accuracy.

V. MATCH FORMAT

Pool / Round Robin: 1 game to 15 (Win by 2)

Semifinals: 1 game to 15 (Win by 2)

Bronze Medal Match: 1 game to 15 (Win by 2)

Championship Final: Best 2 of 3 games to 11 (Win by 2)

Finals are earned through advancement.

VI. FORMAT BY TEAM COUNT

  • 4 Teams: Round Robin (3 matches each). All advancement. Semifinals → Bronze → Championship.
  • 5 Teams: Round Robin (4 matches each). Top 4 advance. Semifinals → Bronze → Championship.
  • 6 Teams: Round Robin (5 matches each). Top 4 advance. Semifinals → Bronze → Championship.
  • 7 Teams: Round Robin (6 matches each). Top 4 advance. Semifinals → Bronze → Championship.
  • 8 Teams: Two pools of 4. Top 3 from each pool advance. Top 2 seeds receive a bye into Semi Finals.

All divisions guarantee multiple competitive matches.

VII. SEEDING & TIEBREAKERS

Seeding is determined by:

  1. Win–Loss Record
  2. Point Differential
  3. Head-to-Head
  4. Total Points Scored

If still tied, Tournament Director decision is final. No byes are awarded.

VIII. SEASON POINTS SYSTEM

Points are awarded at each event.

Regular Season Events
  • Champion – 100
  • Runner-Up – 75
  • Bronze – 60
  • 4th Place – 50
  • Participation – 25
State Championship Major
  • Champion – 200
  • Runner-Up – 150
  • Bronze – 120
  • 4th Place – 100
  • Participation – 40

The State Championship carries elevated value.

IX. STATE CHAMPIONSHIP ELIGIBILITY

The State Championship is open to:

  • Any team that competed in at least one (1) Regular Season event
  • All Regular Season Event Champions (automatic qualification)

Minimum division size: 4 teams
Maximum division size: 8 teams

X. CHAMPIONSHIP SEEDING

Seeding for the State Championship is determined by:

  1. Total Season Points
  2. Win Percentage (Match Wins ÷ Matches Played)
  3. Head-to-Head
  4. Overall Point Differential

Higher-ranked teams receive favorable bracket positioning.

XI. TITLES AWARDED

Two honors are recognized:

State Champion: Winner of the State Championship Major event.

Series Division Champion: Team with the highest cumulative season points across all five events.

Champions are forged through performance over time.

XII. TOURNAMENT DIRECTOR AUTHORITY

The Tournament Director reserves the right to:

  • Adjust scheduling
  • Combine divisions if minimums are not met
  • Enforce rating compliance
  • Resolve disputes

All decisions are final.

General Rules

Match Standards

The Courtsmith Pickleball Series adheres to the USA Pickleball (USAPA) Official Rulebook. All participants are expected to maintain professional standards of play and adhere to standard tournament scoring protocols throughout the season.

Player Eligibility
​
  • Active DUPR account mandatory for all participants.
  • Proof of age required for Senior divisions (50+).
Equipment Compliance

All paddles must be USAP-approved for competitive use. Non-compliant equipment discovered during match play will result in immediate disqualification from the event. Tournament balls will be provided by Courtsmith staff.

On-Site Protocol

Check-in is required 30 minutes prior to scheduled match times. Score reporting is the responsibility of the winning team and must be completed at the tournament desk within 5 minutes of match completion.

FOUL &
PENALTIES

  • Rating Compliance: Players may NOT compete below their registered DUPR rating. Violation results in immediate disqualification without refund.
  • Division Integrity: The Tournament Director retains full discretion to reassign teams for competitive balance and rating accuracy.
  • Official Conduct: Unsportsmanlike behavior, equipment abuse, or verbal harassment is subject to technical warnings and point deductions.
  • Director Authority: All final decisions regarding scheduling, rating compliance, and dispute resolution rest with the Tournament Director.
  • Match Forfeiture: Failure to report to the court within 10 minutes of a called match results in an automatic forfeiture.

XIII. CODE OF CONDUCT

The Courtsmith Pickleball Series is committed to maintaining a professional, respectful, and competitive environment for all participants. Membership in the series is a privilege, and all players are expected to adhere to the highest standards of sportsmanship.

1. Player Responsibility
  • Players are responsible for their own conduct and the conduct of their guests or family members.
  • Failure to comply with tournament official instructions will result in immediate disqualification.
  • Accurate representation of DUPR ratings is mandatory for division integrity.
2. On-Court Etiquette
  • Abusive language, profanity, or obscene gestures are strictly prohibited.
  • Intentional damage to courts, nets, or facilities will result in removal from the venue.
  • Aggressive physical contact with opponents or officials will lead to a permanent series ban.
3. Disciplinary Actions

The Tournament Director retains final authority on all conduct violations. Sanctions may include verbal warnings, technical fouls, meeting forfeitures, tournament disqualification, or season-long suspension from the Courtsmith series.

4. Line Calls & Fair Play
  • Players are responsible for calling their own lines honestly and promptly.
  • Participants must give opponents the benefit of the doubt on all close line calls.
  • Matches must be conducted in a fair and just manner to uphold the spirit of competition.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

01. How do I find my current DUPR rating?

Participants can verify their rating by logging into the DUPR mobile app or web portal. For Courtsmith events, your division placement is based on your rating at the exact moment of registration.

02. What equipment is required for match play?

All players must use paddles that appear on the USA Pickleball Approved Paddle List. Additionally, court-specific non-marking athletic shoes are mandatory to protect the playing surface.

03. What is the withdrawal and refund policy?

Full refunds are issued for cancellations requested at least 7 days prior to the event date. Late withdrawals are non-refundable but may be eligible for credit toward future Series events at the Director's discretion.

04. Are there age restrictions for Senior divisions?

Yes. Both players on a team must be at least 50 years of age by the date of the competition to participate in Senior Men's, Women's, or Mixed Doubles categories.

05. How are scores reported and verified?

Winning teams must report match scores to the tournament desk immediately after play concludes. All verified results are uploaded to the DUPR platform within 24 hours of the tournament's end.

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