GTRC's 1st Annual Veteran’s Pickleball Tourney

Golden Triangle Rotary's 1st Annual Veteran’s Pickleball Tournament Fundraiser

Tournament Info:
When: November 16th, 2024; 9am-2pm...or for the military types 0900-1400
Where: Indoor Pickleball Now, 13005 Harmon Rd, Ft Worth 76177

 

To sponsor the event or register/sponsor a team, please click this link or the link below.

For team registration or sponsoring, select “Team Sponsor” in the drop down item selection.

 

This will be an unsanctioned, open play tournament. At least one member of each team will be a Veteran, Active Duty, or Reservist from any branch of military service. This tournament will be a “Pro-Am” style setup where the Veteran/Active Duty/Reservist is the “Pro” and the other team member is the “Amateur”.  However, both members of a team can be Veterans, Active Duty, or Reservists.

There will be a max of twenty (20) teams divided into five (5) pools of four (4) teams. Each team will play the 3 other teams in their pools. The top 2 teams in each pool will then compete in a 10-team, single elimination “Championship Bracket” tournament. The bottom 2 teams in each pool will then compete in a 10-team, single elimination “Cellar Dwellers Bracket” tournament. Each team will be guaranteed a minimum of 4 matches; 3 in pool play and one in tournament play. We’ll do our best to spread the experience level across the pools.

Game play will be best of one, 15-point rally matches, win by 1 point, to ensure quick play. However, there will be a 15 minute max time limit per game. The first team to 15 points wins, or the team with the most points at the end of the 15 minute time limit wins the game. See below for Rally Point Scoring rules as they differ from traditional Pickleball scoring.  Also with this being a fundraiser tournament, we added a fun Mulligan/Do-Over option that can be purchased per team (see below).

Since we have 5 courts for 5 hours, this 15 minute time limit will ensure that we can complete this tournament in the required time frame. There will also be a 5 minute period between matches for teams to shake hands and the next teams to warm up. If the matches stay on schedule, the pool play portion will last from 9:20am to 11:20am (0920-1120). Tournament bracket play is schedule from 11:40am to 1:40pm (1140-1340). We have the facility rented through 2pm (1400). So this will give us a little extra time in case matches run long for whatever reason. It will also give us time to have the awards ceremony without interfering with the incoming pickleballers. Warmups and intros will be from 9-9:20am (0900-0920).

 

For team registration and sponsorship information, please click here:

 

Rally Point Scoring:

1. Determine which team serves first with a best of one paper, rock, scissors contest.  The winning team will decide if they want to serve first, or chose the side of the court they want to play on.  The losing team will have the option the winning team doesn’t chose. Because time is of the essence, the teams will NOT switch sides during play.
2. Partners will decide what side on their half of the court they will play on for the ENTIRETY of the game.  The right side is the even side, and the left side is the odd side.
3. Every rally starts with a serve.  If the serving team's points are even (0,2,4...) , the partner on the even side (right side) serves.  If the score is odd (1,3,5,...), the partner on the odd side (left side) serves.
4. The first team to 15 points, wins the game.  The winning team has to only win by one point; not the traditional 2 points with traditional pickleball.
5. Every rally scores a point.  It doesn't matter which team is serving.  Which ever team wins the point, serves the next rally.  The only exception to this rule is that once a team reaches 14 points, they must serve to win the 15th point.  They cannot score the 15th point on a side-out...unless the 15 minute game time limit is up.  See rule #6.
6. There will be a 15-minute time limit per game.  The team with the higher score at the end of the 15 minutes will be declared the game winner.  If the teams are tied at the end of the 15-minute time limit, the next rally point won will be the winner, regardless of which team served.  In this time limit induced tie breaker, a side out point can win the game.
7. The serving side must announce the score before serving; their score first followed by the receiving team's score.  If the receiving team questions the score, they must say so before returning the ball.
8. The receiving side must let the ball bounce before returning it.  The serving team also needs to let the ball bounce once before the second hit in the rally..
9. Traditional pickleball serving rules are in affect.
10. Each team has the option to use one, one-minute timeout.
11. Mulligan/Do Over options can only be used once per game, and can only be used after your team loses a rally point.  It has to be called for use prior to the next serve.  See below for more info on the Mulligan/Do Overs
12. For tournament play, the higher seeded team will determine if they want to serve first or chose the side of the court they want to play on.  The lower seeded team will have the option the other team doesn’t chose.  Because time is of the essence, the teams will NOT switch sides during play.

