Doubles play is more popular for pickleball than singles play. Individual-pairs round robin formats, like Crazy Eights, make it easier to participate in doubles play by not requiring sign up with a partner. Individuals enter by themselves.

Since each player partners with every other player once, and opposes every other player twice, no player is advantaged or disadvantaged by the skill level of their partner pairings.

Individual-pairs round robins also allow players who otherwise have a regular partner to assess their performance separate from their regular partner.

• In a box of eight players, each player plays seven doubles games, partnering with every other player in the box once and opposing every other player twice.

• At the discretion of either team, players switch sides during a game after one side reaches 6 points.

• Each game to 11, no winning by two. 

• Side out scoring. Optional rally scoring (see FAQ below).

• There is a 3 minute break between games, with a 10 minute break after game 4. Longer breaks may be agreed upon. Health and safety is the top priority.

• For each player, record points won. Total points determine individual finish order. 

• For each player, record opponents’ score. Fewer total opponents’ points breaks total point ties (point differential).

• Same as Crazy Eights, except...

  1. Nine doubles games are played in a box of nine players. Each player player plays eight games. Each player gets a bye for one round.

  2. No 10-minute break after round 4 due to the bye.

  3. To ensure that the bye round assignment is random, the box organizer will hold up 1-9 fingers behind their back. Another player will name a number between 1 and 9. The sum of these two numbers will determine which round will be the starting round. Subtract 9 from the sum if greater than 9.  For example, if the sum of the two numbers is 13, 13-9 = 4. So the order of rounds would be 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 1, 2, 3.

• At the outset of round robin, the format may switch to Crazy Eights if a player scheduled for a nine-player event can no longer participate.

Rally scoring is optional. The box should decide on this option at the outset of the round robin, or may switch to this format midway through the round if there is broad agreement, or for health and safety reasons.

For each round, games in a box start at the same time. After one of the two games finishes, the other game switches to rally scoring after completing the current rally if both teams have eight or fewer points. Otherwise, stick with side-out scoring.

With rally scoring, a point is scored by the winner of the rally, not only when the serving team wins a rally as in side-out scoring. This has a few benefits:

• It reduces the overall duration of the round robin.

• It makes playing multiple games more manageable for more people since fewer total rallies are played.

• It reduces downtime for the four players who have finished their game first that round.

• It avoids very long games where the servers repeatedly do not win rallies to score points.

• Unless otherwise stated, the round robin adheres to the USA Pickleball Rulebook, including:

  1. Players are responsible for calling the lines on their end of the court.

  2. If the ball is not clearly out, then it’s considered in, including when the two players responsible disagree on the call.

  3. Players should not dispute an opponent’s call.

• The opponent’s partner should speak up if they have a clear view and see the call differently.

• Since there are no referees, if ONE player’s behavior is unsportsmanlike, the other THREE players on the court MUST act as a referee to address this behavior:

  1. A first infraction results in a technical warning

  2. A second or more severe infraction results in a technical foul and one point deduction

  3. A second technical foul results in loss of game and 11-point deduction 

  4. Any points penalties will apply after game completion and only to the offending player, not the player’s partner.

• Repeat or severe infractions may result in sanctions ranging up to player bans, as determined by the venue organizer in conjunction with the RIPL administrator.

• Players must also adhere to the code of conduct of the venue at which they are playing.

Each venue will have boxes representing player skill levels. While similar skill levels in a box help to ensure high quality games, a higher box gives allows players to improve their skills against better players. The opportunity to earn promotion to a higher box, combined with the risk of relegation, makes a round robin more compelling. 

Locations will ideally run four boxes, with at least two, based on local demand.

Player finish in the box determines movement between boxes the following month:

• Top two move up to the next higher box. 

• Middle finishers stay in the box.

• Bottom two move down. 

New players will be assigned to a box based on skill level. In general, these assignments will be made conservatively since players can earn promotion the following month with a high finish.

• 2.5-3.5 players will be assigned to Box 3 and 4.

• 3.5-4.5 players will be assigned to Box 1 and 2. 

This may vary by venue based on the skill level of the participating players.

