2023 Nationals FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
TOPICS
EVENT DETAILS | REGISTRATION | VENUE | LODGING | GENERAL
QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
Confirmed – GOLDEN TICKET WINNER, means you have been confirmed and listed in the event to play in the 2023 USA Pickleball National Championships.
Non-Confirmed – means you registered and wish to play in the event. Your registration is pending a review to see if you have met all the qualifications. Once the review is complete and you have met the qualifications, you will be placed in the lottery for consideration.
Event Details (20)
Q1. When is the 2023 USA Pickleball National Championships going to be held?
A1. November 5 - 12, 2023
The event will kick-off on Nov. 5 with clinics and other activities, while tournament competition will officially begin on Nov. 6.
Q2. Where will the National Championships be held this year?
A2. The 2023 USA Pickleball National Championships will be held at the Brookhaven Country Club in Farmers Branch, Texas.
Q3. Who is eligible to play in the 2023 USA Pickleball National Championships?
A3. To participate in the 2023 USA Pickleball National Championships at the Brookhaven Country Club, all participants must:
- Players can earn a confirmed entry by winning a Gold medal (skill/age) / (age/skill) or Gold/Silver/Bronze in the Sr Pro events at the 2022 Nationals.
- All other players who participated in a qualifying event, listed below, will be eligible to register to the non-confirmed list beginning June 8, 2023.
- The National Championship Series (NCS) events will offer (Golden Tickets) to the 2023 National Championships in Farmers Branch, TX. Only Gold Medalists from the following tournaments will qualify for 2023 confirmed bracket entry:
- 2022 APP Sunmed Houston Open (NCS)
- 2022 APP Sunmed Hilton Head Open (NCS)
- 2022 USAP Margaritaville National Championships
- 2022 USAP Diamond Amateur Championships
- 2023 APP Daytona Beach Open (NCS)
- 2023 APP Mesa Open (NCS)
- 2023 APP Vlasic Classic – Cincinnati (NCS)
- 2023 APP New York City Open (NCS)
- 2023 PPA Selkirk Texas Open
- 2023 APP Newport Beach Open (NCS)
- 2023 PPA Baird Seattle Open
- 2023 PPA Kansas City Open
- If you are 70+ or greater and entered into a 70+ or greater division, even if your bracket was combined with a lower age division, you are still eligible to register for the 2023 National Championships regardless of your results.
- If you are 70+ or greater and play with a 65+ or younger player, you are not eligible for a confirmed entry. You must play in a 70+ or greater bracket (even if combined) to be eligible for the confirmed entry.
- You may register for any event that you would like to participate in. Once registration is complete a manual process will take place and you will be brought into the bracket that you are eligible for. You will remain on the non-confirmed list for any event that you did not win a Golden Ticket in and be considered for the lottery.
- Both partners must have played in a qualifying tournament to be eligible to register for Nationals.
- If you are a Golden Ticket winner for the 2023 Nationals in Texas, and your partner does not have a Golden Ticket, but you want to play with them at Nationals, they must have participated in one of the qualifying events to be eligible.
- There will be no confirmed (Golden Tickets) from the 2022/2023 Regional tournaments to the 2023 National Championships in Texas.
- All participants from the Diamond Regional tournaments will be eligible to enter the non-confirmed list for the 2023 National Championships in Texas. Below are the USA Pickleball Diamond Amateur Regionals that are eligible for this year’s event:
- 2022 - Mid-Atlantic Diamond Regional (September 21 - 25, 2022)
- 2023 - Southwest Diamond Regional (February 28 - March 5, 2023)
- 2023 - Atlantic Diamond Regional (March 31 - April 2, 2023)
- 2023 - Mountain Diamond Regional (April 17 - 23, 2023)
- 2023 - West Diamond Regional (May 5 - 7, 2023)
- 2023 - Mid South Diamond Regional (May 4 - 7, 2023)
- 2023 - Middle States Diamond Regional (June 1 - 4, 2023)
- 2023 - Atlantic South Diamond Regional (June 6 - 11, 2023)
- 2023 - Pacific Northwest Diamond Regional (June 14 - 18, 2023)
- 2023 - Great Plains Diamond Regional (July 7 - 13, 2023)
- 2023 - Great Lakes Diamond Regional (July 27 - 30, 2023)
- Rain Policy: Players who were registered and paid to play in any of the above events and were unable to play due to inclement weather, USAP will honor this as meeting the participation qualification.