 

Teams and Pools:

                 Pool Alpha (Court 1)          Pool Bravo (Court 2)          Pool Charlie (Court 3)      
Team 1      VLK Team 1                      VLK Team 2
Team 2
Team 3
Team 4

                 Pool Delta (Court 4)          Pool Echo (Court 5)
Team 1     
Team 2
Team 3
Team 4

Pool Play Sequence:
0920 - Team 1 vs Team 2
0940 - Team 3 vs Team 4
1000 - Team 2 vs Team 4
1020 - Team 1 vs Team 3
1040 - Team 1 vs Team 4
1100 - Team 2 vs Team 3

Tournament Seeding & Seeding Tie Breaker Rules determined in order by:

1. Total wins
2. Total points scored
3. Point differential (your team’s total points minus your opponent’s total points)
4. Air Force Vet on team
5. Army Vet on team
6. Marine Vet on team
7. Navy Vet on team
8. Coast Guard Vet on team
9. Space Force Vet on team
10. Just kidding on 4 thru 9
11. Paper, rock, scissors “best of one" contest between the two teams if they are still tied

 

Tournament Bracket:

Two Tournaments will be run concurrently starting at 11:40am (1140)…the Championship Bracket & the Cellar Dwellers Bracket.  There will be a 20 minute break between pool play and tournament play.

 

Championship Bracket

1140 Match 1 - Seed 9 vs Seed 10 (Court 1)

1140 Match 2 - Seed 7 vs Seed 8 (Court 2)

1200 Match 3 - Seed 1 vs winner of Match 1 (Court 1)

1200 Match 4 - Seed 4 vs Seed 5 (Court 2)

1200 Match 5 - Seed 2 vs winner of Match 2 (Court 3)

1200 Match 6 - Seed 3 vs Seed 6 (Court 4)

1240 Match 7 - Winner of Match 3 vs winner of Match 4 (Court 1)

1240 Match 8 - Winner of Match 5 vs Winner of Match 6 (Court 2)

1320 Match 9 - Championship Match winner of Match 7 vs winner of Match 8 (Court 1)

1320 Match 10 - 3rd Place Match loser of Match 7 vs loser of Match 8 (Court 2)

 

Cellar Dweller Bracket

1140 Match 1 - Seed 9 vs Seed 10 (Court 3)

1140 Match 2 - Seed 7 vs Seed 8 (Court 4)

1220 Match 3 - Seed 1 vs winner of Match 1 (Court 1)

1220 Match 4 - Seed 4 vs Seed 5 (Court 2)

1220 Match 5 - Seed 2 vs winner of Match 2 (Court 3)

1220 Match 6 - Seed 3 vs Seed 6 (Court 4)

1240 Match 7 - Winner of Match 3 vs winner of Match 4 (Court 3)

1240 Match 8 - Winner of Match 5 vs Winner of Match 6 (Court 4)

1300 Match 9 - Championship Match winner of Match 7 vs winner of Match 8 (Court 1)

1300 Match 10 - 3rd Place Match loser of Match 7 vs loser of Match 8 (Court 2)

 

As with pool play, Rally Point Scoring mentioned above will be in affect.  Mulligans/Do-Overs CANNOT be used for Matches 7, 8, 9, or 10 in either tournament bracket...the Final Four.

 

Prior to the Match, the higher seeded team will determine if they want to serve first or chose the side of the court they want to play on.  The lower seeded team will have the option the other team doesn’t chose.  Because time is of the essence, the teams will NOT switch sides during play.

 

Mulligan Option:
Since this is a fundraiser to support local veterans & local causes supported by the Golden Triangle Rotary Club, we added what we hope is a fun Mulligan/Do-Over option. Each team will have the option to purchase up to 4 (four) Mulligan/Do-Overs to be used ONCE PER MATCH. Since there are 4 (four) guaranteed matches per team, 3 (three) in pool play, and at least 1 (one) in tournament play, the Mulligan/Do-Over can be used after your team loses a rally point. If your team wants to use a mulligan/do-over, it has to be called prior to the next serve.  If you are seeded 7, 8, 9, or 10 going into the tournament, you'll could have up to two games to play your last Mulligan/Do-Over before the final four.  Plan and strategize accordingly.

Mulligan/Do-Overs will NOT be allowed in tournament play once we get to a final four in each tournament bracket; Matches 7, 8, 9 & 10.

Mulligan/Do-overs are team specific and cannot be transferred or donated to another team.

They can be purchased in the registration link above.  One Mulligan/Do-Over for $20, or four for $50.

 

Prizes:

 

Championship Tournament:

1st Place Team - $400 & Medal

2nd Place Team - $250

3rd Place Team - $150

 

Cellar Dweller Tournament:

1st Place Team - Medal

 

Food Truck:

Habibi Barbecue Food Truck
Run by Mark Fadel...star of the BBQ High tv show

 

Fundraising Beneficiaries:
Gallant Few
Golden Triangle Rotary