FAQs
How can I join the waitlist?
We run a continuous waitlist for all three nights of our league.
You can see where you are in the waitlist by visiting the following PUBLIC links:
Purple League: Women’s Intermediate/Advanced League
Green League: Co-Ed Intermediate/Advanced League
Gold League: Co-Ed Advanced League
Each player may be on multiple waitlists. To be removed from the waitlist, please fill out the waitlist form again and select the option: “Please remove me from the following waitlists” and check the boxes for the leagues you would no longer like to be waiting for.
Can I join a waitlist for a night where I don’t have the minimum DUPR rating?
No, at this time we do not allow for exceptions.
When will I be moved off of the waitlist?
When spaces open up in the league, we will add players into the league:
All new players start in the ladder based on their current DUPR rating:
3.0 (or 4.0 for Gold) start at the bottom of the ladder
3.5+ (or 4.5+ for Gold) start in the middle of the ladder
4.0+ (or 5.0+ for Gold) start on the 3rd court of the ladder
We will batch add players to the ladder, typically once per month
Eligible players on the waitlist will be notified by email. Players must respond within 3 days and must pay within 3 days to secure their position in league.
Failure to do so will remove you from the waitlist. You will need to sign up for the waitlist and start at the bottom of the waitlist.
How many nights can I play?
Due to the high demand for pickleball play, players may only play in one night of co-ed league. Players may register for both a co-ed night and the women’s league.
Exceptions may be made for volunteers or for subs to ensure that the league is running smoothly.
Where can I find the current ladder? When is it updated?
The ladder will be updated by Thursday after league play each week.
Green League: https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/atpc.pickleball/viz/PickleballLadderGreen/CurrentStandings
Purple League: https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/atpc.pickleball/viz/PickleballLadderPurple/CurrentStandings
Gold League: https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/atpc.pickleball/viz/PickleballLadderGold/CurrentStandings
What is DUPR? Why are we using it?
DUPR is the Dynamic Universal Pickleball Ratings system. All players are rated between 2.000-8.000.
Your DUPR rating is calculated by: 1. Margin of Victory (points won), 2. Type of Result (Recreational play vs. League/Tournaments) and 3. Outcome (win or loss)
You can read more at https://mydupr.com/.
We use DUPR for several reasons:
We use it to seed most of the initial ladder placement, so that initial games are more competitive
We log all the league games into DUPR, so players can get an accurate rating as their play improves across the season
Where will I start on the ladder?
All players who are moved off of the waitlist start at the bottom, middle or 3rd court (based on their DUPR rating).
If players have been in league before, they will be placed in their most recent seeding minus 8 spots.
How does the ladder work? How do I go up or down the ladder?
Ladder movement is based on how you placed within your group for the night:
1st: Move up 6 slots
2nd: Move up 2 slots
3rd: Move down 2 slots
4th: Move down 6 slots
Keep in mind these will never be exact as adjustments are made for absent players and ties that occur after movement is calculated. There is a Calculation tab in the Tableau dashboard that gives some explanation to how results are calculated every week. Please let us know if you have questions or think there’s been a mistake before league starts the following week.
Absent players should expect to move down by around 4 slots. This is not to punish absent players but to allow room for others to move up when they win their group. ‘Day Of’ cancellations are subject to punitive movement down the ladder.
Subs within a group do count toward determining rank within a group. This is so every player has the same opportunity to be first (or last) whether or not there is a sub in the group. As we count subs toward rankings, we do our best to make sure the subs we choose are at the same playing level as the rest of the group.
Who should be playing in the leagues?
The three competitive nights of league are intended to help players who are training for and participating in tournaments.
To keep the league competitive, we have minimum DUPR ratings for each night:
Sunday/Monday: 3.00+
Tuesday: 4.0+
There are also Novice and Advanced Novice leagues at Austin Tennis Center and a Team Pickleball League if you would like to get experience playing competitive pickleball (and earn your initial rating).
I play in tournaments but don’t meet the minimum DUPR requirement. Can I still play?