But box assignment rules will be applied flexibly if, for instance:

• Various boxes are under or over-subscribed

• Last minute substitutions

• Players miss a month

In a given season, a location may host 6-12 round robins. No player can be expected to play in every round robin in a season. Standings will be based on each player's three best round robin finishes, i.e., the three best places they finish among the round robins they've played at a given venue.

By participating in more round robins, players will have more opportunities to improve their three best results. This also means that a bad result will not necessarily undo a season.

Standings are tracked by box. Players who play in multiple boxes in a season will have their season ending standing determined only for the box in which they've played the most events, with a minimum of two round robins in the box and three across all boxes.

For each box at each venue, the four players finishing highest in the season-ending standings will qualify for the regional cross-venue playoffs. 

If any player cannot participate in the playoffs, the opportunity will fall to the player finishing next in the standings until the spot is filled.

Holding a successful playoff will depend on the number of venues participating and the depth of their player populations. We anticipate the success of the playoff will increase as pickleball's popularity grows and the number of venues participating increases.

The goal of the playoffs is to determine a regional champion at each box level while also ensuring competitive play. The format of the event will be based in part on the number of venues in the league participating in the playoffs. 

As a general rule, cross-venue boxes of 8 or 9 will be formed by matching players from one or more season-ending standings at a box level across venues who've qualified for the playoffs. 

For example, if there are four venues participating in the playoffs, one group of eight may be formed by matching all players finishing third and fourth in the season-ending standings from Box 2 across venues. 

In general, for the playoffs, players at a given box level from one venue will be matched against players from the same box level at other venues from around the region. For example, Box 2 will play against other Box 2s from other venues. We will vary from this approach only if it is clear that the quality of game play will otherwise be negatively impacted.

When there are substantial variances in box DUPR score averages across venues, boxes may be re-mapped for the playoffs to ensure competitive play. For instance, if Box 1 at most venues is at the 4.0-4.5 DUPR level, but it is at the 3.5 level at Venue A, Venue A's Box 1 may be mapped to Box 2 for the playoffs.

When the number of boxes between venues varies, players may be remapped to playoff boxes. For example if Venue B has one box with players at the 3.5 DUPR level -- Box 2 -- but Venue C has two boxes at that level -- Box 2 and Box 3 -- Venue B may send the top four players from its Box 2 to the playoff, while Venue C may send the top eight players from its Box 2.

The above plan for box mapping is open to change based on feedback from venue organizers and players.

Where to sign up

Go to the venue page, since participation dates vary by venue, to access the venue-specific entry form during the sign-up window.

Timing

In general, an announcement will be sent out separately for each venue at the beginning of the month with dates for the round robin and the sign-up window. Sign ups are generally open for several days 5-10 days prior to the round robin. 

The round robin roster will be announced usually within a day or two of the entry window closing.

Oversubscription

If the round robin is oversubscribed, players will be randomly selected from timely entrants, with remaining players placed on a waitlist. 

Late entrants

Players may submit to enter after the sign-up window is technically closed, but will be selected to play only if spots are still available. Otherwise, they will be placed on the waitlist. Late entrants who are waitlisted will not get priority the following month if they do not get off the waitlist.

The round robin format will not work if missing a player. When entering to play, players are committing to play if selected. 

Players are responsible for arranging a substitute if, after being selected, they can no longer play. A player who can no longer play should:

• Notify the organizer(s) as soon as possible that they cannot play

• Contact players on the waitlist for the box by email and text. If none are available, try to recruit a level-appropriate substitute elsewhere.

• Notify the organizers whether a substitute has been confirmed

Since the number of round robins participated in will vary by player, pricing is per round robin.

Pricing varies by venue, driven in part by different venue access costs. Costs covered by fees include court access, insurance, end-of season prizes, organizer time, and league administration. 

Entrance fees are non-refundable, but players who arrange their own substitute may be reimbursed by the substitute. 

At sign up, we ask that players commit to playing when entering since the round robin format will not work if missing a player. This reimbursement policy supports that approach, reducing signficant organizer work arranging substitutes, which helps us to keep prices lower for everyone.

After playing in one box, players who qualify to play in another box may enter to play in the other box in the same month but will be given lower entrance priority relative to those who have not yet played that month.