Q4. What is the amateur format of play?
A4. This is a double elimination tournament. All winner bracket matches will be 2 out of 3 games to 11, win by 2 points. Opportunity bracket matches will be one game to 15, win by 2 points. The Bronze Medal and Gold/Silver medal matches will be 2 out of 3 games to 11, win by 2 points.
Q5. How do I get an official USA Pickleball Rating?
A5. Since all players must participate in a USAP sanctioned event prior to Nationals, the UTPR rating system has generated a tournament rating for you.
Q6. Where Can I find Pro and Senior Pro Division Schedules
A6.
Q7. Can I play in both the Pro and the Senior Pro Divisions in the same event (i.e. Mixed Doubles)?
A7. Yes, you may play in both Pro and Senior Pro events as long as the schedule of play is on separate days. Please click the link below to read the Pro / Sr Pro Policy.
Q8. Will this tournament have skill level (3.5, 4.0, etc.) events?
A8. Yes
Q9. How do I determine my rating or skill level?
A9. Your UTPR ratings will be used to determine your skill level.
Q10. What day do I play?
A10. Detailed event start time schedules will be developed for each day after charts have been created. Once developed, they will be available on pickleballtournaments.com. Approximately 7 days prior to the start of the tournament.
Q11. What determines my age?
A11. Your eligible age is the age you will be on December 31, 2023.
Q12. Can Juniors play in both skill/age events and junior events?
A12. Yes. For skill/age events, they must meet the participation requirement outlined on the event website and pay the required event fee for each event they enter. Juniors that wish only to play in junior divisions are not required to meet the participation requirements.
Juniors with a 5.0+ rating may choose to participate in the Pro events if they meet the participation requirements. However, they are not eligible to participate in any amateur event if they participate in any Pro division.
PLEASE NOTE: Any junior who did not play in a qualifying tournament will need to email nationalsreg@usapickleball.org. Please include the following in the email:
1) Full name
2) Date of Birth
3) USA Pickleball membership number
4) Let the registration team know that it is for JUNIOR only events
Q13. What determines the age bracket of the team?
A13. The age of the youngest player is used to determine the age group bracket. If a team consists of a 65+ player and 55+ player, the team will be placed in the 55+ bracket. If a team consists of (2) 65+ players that want to play down, they would have to register for their appropriate 65+ bracket and contact the registration coordinator at nationalsreg@usapickleball.org after the lottery is complete in mid-September to ask if they can be moved.
For junior events, the age of the oldest player is used to select the age group for junior events. If a junior (8-18) is playing with a non-junior (19+), 19+ will be used; they will play in the under 35+ group. Juniors may play in both junior events and 19+ skill/age events if they have met the participation requirements.
Q14. How many players will be allowed in each division?
A14. Player limits are at the discretion of the tournament directors, who reserve the right to limit the number of players playing in each event. Registration will close once all divisions are full. Any spots left after the lottery will be given priority based on being registered and paid with a registered and paid partner. Players not making the lottery will stay on the non-confirmed list. Please review the cancellation policy for complete details.
Each bracket will initially have an equal number of slots available. After the initial registration period any of the unused slots from 1 event will be moved to other events that have teams on the non-confirmed list. This will be prioritized by which brackets have the longest wait lists and teams will be moved into brackets and off the non-confirmed list by a lottery process.
Q15. What happens if there are not enough players in a bracket?
A15.
- 1, 2 or 3 teams will be combined by skill/age to provide the most competitive competition
- 4 – 5 teams, Round Robin
- 5 players in singles will be run as a Double Elimination
- 6 teams or more, Double Elimination
Q16. What is the prize money allocation for the Pro and Senior Pro Division winners?
A16. Total Prize Payout for all Pro/Sr Pro Divisions is $200,000
Q17. What ball will be used?
A17. The Franklin X-40 Neon Green ball will be used.
