MKM Pickleball Tournament Rules – 2026

Tournament Format (based on last year entries)

• Men’s Singles: Pool Play + Single Elimination
• Men’s Doubles: Single Elimination
• Girls Singles: One Final Match Only (if only 2 entries)

Basic Pickleball Game Rules (VERY IMPORTANT)

1. Serve Rules

• Serve must be underhand
• Paddle must contact ball below waist
• Serve diagonally into opponent’s service box
• Only one serve attempt (no second serve)

2. Double Bounce Rule

• After serve:
  • Receiving team lets ball bounce once
  • Serving team lets return bounce once After that, players can hit volley or groundstroke

3. Non-Volley Zone (Kitchen Rule)

• Players cannot volley inside the kitchen
• You can enter kitchen only after ball bounces
• You cannot step into kitchen during a volley

4. Scoring Rules

• Only serving team scores points
• Games played to 11 / 15 / 21 (based on format)
• Must win by 2 points

5. Faults (Lose Point or Serve)

A fault occurs when:

• Ball goes out of bounds
• Ball does not clear net
• Volley done inside kitchen
• Double bounce rule not followed
• Serve is invalid

6. Server Rotation (Doubles)

• Both players on a team serve before side out
• Exception: First serve of game = only one server

7. Line Rules

• Line calls are made by players
• If unsure → call it IN
• Disputes resolved by organizer

Men’s Singles Rules

Pool Stage

• Players divided into 3 pools
• Round Robin format
• Match format: 1 game to 15 points
• Top 2 players from each pool advance

Knockout Stage

• Total players: 6
• Bracket:
  • Seed 1 & 2 → Bye to semifinals
  • Seed 3 vs 6
  • Seed 4 vs 5

Match Format

• Round 1: 1 game to 15
• Semi Finals: Best of 3 (11 points)
• Final: Best of 3 (11 points)

Men’s Doubles Rules:

• Format: Single Elimination

Structure

• Semi Finals → Final

Match Format

• Semi Finals: Best of 3 (21 points)
• Final: Best of 3 (21 points)

Girls Singles Rules

• Only 1 Final Match
• Format: Best of 3 (11 points)

Time Plan

• Pool Play: ~1 hour
• Knockout Round: ~30 mins
• Semi Finals: ~45 mins
• Finals: ~45 mins

Court Usage

• 3 Courts → Men’s Singles Pools
• 1 Court → Men’s Doubles
• Knockouts → 2 courts
• Remaining → Warm-up / Fun play

Tie Breakers (Pool Stage)

• Head-to-head
• Point difference
• Total points scored

General Rules

• Be ready when match is called
• Warm-up limited to 2–3 minutes
• Respect opponents and line calls
• Organizer decisions are final

Attendance Policy

• Players must report on time for their matches
• If a participant does not arrive within 10–15 minutes of their scheduled match time, their spot may be given to another player

Registration, Waiver & Replacement Policy

• All participants must sign a waiver form provided by MKM and the sports facility
• The waiver will be shared before the event; participants must print, sign, and bring it on the day of the event
• No refunds will be provided once registration is completed
• Ticket transfer is allowed if you are unable to attend