Frequently Asked Questions
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  • Singles scoring is very similar to doubles except that there is no second server.
  • The serve is always done from the right side when the server’s score is even and from the left side when the server’s score is odd.
  • It is the server’s score that determines serving position, not the score of the receiver. The receiver lines up on the right or left side according to the server’s score.
  • The score is called simply as: server score, receiver score.
  • This information comes directly from the USA Pickleball website (usapickleball.org)
  • Points are scored only on the serve; the receiving side cannot score a point.
  • At the start of the game, the player on the right side (even court) serves to the diagonally opposite court.
  • If a point is scored, the server moves to the left side (odd court) and serves to the diagonally opposite court.
  • Players on the serving side continue to move from the right to left or left to right each time a point is scored.
  • Players on the serving team do not alternate sides unless a point is scored. The receiving side never alternates sides.
  • The first server continues to serve until the serving team loses a rally by committing a fault; then the serve passes to the second server on the team. [See * below for an exception]
  • When the second server loses the serve, the serve goes to the other team and the player on the right serves first. That pattern continues throughout the game.
  • Calling the Score:
    • The score should be called as three numbers.
    • Proper sequence for calling the score is: server score, receiver score, then, for doubles only, the server number: 1 or 2.
    • To start a match, the score will be called as: zero - zero – two*
  • The server number (1 or 2) applies for that service turn only. Whoever is on the right side (depending on the score) when the team gets the serve back is the first server for that service turn only. The next time that the team gets the serve back, it might be the other player that is on the right and is therefore the first server for that service turn only. Beginning players often mistakenly assume that the player keeps the same server number throughout the game.
  • *First Server Exception: To minimize the advantage of being the first team to serve in the game, only one player, the one on the right side, gets to serve on the first service turn of the game. Since the serve goes to the other side when that player loses the serve, that player is designated as the second server. Therefore, at the start of the game, the score should be called, “0-0-2.” The “2” indicates the second server and means that the serve goes to the other side when the serve is lost.
  • When a team’s score is even, the player who served first in that game must be on the right (even) side of the court and on the left (odd) side when the score is odd. Or, expressed alternately, when the first server of that game is on the right side of the court, that team’s score should be even. If this is not the case, then either the players are positioned on the wrong side of the court or the called score is inaccurate.
  • This information comes directly from the USA Pickleball website (usapickleball.org)
The player whose name appears on the draw in bold is the designated home player/team. In the Initial Seeding Draw, this is randomly determined by the database. In the Final Draw, this is is the higher seeded player/team.
Because conditions such as wind and sun can differ from one side of the court to the other, we need rules to help balance out how much time each player or team spends on each half of the court. In a standard best three out of five games to 11 match, players or teams should switch sides of the court after each of the first two games. If one team won both games (i.e., 2-0), then, in the third game and in all subsequent games, players or teams should switch sides after one player or team reaches 6 points. If instead, the score after the first two games is 1-1, then you can switch after game 3 and game 4, since this will still result in a balance of time spent on each half of the court.

Another way to approach this is to ask yourself Is this possibly the last game of the match?. If it is then the next questions is Have both teams already had equal times on both sides of the court (i.e., are we in balance now)?. If so, then switch after one team or player gets to 6. Otherwise, no need to switch.

When there are not enough players to completely fill a division, a Ghost Player or Ghost Team is used as a placeholder. If your match is against a Ghost Player or Team, simply enter the score on the Score Entry Page as a forfeit in your favor. This will then show up as a BYE on the drawsheet. For seeding purposes, a forfeit is counted as (11-5, 11-5, 11-5) in your favor. If we are able to eventually get a real player or team into the draw late, you may be given the opportunity to make-up the match.
When a division is opened for registration, there may be more players interested in playing than the division size can accommodate.  An overflow division ("B") is then created.  There is no difference in skill level; it’s just a matter of timing when the player registered if the initial "A" division was full.  Compass Draw formats work with 8, 16, 32 players/teams.  Whenever possible, we will combine "A" and "B" divisions.  (For instance: If the "A" division is 8 players, and the "B" division also fills up with 8 players, they will be combined into one division of 16 players.)
There is a very liberal substitution policy for doubles teams.  The sub must not be rated higher than the division level.  This player may or may not be a regular Compass Draw player; they may also be on another team in the same division, as long as the substitute’s team is not playing the one that needs the sub.

Unfortunately, singles players cannot designate a substitute player.
If a player becomes injured and needs to withdraw, Compass Draw staff will attempt to fill that slot in the draw with a player off the waitlist, if any.  If a replacement player is found, a prorated refund will be issued to the original player. If a replacement player is not available, no refund will be issued and the slot will be assumed by a "ghost" player.
If one member of the doubles team becomes injured and must withdraw, the other member of the team may designate a replacement player, and Compass Draw staff will update the team information on the website. A prorated refund will be processed to the withdrawing player. Alternatively, the remaining player may play with substitutes for the remaining matches if necessary, but no refunds will be processed to the withdrawing player.