Q18. When will the Event Player List be available?
A18. Will be published approximately on October 10, 2023
Q19. When will the start times be available?
A19. Detailed start times will be available after charts have been created and seeded. Court assignments and match waiting lists will be available at midnight the day that each event is to be played.
Q20. I do not reside in the United States; do I still need to meet the participation requirement
A20. If an interested participant does not live in the United States for more than 3 months a year and is not able to participate in a sanctioned event, he/she may request a hardship exemption from the Tournament Director. Please send this email request to: dpaben@usapickleball.org.
Registration (17)
Q21. When does registration open?
A21. June 8, 2023 at noon CDT for all players who have competed in a qualifying golden ticket tournament USA Pickleball Diamond Regional
Q22. What is the Lottery registration this year?
A22. All players must be registered before September 8, 2023 midnight CDT and on September 9, 2023, preparation for the lottery will begin and all players in the lottery will receive a very detailed email with specific information regarding the lottery process. September 22, 2023, lottery winners will be notified by email.
Q23. When does registration close?
A23. All players must be registered before September 8, 2023 midnight CDT.
Q24. I earned the opportunity to pre-register, but I only get to register for the one event type, how do I get into the other events?
A24. Any player that qualified via a Golden Ticket and wants to register for other events they didn’t earn a Golden Ticket in, must register for that event before 9/8/2023 midnight CDT.
**At the conclusion of the lottery, a request can be made by emailing nationalsreg@usapickleball.org to play UP only in skill level - requests will be reviewed - please be prepared as the demand for the tournament will be high and the possibility could be very low for changing brackets.
Q25. A) Can I register for more than one event per day? B) Can I use more than one Golden Ticket? C) Can I play in my age event and another age event?
A25.
A.) No, you may play in only one event per day.
B.) If you have earned more than one Golden ticket in a gender doubles event, you will only be able to use one of those Golden tickets for your registration. IF someone else has won a Golden ticket and chooses to pick you as a partner, you will be permitted to play with them provided you do not already have an event scheduled for the same day.
- Each player can ONLY use ONE Golden Ticket per gender event.
- Each player can ONLY use ONE Golden Ticket per mixed doubles event.
- Each player can ONLY use ONE Golden Ticket per singles event.
C.) Example: You are 65, female player and won 2 Golden Tickets. One at age 65+ and one at 50+ in two different Golden Ticket tournaments:
- When you register for Nationals your registration will capture your age 65 and skill level 3.5D/3.5M/3.0S
- You will be given the option to participate in ONE gender event, ONE mixed doubles event and ONE singles event.
- If you choose 65+, then you will NOT be given the option to participate in 60+/55+ division or the 19+/35+/50+ division.
- When you are done listing your events and answering the required questions, you will proceed to payment.
During the registration process ALL PLAYERS register as NON-CONFIRMED. Once a week, the registration team will start the manual process of checking all registrations for Golden Ticket players. If you have a Golden Ticket in Women's Doubles, then we will check to see if your partner has completed all requirements to participate in the 2023 USA Pickleball National Championships. If they have then your team will be moved to CONFIRMED status and you will be sent an email confirmation.
Q26. When I registered, I listed my partner. Does listing my partner register him or her as well?
A26. Only those individuals who have submitted their own registrations and paid registration and event fees will be considered registered. Registration includes providing contact information, selecting events/partners, and paying all fees. When a participant provides contact information their name is listed among players registered for the tournament and their name may appear on the “Needs Partner List” if they have registered for an event but have not identified a partner. Each player must register themselves for the tournament.
Q27. When I try to register online, it asks for my USA Pickleball membership number. How do I get a USA Pickleball membership number?
A27. Go to www.usapickleball.org and apply for a USA Pickleball membership (or renew your membership if it is set to expire). Your USA Pickleball membership number will not be active until you have paid your USA Pickleball membership dues. To ensure that your USA Pickleball membership is processed promptly, it is suggested that you use PayPal for payment. Memberships completed and paid online are processed in real time and players will receive an email with their member number. Players who opt to pay for their membership with a mailed check are placed in a ‘pending status’ and must wait for their payment to be received, processed, and cleared before receiving their member number. This could take 10-14 days. You will not be able to sign up for Nationals until you have received your member number. Your USAP membership must be valid through 11/13/2023 before you will be eligible to register for the tournament.
