Junior Format
The NCPA Junior Format is designed to maximize player growth while providing a seamless pathway from junior to collegiate pickleball.
Match Play & Sudden Death
2 doubles games and 2 singles games per matchup
All games to 11, win by 2
Sudden Death if the match is tied 2-2
Scoring & Rules
Standard side-out scoring to 11, win by 2
Coin toss sets order of play or react game-by-game (see Match Structure)
Teams switch sides at 6 every game
Player Ratings
Every match counts toward a player's national rating
Ratings carry over into collegiate competition
View ratings and top performers by state/country (coming soon)
Alternative Collegiate Format
Teams with both men and women can opt to play the standard NCPA Collegiate Format.
Giving players the chance to gain experience and get comfortable with the structure before competing at the collegiate level.
Junior Team Format
Note: This is exclusive for teams with only boys or only girls.
Team Sizes
2–3 players of the same gender
Match Structure
2 doubles games and 2 singles games per matchup, all games to 11, win by 2
At the start of the match, there's a coin toss. The winner may either select the order of play—two doubles games followed by two singles games, or vice versa—OR choose to react game-by-game, setting their lineup after the opposing team shows theirs.
Whoever loses the coin toss gets to choose serve/return for every game.
Teams switch sides at 6 every game.
Sudden Death
When the match is 2-2 overall, Sudden Death is one final game. All 4 previous games are condensed into 1 and each game is worth three points.
The order of play remains the same as the initial 4 games (for example):
Men's Doubles Game 1 → Men's Doubles Game 2 → Men's Singles Game 1 → Men's Singles Game 2
Each category plays for 3 total points (not rallies):
- First 3 points → Men's Doubles Game 1
- Next 3 points → Men's Doubles Game 2
- Next 3 points → Men's Singles Game 1
- And so on through Men's Singles Game 2
Key Notes
- Same players from the original games remain in—no substitutions
- Players switch only after 3 points are scored (not after 3 rallies)
- Each new set of players starts on the right side of the court (like a new game)
- When switching from singles to doubles, the serving team starts on second serve (since singles uses only one serve)
- If the game is not over after all match types have played, play resets to the beginning of the rotation