If the entire team must withdraw, Compass Draw staff will attempt to fill that slot in the draw with a team off the waitlist, if any. If a replacement team is found, a prorated refund will be issued to the original team. If a replacement team is not available, no refund will be issued and the slot will be assumed by a "ghost" team.
A forfeit is posted for a match when a player/team is solely responsible for the match not played. This could happen for a short-term injury, travel, etc. The forfeiting team must acknowledge agreement to the forfeit.

A double-forfeit is posted for a match when neither player/team is not solely responsible for the match not played. This often happens when schedules between the players/teams conflict and the match date cannot be agreed upon. As long as one date/time is proposed by each player/team, if the match is not played, it is recorded as a double-forfeit. Compass Draw staff will not adjudicate the number of days each player/team was available to play.
All players have 48 hours after the round ends to input scores. As long as the match is played and the scores are entered by the Thursday night after the round ends, the match will be valid. All divisions are reviewed on Fridays and any unplayed matches will be double-forfeited so the draw can continue to move ahead to the next round.

Occasionally, foul weather and extreme temperatures will adversely affect the draw. If the majority of matches in a division remain unplayed for a round, the individual division may be extended an additional week by Compass Draw staff. Note: just because one division may be extended, any other division in the tournament may or may not be extended, again based on the number of unplayed matches in a particular division for the round.
The Initial Seeding Draw consists of 3 or 4 matches (depending on number of players/teams for division) for all players.  There is no elimination and no “winner” in the Initial Seeding Draw.  All matches played count toward seeding for the Final Draw.  Seeding and home players/teams are designated randomly by the database.

A forfeited match is scored as 11-5, 11-5, 11-5 toward seeding.

A double-forfeited match is scored as half a match point for each player/team, plus two games won for each player/team, with 5 points awarded to each player in each game.

If players/teams agree to play a match after a double-forfeit has been posted and before the Initial Seeding Draw is completed, they may petition Compass Draw staff to manually record their scores on the website after the round ends.  This will allow each player/team to receive credit for the match toward seeding purposes, but it will not change the direction in which players/teams move forward in the Initial Seeding Draw.
Each player/team will play a minimum of two matches in the Final Draw.  Seeding is determined by results from the Initial Seeding Draw.  Home player/team designations go to the higher seed in the match.

A forfeited match by one player/team will result in the opposing player/team moving forward to the next round.  A double-forfeited match will advance the higher seeded player/team to move forward to the next round.  If the forfeit or the double-forfeit is in the first round of the Final Draw, the forfeiting player/team will have at least one more match on the consolation side of the draw.

Once the player/team plays two matches, the next loss will knock them out of the draw for the remainder of the draw.  

For semi-final and final matches on both the main side of the draw and the consolation side of the draw, players/teams are especially encouraged to actually play the match (not forfeit or double-forfeit), and a reasonable accommodation will be made by the Compass Draw staff if the match date is beyond the round end.
If a player/team places in the top 25% of the main side of the Final Draw for a division, they will be granted an exception to allow the OPTION to play up to the next division level. If a player/team WINS the division, they will be REQUIRED to play up to the next division level.

Exceptions are separately earned for singles, doubles, and mixed doubles. So if a player earns an exception to play up in singles, they do not have an exception to play up in either doubles or mixed doubles.
In order to register a team, your skill rating must match the level of the division in which you are registering. For example, if you are rated 3.0, you will not be allowed to register a team in a 3.5+ division. However, you could partner with a 3.5 player, as long as that player initially registered the team. It is acceptable to have ½ point rating difference between doubles partners. Singles players must register in the appropriate division for their rating. In some cases, when not enough players have registered at a given level, divisions may span multiple ratings, such as 3.0/3.5 or 3.5+, etc... See PLAYING UP TO THE NEXT DIVISION LEVEL for exceptions and more information on this subject.
When you first setup your Profile, you are able to enter your player rating (i.e., 2.5, 3.0, 3.5, etc.). Once you have done this, you will not be able to update your rating. However, since there is no current official rating system like they use in tennis, players can request a rating change by emailing the Tournament Director with your requested change and a justification for the change. Examples of justifications include the judgments of certified pickleball pros as well as the actual performance in pickleball tournaments, including Compass Draw Tournaments. Furthermore, if you win a Compass Draw tournament at a specific level, you will be expected to play up at the next level in future tournaments, if it is offered.