Q28. When I try to register online, it says my USA Pickleball membership number is not valid. Why?
A28. One of two things could be causing this issue:
- Your number is not correct in your pickleballtournaments.com profile. To verify or update the number, log on to pickleballtournaments.com and select Update My Profile.
- Your USA Pickleball membership has expired or will expire during the tournament. If so, you will need to renew your membership. If you have questions regarding your USA Pickleball membership, please contact the USA Pickleball member services at membership@usapickleball.org.
Q29. What are my registration and event fees?
A29.
- Registration fee per person: Juniors $55 Any Adult Divisions $155
- Referee Fee (Paid by all registered players): $35
- Event Fee Per Person: Pro $140 / event Senior Pro $120 / event
- Amateur $55 / event Junior $15 / event
- Registration and Weather Insurance Policy $20 (optional)
- Software Service Fees: Pro $25 / event Senior Pro $25 / event
- Junior & Amateur $5 per event / $10 maximum
- Withdrawal Fee: $25 fee charged (read all the FAQ on the tournament page to know when this applies)
Registration and event fees can be paid with a CREDIT CARD ONLY through pickleballtournaments.com tournament page.
PLEASE NOTE: Any junior who did not play in the qualifying tournament will need to email nationalsreg@usapickleball.org. Include the following in the email:
1) Full name
2) Date of Birth
3) USAP membership number
4) Let the registration team know that it is for JUNIOR only events
Q30. When are my fees due?
A30. Fees are due at the time of registration. Players who submit a registration but not a payment are NOT registered or listed in the tournament. Players are not included in a non-confirmed event until registration and event fees are paid in full.
Your UTPR rating at the time of registration will be used - you will not have the ability to play up in skill or down in age. If you believe your rating will go UP after 7/1/23, you should wait before registering for Nationals until the change has occurred.
It is the player's responsibility to be informed - please read all FAQ's made available on the tournament page before registering.
Lots of information is available to answer almost any question. If you do not pay your fees, you are immediately removed. No exceptions. If you can not select someone's name for the tournament, they may have not qualified for the 2023 USA Pickleball National Championships at the time of your registration.
READ the FAQ's this is a reply to common question:
- Your UTPR will be captured at the time of registration. This will be the UTPR recorded for your registration into the 2023 USA Pickleball National Championships.
- If your UTPR at the time of registration is 3.5 - you will NOT be able to select 4.5 to compete in Nationals.
- Meaning YOU can't choose to play up. Only available to play up if your partner has a higher skill level recorded by their UTPR at the time of registration.
- If you and your partner have different skill levels, you will play UP in skill for the bracket to compete.
- If you and your partner have different age divisions, you will play DOWN in skill for the bracket to compete.
- Congratulations on your Golden tickets - a team wins them individually and can use them to play with different partners at the 2023 USA Pickleball National Championships! If you received a Golden ticket, this means you can register for the USA Pickleball National Championships and if your team meets all qualifications, then you will be moved from non-confirmed to confirmed status. This is a manual review process. Please allow 14 days for this to be completed. Once completed you will receive an email communication.
- During the registration process all players can register for any event - one gender doubles, one mixed doubles, one singles event according to your skill and age.
Q31. When is my registration considered complete?
A31. Registration is complete when the registration, referee, and tournament insurance fees (if chosen) are paid for by both you and your partner for non-confirmed events. All players receiving confirmed status must have their event fees paid within 48 hours to finalize their spot in the event.
Q32. What if my partner gets hurt during the tournament; can I find a replacement?
A32. Yes. If your partner cancels, email nationalsreg@usapickleball.org to add a new partner. This is the ONLY EMAIL ADDRESS that will accept changes. If you choose to email someone else, the delay could cause you to miss strict deadlines, and that will be on YOU.
