FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

General FAQ

  • Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex

    2901 SW Thistle Street

    Seattle, WA 98126

    Directions

    *See image on the right

  • There is parking available on the east side of the Southwest Pool. There is also plenty of street parking. 

  • Restrooms are available inside the Southwest Pool from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Water fountains and a vending machine are also located inside.

    Additional restrooms are located on the east side of the Southwest Pool building, in the parking lot near the stadium, and will be open all day.

    Please be kind and patient with the Southwest Pool staff. They work hard to accommodate nearly 200 pickleball players and spectators in a single day. Kindly use only the two lobby restrooms.

    Players are encouraged to use the restrooms before their bracket start time to help minimize interruptions during play.

  • We will have light snacks for all players and water accessible for refilling your water bottles at the Southwest Pool building from 9:30am to 3:30 p.m.

  • Our event is staffed entirely by Westside Pickleball volunteers. Please treat them with kindness and respect—they keep the tournament safe, organized, and make this day of fun possible.

  • Plenty of seating is available outside the fenced area. Inside, you may sit only along the east fence near the pool building. You may bring one chair and one bag—no tents, coolers, pets, food, or drinks (except water). To avoid disrupting play, enter or exit the fenced area only during a dead ball.

  • First aid kit will be at the OPERATIONS TENT.

  • Detail schedule can be found on Pickleball Brackets. Bracket times will be published no later than 3 days before the tournament.

  • Click this link to find out!

  • Spectators cannot participate in matches. They must avoid coaching, making line calls, or any actions that could interfere with play, to maintain a fair and safe competition.

Player FAQ

    • Age Group: Determined by the younger player on the team.

    • Skill Level: Determined by the higher-rated player on the team.

    • Playing Up: Allowed up to 0.5 point above DUPR rating.

  • Schedule will be published on Pickleball Brackets approximately 3 days before the tournament.

  • Whatever is comfortable for playing pickleball!  Avoid wearing clothing that closely matches the ball color (neon yellow). You may be asked to change.   

  • Everything you’d normally bring for a long session of pickleball.  

  • You need to check in AT LEAST 30 minutes before your bracket start time. Detail schedule can be found on Pickleball Brackets.

  • At the RED CHECK-IN TENT enter from Thistle Street at least 30 minutes before your bracket start time.

  • The tournament shirts can be picked up at the PLAYERS TENT between 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

  • Please only bring your paddle, water bottle and a small bag (for phone and wallet) to the courts when you play your games. When you are not playing a game on a court, you are considered a spectator and should follow what is stated under "Where do spectators set up?"

  • You may use any free* courts to warm up.  You can also go to one of the local courts in the area before your bracket check-in time.

    * Please vacate the courts immediately when runners and players arrive with clipboards for matches.

  • Selkirk Pro S1

  • We will have 4 referees available. Medal matches will have priority for referees.

Bracket Process

  • Bracket briefing will be given ~15 MINUTES PRIOR to the start of the bracket at the OPERATIONS TENT.  We can start as soon as all players have checked in for the bracket. Listen for announcement for bracket briefing.

  • You will receive text messages throughout the day with important updates about your matches. Please confirm that your mobile number is correct and that text notifications are enabled in your Pickleball Brackets profile.

    Below is an overview of the messages you may receive on tournament day and what to do:

    “The bracket has started”

    No action is required.
    This notification allows first-round scoresheets to be printed.

    “Go to Court ##” (example: Court 10)

    First Round Only:

    • Players must report to the OPERATIONS TENT for a bracket briefing before matches begin.

    • Court assignment text messages are automatically triggered when courts are entered into the system.

    • Ignore the first-round court assignment text only.

    • Listen for the bracket briefing announcement.

    • After the briefing, teams will receive clipboards with scoresheets and official court assignments for first-round matches.

    All Subsequent Rounds:

    • Once you receive a “Go to Court ##” text, immediately find your partner and proceed to the assigned court.

    “Match in the queue”

    • Court assignments will be made as soon as courts and/or players become available.

    • This is a good time to locate your partner and be ready for the next “Go to Court ##” text.

    • Use the provided link in the message to check your bracket status.

    • If you do not have a bye and have been waiting more than 20 minutes for a court assignment, please report to the OPERATIONS TENT.

    “Match results”

    • Carefully review the scores listed in the text message.

    • If there is an error, go immediately to the OPERATIONS TENT to have it corrected — every point matters!

    • Begin first round games PROMPTLY after bracket briefing by OPERATIONS TENT.

    • Read text messages to stay informed.  Find out court assignments, and match results.

    • Identify your Starting Server for each game – they will wear the RED wristband throughout all games.

    • Turn in scoresheet to a runner immediately after games so we can stay on schedule.

    • Round Robin

      • Play 1 game against each team in your bracket

      • E.g. In a 6-team bracket, you’ll play 5 games.

    • Pool Play

      • For brackets with 8 or more teams, there will be 2 pools.

      • Play 1 game against each team in your pool

      • E.g. In a 10-team bracket, each pool has 5 teams—you’ll play 4 games.

    • Playoff

      • Top 4 teams advance

      • For Pool Play, top 2 from each pool advance 

      • Click this link to find out your bracket status.

      • Playoff teams announced after preliminary rounds.

    • Round Robin and Pool Play will determine the seeding for your bracket. Games to 11, Win by 2.

    • Top 4 teams go to playoff.

    • Pre-medal matches Games to 11, Win by 2.

    • Medal matches Games to 15, Win by 2.

    • EXCEPTION: Brackets with 5 teams will play all Games to 15, Win by 2.

  • There are many reasons for long wait between games. Referees and Runners will enforce the warm up time limit. If you have waited 30 minutes between games, please notify Operations immediately.

    • There may be an open court, but your next opponent is still in a game.

    • Your team has a bye.

    • Games do not start on time.

      • Players do not arrive at the court on time. If one team arrive late, they miss the warm up window.

      • Teams warm up over the 5-min (before first game) and 3-min (all other games) limits.

    • Technical issues with printers or scoresheets not being generated.

  • Link to USA Pickleball Rulebook

    • Brackets may be combined if some of the brackets don’t have enough teams.

    • Penalties for unsportsmanlike conduct and inappropriate behavior will be enforced (profanity, aggressive behavior, etc.)

    • We’re so glad you’re playing with us in Rally on the Rock. HAVE FUN!!!