⏰ Check-In & Warm-Up

• Arrival: Please arrive and check in at the Tournament Desk 30-45 minutes prior to your division's start time
• Check-In: You must check in at least 30 minutes prior to your division start time
• Late Policy: Late arrivals or "no-shows" will result in an automatic forfeit
• Forfeit Result: In the event of a forfeit, the opponent will receive a Bye for that match
• Warm-Up: Once the previous division clears the courts, your division will have a 5-minute dedicated warm-up period before the start of the game

📋 General Rules

• All gameplay, including serve mechanics, non-volley zone (kitchen) rules, and player conduct, will follow official USAPA Rules and Regulations
• Please ensure you are familiar with the standard 2026 USAPA rulebook
• Players must wear appropriate athletic attire and non-marking court shoes
• Tournament officials' and Game Coordinator's decisions are final
• Unsportsmanlike conduct may result in point penalties or disqualification

🏆 Tournament Format (Per Division)

Each division will be played in a Winners-Losers Game Format to determine seeding, followed by a Final:

• Pool Play: You will play a minimum of two matches and will be eliminated only after two losses. The maximum number of games you play will be determined by your Wins/Losses
• The Finals: Finals will be played between the final winner of Winners bracket vs Final Winner of Losers bracket
• Finals Format: Best of three games. If a team wins two straight matches, the winner is concluded

🎯 Scoring & Switching Sides

• Game Point: All games are played to 11 points
• The Deuce Rule: If the score reaches 10-10, you must win by a margin of 2 points
• No Cap: Play will continue past 11 points (e.g., 13-11, 15-13) until a team establishes a 2-point lead
• Server Responsibility: The server must announce the score loudly and clearly before every serve (e.g., "1-1-2")
• Switching Sides: Switch sides when one team reaches 6 points

👥 Doubles Rules

• No substitutions allowed once the tournament begins (except for injury with medical clearance)
• Both players must be present for the match to begin
• Both players on a team can stand anywhere on their side of the court

👁️ Self-Officiating (No Referees)

In the absence of a referee, please follow these standard USAPA protocols:

• Line Calls: Players are responsible for calling lines on their own side of the net
• Fairness: If you are not 100% certain a ball was out, it must be called IN
• Integrity: Please respect your opponents' calls. If a disagreement occurs that cannot be resolved quickly, refer to the Video Replay rule below
• Review Option: Dedicated screens are available at each court for video replays on tight calls
• Final Authority: In the event of a dispute, inconclusive footage, or any other on-court issue, the final call will be made by the Game Coordinator

⚖️ Finals Officiating & Format

• Referee Oversight: While preliminary rounds are self-officiated, an exception is made for all Final Matches. Referees will be assigned to officiate these games to ensure accuracy and rule compliance
• Best of 3 Series: Unlike the single-game preliminary rounds, the Finals will be played as a "Best of 3" series to 11 points (Win by 2)
• Video Replay in Finals: Players may still utilize the dedicated court screens; however, the Referee will conduct the review and make the final determination

📹 Dedicated Video Replay Instructions

Each court is equipped with a dedicated replay screen. To keep the tournament on schedule, please use the following "Challenge" protocol:

• One Challenge Per Game: Each team is allowed one (1) unsuccessful challenge per game
• The Review: Both teams must coordinate with the game coordinator to look at the court-side screen to review the last play
• Finality: If the video clearly shows the ball was IN/OUT, the call is corrected. If the video is inconclusive (cannot see clearly), the original call stands and the challenging team loses their challenge
• Sportsmanship: Please limit # of replay reviews to avoid delaying the next division's start time

🏓 Service Rules

• The serve must be made underhand with paddle contact below the waist
• The serve must be made diagonally crosscourt and land in the opposite service court
• Only one serve attempt is allowed (no let serves - if ball hits net and lands in, play continues)
• The server must keep both feet behind the baseline until the ball is struck
• The serve must clear the non-volley zone (kitchen) including the line

🚫 Non-Volley Zone (Kitchen) Rules

• Players may not volley the ball while standing in the non-volley zone
• Players may not volley the ball while touching the non-volley zone line
• A player's momentum cannot carry them into the kitchen after a volley
• Players may enter the kitchen to play a ball that has bounced

🔄 Double Bounce Rule

• The ball must bounce once on each side before volleys are allowed
• The receiving team must let the serve bounce before returning
• The serving team must let the return bounce before their third shot
• After both bounces occur, the ball can be volleyed or played off the bounce

❌ Faults

• Hitting the ball into the net
• Hitting the ball out of bounds
• Volleying from the non-volley zone
• Violating the double bounce rule
• Touching the net or net post during play
• Ball hitting a player or anything they are wearing/carrying
• Double hitting the ball

🎾 Equipment Requirements

• Paddles must meet USAPA specifications (max dimensions, no prohibited materials)
• Players may use their own USAPA-approved paddles
• Eye protection is recommended but not required

🤝 Code of Conduct

• Players are expected to demonstrate good sportsmanship at all times
• Verbal abuse, profanity, or unsportsmanlike behavior will not be tolerated
• Players must respect officials, opponents, and spectators
• Deliberately delaying play is prohibited
• Players must call lines fairly and give the benefit of the doubt to opponents