PRE-SEASON PLAYER SURVEY

Municipal League Pickleball (MLP) tournaments feature a unique team-based format that differs from traditional individual or doubles pickleball competitions. Here's a breakdown of the concept and structure:

Concept:

The core of MLP is to create a dynamic and engaging team environment within pickleball. Instead of individual players competing, teams of seven players (with a minimum of two women and two men) compete against each other in a series of matches. This format emphasizes team strategy, collaboration, and the excitement of both singles and doubles play within a single team matchup.

Structure of a Team Match:

A standard MLP team match consists of the following four games:

1. Women's Doubles (Game 1): Two female players from each team compete against each other.

2. Men's Doubles (Game 2): Two male players from each team compete against each other.

3. Mixed Doubles (Game 3): One male and one female player from each team form a partnership and play against the opposing team's mixed doubles pair.

4. Mixed Doubles (Game 4): The remaining male and female players from each team form a

different mixed doubles partnership and compete.

Scoring:

• Games are played to 15 points (win by two, traditional side-out scoring).

Overall Match Scoring: A total of three standings points are awarded for each regular season match.

• 3 Points: Awarded for a regulation win (3-1 or 4-0; no DreamBreaker needed).

• 2 Points: Awarded for a DreamBreaker win (3-2).

• 1 Point: Awarded for a DreamBreaker loss (2-3).

• 0 Points: Awarded for a regulation loss (1-3 or 0-4; no DreamBreaker needed).

The DreamBreaker (Tiebreaker):

If the team match is tied 2-2 after the four final games, an exciting tiebreaker called the

"DreamBreaker" is played. 

Here's how it works: If both teams are tied at 2-2 after the 4 games played, they’ll go to a DreamBreaker! In a DreamBreaker one person from each team plays singles against each other, switching every four points until someone gets to 21 and wins by two points. To level up the stakes, the away team has to present its singles line-up first then the home team gets the chance to counter that with their own configuration of their lineup to match and counter each player’s skills!

1. Scoring: A point is scored on every rally, regardless of which team served the ball.

2. Player Rotation: Each team previously declared a rotation order of their four participating players. After every four points, the players rotate according to the predetermined order.

3. Freeze: The "freeze" rule applies at game point (20-point mark).  A team must win the final

point while serving.

4.  Each team must put at least one female in the DreamBreaker lineup.

MLP tournaments typically involve multiple teams competing in a round-robin or pool play format, followed by playoffs for the top-ranked teams. Teams earn standings points based on their match wins.

Proposed Eight-Week Schedule for Eight Teams (Round Robin):

To have each of the eight teams play every other team once over seven weeks, we structured a round-robin schedule. Assume one match per week for each team.

How it Works:  Each team plays one match per week for seven weeks, facing a different opponent each week. By the end of Week 7, every team will have played all seven other teams. Week 8 provides flexibility for any necessary adjustments or a potential final showdown.

Player Substitutions:  If a team captain needs to utilize a sub, he/she may pick one from the sub bench. Teams may only use a specific sub player one time during the season. Therefore, if we have sub players A, B, and C, then a team can only sub in player A one-time during the season. But the team can later use sub B and/or sub C. This will allow all teams to utilize the same subs, but not keep playing the best subs.

This structure ensures a balanced and competitive tournament where every team has the opportunity to compete against all others, mirroring the exciting team dynamics of MLP.

Upon conclusion of the weekly match, the winning Team Captain will report the score to the Commissioner via the GroupMe app.