Your first pickleball tournament: what to expect

Signing up for your first tournament is the easy part. The day itself has its own routine, and nobody hands you a copy of it. What follows comes from the USA Pickleball rulebook and the guide it gives tournament directors. Events do vary, though, so read the official event page as well.

Before you go

Look up your check-in time and place on the event page. USA Pickleball tells directors to have players check in at least 30 minutes before their bracket starts, so plan to get there earlier than you think you need to.

A sanctioned event has a few more boxes to tick. Every player has to be a USA Pickleball member. You also have to sign a waiver and have your entry fee paid before you can play. If any of those is still open, take care of it before the day.

Check your paddle, too. At a sanctioned event it has to be on the USA Pickleball Approved Paddle List, and if it's caught during a match, you lose that match. The packing list covers this and the other gear rules.

When you arrive

Check in first. Then find the posted schedule.

The rulebook puts that schedule on you. The director has to let players know about changes, but checking the posted schedule, and any changes to it, is still each player's job. That's how you find out when and where you play.

Don't expect a long warm-up. The director's guide suggests warm-up courts only "if possible," and tells directors to keep warm-ups to 2 to 3 minutes. Players who are "on deck" (up next) get told early so they have a chance to loosen up.

When your match is called

You have 10 minutes to report to your court after your match is called. Sanctioned events are strict about this:

• At 10 minutes you forfeit the first game. If the match is a single game, you lose the match.
• At 15 minutes, in a match of more than one game, you forfeit the whole match.

The director can give you more time when circumstances warrant it, but don't count on it. Stay close to your courts so you hear your name.

Who calls the lines

The tournament director decides which matches get line judges. When yours has none, you and your opponents make the line calls.

You call "out" on the lines at your own end. In doubles, either partner can make the call. The big rule is simple: if you aren't sure, the ball is in. Only call it out when you clearly see space between the ball and the line. If you and your partner disagree, it's in. And don't turn to the crowd for help, because spectators can't be asked about a call.

A match can have a referee and still have no line judges. In that case you still call the baseline, the sidelines and the center service line on your end.

A few more rules

Each player or team gets two time-outs in a game to 11 or 15, and three in a game to 21. A time-out lasts up to one minute.

Between games you get up to two minutes to change ends. Between matches, the rulebook allows 10 minutes.

Headphones and earbuds aren't allowed while you play. Prescribed or required hearing aids are fine.

These tournament rules are written for sanctioned events. Other events may run things their own way, so if you're unsure, ask at the check-in desk.