You MUST CHOOSE SOMEONE ALREADY REGISTERD in the 2023 USA Pickleball National Championships. If you are confirmed for an event and lose your partner before October 3, 2023, you will be given until October 18, 2023, midnight to secure a partner. If no partner is secured with payment, you will be moved from ‘confirmed for the event” to non-confirmed status for the event. Meaning you have your spot in the event and will be considered a ‘replacement player’ for the tournament.
Replacement players AFTER October 17, 2023, midnight CDT, must be able to play in the same skill/age event you are ‘holding’ a spot. If you wish to make a change to the skill/age event, then your team will go to the ‘non-confirmed’ for that event and no guarantee to play.
Amateur, Junior & Senior Pros - Keep in mind, as you search for a replacement, that players may play down in age and up in skill. Replacements must be communicated to nationalsreg@usapickleball.org by 4 p.m. the day before your event is scheduled to play. Any request for replacements after 4 p.m. will be reviewed by the Tournament Director for approval. Replacements can be found on the players needing partners list.
Pros – any player playing in the pro event cannot change a partner AFTER the draws have been set and released on 11/3/2023
Q33. What if I want to register for a doubles event, but I don’t have a partner?
A3. Players who have registered for an event without a partner can view and be viewed by other players needing partners by clicking the “Needs Partner” button on pickleballtournaments.com.
Q34. If I have to cancel my registration and withdraw from the tournament, can I get a refund?
A34. Players who received a confirmation email with a confirmed event are eligible to receive a refund less a $25 withdrawal fee. All requests for refunds must be made by September 8, 2023 before midnight CDT by sending an email to nationalsreg@usapickleball.org If withdrawal is after September 8, 2023, there is no refund unless tournament insurance is purchased. You have until the close of registration September 8, 2023 before midnight CDT to purchase insurance for your registration in the tournament.
If you have purchased the insurance and need to withdrawal, the rules for the Registration & Weather Insurance policy will be followed. Please click here for detailed information.
Please click here to read the full 2023 USA Pickleball National Championships Cancellation Policy.
Q35. When will I receive a confirmation of entry?
A35. Upon registering, all participants will also receive an email confirming the contact information contained in their registration profile on pickleballtournaments.com, listing the non-confirmed events they have registered for, and listing fees/payments as of the date of the confirmation. Participants who do not supply an email address will be responsible for verifying their own registration information on pickleballtournaments.com as they will not receive any form of communication from the USAP or Pickleball Tournaments concerning the 2023 USAP National Championships.
Q36. Can USA Pickleball refuse entry for the National Championships?
A36. USA Pickleball reserves the right to refuse entry to the National Championships to any individual for any reason.
Q37. How can I check to see when my USA Pickleball membership expires?
A37. All current USA Pickleball members can check the status of their membership by logging into their USA Pickleball account (click here). Once logged in, go to the ‘Member Area’ and click the link that says ‘Membership Status/Billing Info’.
Venue (16)
Q38. What is the address for Brookhaven Country Club?
A38.
Brookhaven Country Club
3334 Golfing Green Drive
Farmers Branch, TX 75234
Q39. What is the best airport to use for getting to the tournament venue?
A39. There are two airport options that participants can utilize during their travels to the tournament venue:
- The Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) airport is approximately 20 minutes from Brookhaven Country Club.
- The Dallas Love Field (DAL) is approximately 25 minutes from Brookhaven Country Club.
Q40. What time do the gates open?
A40. Gates will open at 7:00am local time, with matches beginning at 8:00am daily.
Q41. Will there be practice courts at the venue?
A41. More information will be provided soon
Q42. Will there be parking near the courts?
A42. You can find information regarding parking and transportation by clicking here.
Q43. Will food be available at the courts?
A43. Yes, there will be several options for purchasing food and beverages on-site.
Q44. Will there be water at the courts?
A44. Yes, water will be available on-site.
Q45. May I bring a pop-up shade tent?
A45. More Coming Soon!
Q46. Are dogs or other pets allowed?
A46. We welcome the presence of service animals assisting people with disabilities. A service animal is an animal that is individually trained to do a specific disability-related job or task for a person with a disability. Pets or other animals (whether or not they provide comfort or emotional support) are not allowed on-site.
Q47. Will there be trainers or massage therapists at the venue?