No, you must have at least the minimum DUPR when you fill out the waitlist form AND when you are notified there’s a spot for you in the league.
How do I join the sub list?
You can join our TeamReach sub group list. The group name is Austin Pickleball Cooperative” and the Group Code is: APC-Sub-List.
Our attendance coordinator will reach out to players in this group when a sub is needed.
One of the players on my court didn’t show up. How does that impact the ladder ratings? Does the game count for DUPR?
If you have a sub on your court, we do our best to match the skill level of the absent player and sub player (using DUPR ratings).
It’s really windy/rainy/cold! Will there be league tonight?
Safety is our top priority, so we will monitor conditions on the courts and make announcements in TeamReach if we delay the start or cancel the league due to weather.
We use the following guidelines:
Rain: If the courts are wet, we don’t play due to safety concerns. Any amount of rain that makes the courts wet, including light rain or a drizzle, may be cause for weather cancellation
Lightning: Stop play when lightning is within five miles of ATC.
Wind: high wind warning in Travis County that overlaps with league play (7:15pm - 9pm).
Cold: Temperatures below 40 F forecasted during league play (7:15 - 9pm).
Severe weather: Imminent or active severe thunderstorms, flash flooding or tornadoes throughout Travis County and surrounding areas (Georgetown, Round Rock, Buda, etc).
Keep in mind that league members commute from throughout the greater Austin area. Use severe thunderstorm warnings, tornado warnings and flash flood warnings as definitions.
ATC closure: ATC is closed due to weather conditions or at the direction of the City of Austin.
I need to take some time off from the league. What should I do?
You should contact the ATC office to cancel your league subscription.
If you plan to rejoin the league, take screenshots of your current position in the ladder, so we don’t have to start you at the bottom of the ladder when you are off the waitlist again.
Someone on my court is arguing a line call. What should I do?
Abide by the line call rules (see next related FAQ). If the conversation goes on for more than 60 seconds, you need to notify the league admin. He or she will make a ruling on the situation so that play can continue.
How do line calls work in pickleball?
Only make line calls on your side of the pickleball court and always strive for accuracy
Only call "out" balls when space is clearly visible between the line and where the pickleball lands
Call "out" balls promptly (before the start of the next point)
Use voice and/or hand signals to call "out" balls
Give the benefit of the doubt to your opponents
If you and your partner disagrees, the ball is "in"
Spectators should not make any line calls
Do not question opponents' line calls unless there is a referee
You may ask your opponents to make a line call (but you give up your right to make the call and, if your opponents cannot make the call, the call will be "in")
An "out" call prior to the pickleball bouncing will be deemed partner communication and not a line call
You may overrule a line call that is to your disadvantage (and in favor of your opponents) at any time
I’m not sure about playing games for DUPR with a partner I don’t know.
We’ve heard some players express concern about the impact of playing with a partner you don’t know on your DUPR rating.
The thing to keep in mind is that the other players on the court are in the same position - everyone is playing with a player they aren’t training with. All players have this same “disadvantage,” which cancels out the impact on the game outcome - and your DUPR rating.
There are also several advantages to playing with players you don’t know. Consider this training for blind dates at tournaments - or when you go pro, and get drafted to play on a team with players you don’t know.
League offers the opportunity to play with and against different styles of play. It can be harder to improve when playing against the same people again and again.
Ladder play is a great opportunity to work on communication with your partner, such as calling for yours/mine, let’s go up / back, and calling for a “watch” if the ball might be out.
If you still don’t want to play with a partner you don’t know, you could consider signing up for partnered events (such as the Compass Tournaments and other local partnered tournament events).
I’d love to run my league like your league. Can I get a copy of how you do things?
We have received several requests to share our league materials, from both local and out-of-state organizations. We have made the decision to not share our league materials for two main reasons: (1) we are 100% volunteer driven and not able to support onboarding or on-going use of our materials, and (2) we are not okay with entities monetizing our work to develop our league.
Players or volunteers who share our materials will be removed immediately and permanently from the league. We may also escalate the issue with the Austin Tennis Center leadership and recommend a permanent ban from the facility.