1. Any person who resides within Sun Lakes may apply to play in the NIT subject to the restriction stated in Rule 3 below. This includes Sun Lakes Communities Phase I (Sun Lakes Country Club); Phase II (Cottonwood/Palo Verde); Phase III (IronOaks); and The
   Renaissance. Additionally, on a space-available basis, the SLPCC Board of Directors may invite non-Sun Lakes residents to play.

2. The SLPCC Board of Directors has the sole and absolute right to disqualify or ban any person or team for any reason from playing in the NIT.

3. Team Entry Forms will be completed and submitted electronically via the club website.

   • Registration fees shall be paid electronically and simultaneously with the registration form not later than Monday, February 19th at 11:59 PM.

   • If by Monday, January 16th there are not enough Sun Lakes Phase II Teams per Division, then Registration will be opened to Phase I, III and The Renaissance.

     • SLPCC Member may register a team consisting of themselves and someone else from another Sun Lakes Community (see #1)​

   • Each Team Member must acknowledge the Tournament Waiver Forms electronically or by signature prior to the day of play. Entry Forms must be completed in their entirety for successful registration.

4. The NIT shall be played only at the Cottonwood Pickleball Courts.

5. The NIT may consist of divisions of Men’s Doubles, Women’s Doubles, and Mixed Doubles for Age Groups 50+ and 75+.  A minimum of four teams must be entered within a division to qualify for play.

   • Player age is determined based on the age of the player during the calendar year of the tournament.

   • ​Players may sign up as an individual or team and then the competition committee will break out each player into the brackets.

   • There will be separate divisions according to skill levels 2.0, 2.5; 3.0, 3.5, and 4.0+ which includes 4.0 and all levels above 4.0.

     • 4.0 club players will be given priority in signing up. 4.0 players outside of the club and players with 3.5 ratings will be allowed to sign up secondarily to complete the brackets.

       • Men’s and Women’s brackets will be limited to the first 16 players that sign up.

       • Mixed will require an equal number of Men and Women.  It will be the first 8 Men and first 8 Women that sign up.

       • If we get more than 16 players, brackets can be broken into pools of equal numbers.

     • Seeding Men and Women’s Matches

       • Upon registration on the day of play, Men’s and women’s players will pick a number from 1 to 16 for seeding purposes.

     • Mixed Seeding

       • If we have 8 teams.  Same as above but Men will pick numbers between 1 and 8 and the women will pick numbers between 9 and 16.  This assures the brackets will assign a man and a woman to play together

     • ​4.0+ and 75+ will only use a Round Robin Pickleball Format for Men’s, Women’s and Mixed​​

6. Depending upon the number of teams in each Division either a Round Robin format with 3 games to 11 or 1 game to 15 or a Double Elimination format will be use

   • Matches in the Consolation (Losers’) Bracket will be 1 game to 15, win by 2 points.

   • Matches will only be a refereed event when one is available.

   • The finals match in each division will be refereed and may also include line judges.

   • All matches will adhere to the tournament standards established by the USAPA.

7. Match Play

   • 2.0, 2.5, 30. and 3.5 

     • ​Winner’s Bracket will be best 2 out of 3 games to 11, win by 2.

   • 4.0+ and Mens 75+ Round Robins

     • Matches will be 1 game to 11, win by 2.

     • Point Scoring: Total points scored in all of the individual matches.

       • This will hopefully help eliminate ties

     • Medal Matches will be 1 game to 15

       • Men and Women Medal Rounds:  Points will be tabulated and the top 4 men or women will play in the championship game.

         • Match Assignment

           • Format:  #1 will play with #4 and #2 will play with #3. 

           • The Bronze medal game will be played between the next 4 players' points totals.

           • Format:  #4 will play with #8 and #5 will play with #6.

       • Mixed Medal Matches: Points will be tabulated and the top 2 Men and Women individuals will play for the gold medal and the 3rd and 4th highest point getters will play for the bronze medal.

         • Match Assignment

           • Format: #1 man will play with #2 woman and the #1 woman will play with the #2 man. 

           • Bronze medal game will be played between the 3rd and 4th highest man and woman. #3 man with #4 woman and #3 woman with #4 man

       • In the event of ties.  

         • In the event of two way tie, a flip of the coin will determine position for medal rounds

         • In the event of multiple ties, numbers will be drawn. 

8. The championship team, the runner-up team, and the second runner-up team in each division will receive a prize to be determined by the SLPCC Board of Directors.

9. Teams must play at the level of the higher skilled/rated partner. A violation of this rule shall result in forfeiture of matches, expulsion from the tournament, and loss of entry fee.

   • Player ratings will be determined by accepting the highest of acceptable national rating formats, including club ratings, on the date registration closes.  The tournament director along with the competition committee reserves the right to correct underrated players up until the brackets are created.

   • Self-ratings are allowed if a player does not have a valid rating.  However, the competition committee will validate all self-ratings.

   • Both players may choose to register at a higher level, if they wish

10. The NIT Tournament Director or Directors (TD) shall determine the format of play, seeded or blind draw, and the schedule of play for the NIT including days and times of play. Failure of a player or a team to appear at the scheduled day and time for play will result in forfeiture for that team, with a loss recorded against that team, and a victory recorded for the opposing team.

11. The TD has the final authority to make team placements in a seeded tournament; and the TD reserves the right to alter and to make team placements in a blind draw tournament. All decisions made by the TD related to team placements shall be final.

12. Paddles, clothing, accessories, and equipment brought by the players shall be in compliance with USAPA Policies, Rules and Regulations, and shall be in compliance with SLHOA 2 Policies, Rules, and Regulations.

    • If there is any conflict between the two standards, the Policies, Rules and Regulations of the SLHOA 2 shall prevail.

    • Players shall be permitted to bring only non-glass water containers and towels onto the courts while playing.

    • All other items must be left outside of the court.

13. The conduct and behavior of the NIT players and teams shall conform to SLPCC Rules and Regulations and to SLHOA 2 Policies, Rules, and Code of Conduct. Decisions regarding compliance with Policies, Rules, Regulations and Code of Conduct by individual NIT players and teams shall be made by the TD.

    • All such decisions made by the TD related to the conduct and behavior of NIT players and teams shall be final.

revised 12/12/22