A47. Yes.
Q48. Will there be access to showers or fitness equipment at the venue?
A48. No, while there will be plenty of restrooms, there will be no general access to showers or workout facilities.
Q49. How much are tickets to the championship court?
A49. Individual tickets for Nationals, along with week-long passes, and tickets for pickleball clinics and select events on-site at Brookhaven are available now. Click here for purchase information.
Q50. Is there a bag check to enter the venue?
A50. More information will be provided soon.
Q51. Can I bring a cooler?
A51. Yes, if you are a player in the tournament and playing that day, you are allowed to bring in a cooler. However, the cooler may not be larger than 16 x 16 x 8 inches and will be subject to inspection at the entry gate.
Q52. Can I bring my own alcohol?
A52. No, alcoholic beverages may not be brought onto the tournament grounds, but may be purchased on-site. If you consume alcoholic beverages, please do so in a responsible manner. Please note, tailgating is not permitted in any of the parking areas.
Q53. Can I bring lawn chairs?
A53. More information will be provided soon.
Lodging (1)
Q54. Does USA Pickleball have a Host Hotel program?
A54. USA Pickleball is partnering with numerous hotels for the 2023 USA Pickleball National Championships powered by Invited and the PPA Tour. We encourage attendees to book accommodations through these local hotel options located near the competition venue. Please click here to view partner hotels.
General (15)
Q55. Why did USA Pickleball switch from 10-year to 5-year age brackets?
A55. Initially, there was the mindset that a USA Pickleball National Championship should have larger brackets. Members felt that this choice was unfair to players over the age of 50. We felt it was important to listen to our membership and wanted to offer a compromise.
Q56. Will there be a referee for every match?
A56. Our goal is to have a USA Pickleball referee for every match.
Q57. Why must I check in each day I play?
A57. You must check in each day you play so we know if all the players have arrived and to provide an opportunity to ensure your tournament registration is in order. Players will not be allowed to play if any part of their registration is incomplete or their event fees have not been paid.
Q58. What time do I need to be checked in by each day I play?
A58. Players must check in a minimum of 30 minutes prior to the event’s start time. Your bracket could start 30 minutes early!
Q59. Will the results be on the Internet?
A59. Yes, results, brackets, schedules, court assignments, matches waiting for court assignments, and the player directory can all be accessed via pickleballtournaments.com.
Results will be posted as soon as a match is completed and the score sheet is returned to the Tournament Desk. Court assignments and match waiting lists will be updated when the score sheets are entered.
Q60. What if it rains?
A60. We will make every effort to resume play as soon as possible if we experience rain or inclement weather during the National Championships. All updates and decisions will be communicated with players during a rain delay via pickleballtournaments.com email/text options. In the most extreme of cases, if we are not able to resume play, the event will be canceled.
Q61. Will you provide refunds if it rains?
A61. This is an outdoor event subject to the weather. No refunds or credit will be issued for cancellation of events due to inclement weather. We will do all we can to play all matches including modifying the format if necessary. Players can purchase a Registration and Weather Insurance Policy.
Q62. When will start times be available?
A62. Detailed start times will be available after charts have been created and seeded. Approximately 7 days prior to the start of the tournament. Court assignments and matches waiting lists will be available at midnight the day that each event is to be played.
Q63. When are the charts for play going to be posted?
A63. Charts will be posted for each Division and Event at midnight on the day of play for that event. However, due to last minute team or player withdrawals, charts may change until the scheduled start time for an event.
Q64. How do you know if a player is playing with an approved paddle?
A64. Please check the USA Pickleball Equipment website here for a list of approved paddles.
Q65. Will the National Championships allow live streaming on Facebook of matches?
A65. More information will be provided soon.
Q66. What is the policy for recording matches at the event?
A66. More information will be provided soon.
Q67. How do vendors or sponsors contact USA Pickleball regarding possible space at the National Championships?
A67. Any interested vendors or sponsors may click here and send an email requesting more information
Q68. What is the policy for recording my matches on a GoPro or other device?
A68. More information will be provided soon.
Q69. What time does recreational play end each day?
A69. More information will be provided soon.