The GGS Blog

Topic

Tournament management

12 posts

tournament management

When to Split a Tournament Into Divisions (and When Not To)

A decision framework for pickleball tournament directors: when dividing your field into divisions sharpens play, and when it just thins out your brackets.

4 min read

club growth

From 10 to 100 Players: Scaling Your Club's Events

The systems that run a 10-player event break at 100. Here is how to scale your pickleball club's events with divisions, open registration, and auto-rebuilding brackets.

4 min read

tournament management

Managing Player Complaints: A Tournament Director's Guide

Most player complaints at tournaments are preventable. Here's how to head off the common ones and handle the rest calmly on event day.

4 min read

tournament formats

Pool Play Into Brackets: The Best of Both Worlds for Pickleball Tournaments

How pool play into brackets gives every player guaranteed games and still crowns a real champion, plus when to run single elim, double elim, or compass.

4 min read
8AM 12PM 4PM

industry trends

Why Clubs Are Ditching Spreadsheets for Pickleball Event Software

Spreadsheets break the moment a real event gets messy. Here is what clubs gain when software handles registration, standings, and check-in instead.

4 min read

tournament formats

How to Choose the Right Tournament Format Based on Player Count and Time

A practical guide for pickleball directors: pick a format that fits your player count and available court time, with example scenarios and math you can copy.

4 min read

tournament management

Pre-Event Communication: What to Send Players Before Tournament Day

A pre-event communication plan that keeps players informed, cuts day-of questions, and stops you from drowning in texts the night before a tournament.

4 min read
8AM 12PM 4PM

league operations

Setting Up Your First Pickleball League: A Step-by-Step Guide

A practical playbook for running your first pickleball league at your club. Format, schedule, registration, subs, and standings, in the order you actually need them.

5 min read

tournament formats

Round Robin vs. Double Elimination: Choosing the Right Tournament Format

A practical guide for pickleball clubs and tournament directors on when to run round robin, when to run double elimination, and how to pick between them.

5 min read
8AM 12PM 4PM

tournament management

How to Reduce Wait Time Between Matches at Your Next Tournament

A practical playbook for cutting downtime between matches. Court math, format choice, the match queue, check-in flow, and player visibility.

4 min read

tournament management

Setting Up Your First Pickleball Tournament: A Complete Checklist

A practical, step by step checklist for clubs running their first pickleball tournament. Format, divisions, registration, courts, check-in, and event day.

5 min read

tournament management

How to Handle Last-Minute Dropouts Without Losing Your Mind

A practical playbook for pickleball tournament directors who keep getting hit with day-of dropouts. Waitlists, formats, check-in, and bracket rebuilds.

4 min read