THE AUTUMN EQUINOX IS AN OUTDOOR TOURNAMENT IN SEPTEMBER. IF WEATHER RESULTS IN THE CANCELLATION OF ANY OR ALL EVENTS, A FULL REFUND WILL BE ISSUED TO THOSE AFFECTED LESS A $5 SETUP FEE THAT WE ARE CHARGED BY PICKLEBALL BRACKETS.

This is Bellingham Pickleball Club's second annual Autumn Equinox Tournament at Whatcom Community College.

EARLY-BIRD REGISTRATION OPENS, JULY 1, REGULAR REGISTRATION STARTS AUGUST 1, and LATE REGISTRATION STARTS SEPTEMBER 1. Register early to ensure your place and save money on registration. Registration closes September 10. Each member of a team needs to register separately. You may register without a partner, but you are responsible for finding other single players and making the connection yourself. A separate registration is required from EACH PLAYER. If you register with a partner and the partner doesn't register WITHIN THREE DAYS you WILL be moved to the wait list UNTIL YOUR PARTNER REGISTERS. Don't lose your place in an event. Make SURE that your partner registers for that event.

If verified BEFORE registering, Bellingham Pickleball Club members get $15 off registration. (See below.*)

Late early registration begins July 1 and save everyone $10. Late registration starts September 10 and will be $10 more than regular registration.

ALL REGISTRATION WILL CLOSE 10 DAYS BEFORE THE START OF THE TOURNAMENT, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 8:00 AM.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU AT THE TOURNAMENT, SEPTEMBER 20 & 21

SCHEDULE (This is is an approximation of our expected schedule for each day, but it will be subject to change until registration closes):

SATURDAY, September 20: Women's doubles and Men's doubles

→ 8:00 AM Women 4.0 and 4.5, Men 4.0 and 4.5

→ 10:30 AM Women 2.5/novice, 3.0 60+, Men 2.5/novice, 3.0 60+

→ 1:00 PM Women 3.5 all ages, Men 3.5 all ages

→ 3:30 PM Women 3.0 all ages, Men 3.0 all ages

SUNDAY, September 21: Mixed doubles

→ 8:00 AM Mixed 3.5 all ages

→ 10:30 AM Mixed 4.5 all ages, 3.0 60+

→ 1:00 PM Mixed 2.5/novice all ages, 3.5 60+

→ 3:30 PM Mixed 4.0, Mixed 3.0 all ages

There may be two events happening simultaneously. Only register for one event per day. On September 1, if there is space in an event, a player may register for a second event that day if the event is a level no more than 0.5 higher than the player's level AND if it is not at an adjacent time to an event the player is in.

Estimated start times for each event may change, A more firm start time will be announced after registration has closed and by Monday, September 15. All start times are estimates and may change depending on necessary changes after registration closes.

NOTES:

- The official tournament ball is the Franklin X-40.

- Pickleball Brackets charges a $5 service fee for registering for the first TWO events. To avoid paying an unnecessary service fee, if you are wanting to CHANGE events, drop the first event first and THEN add the second event. If you add a second event first and then drop the first event, you will be charged the second non-refundable event fee of $5.

* For the Bellingham Pickleball Club member discount, there are three things that need to happen:

1. Be or become a member of Bellingham Pickleball Club (go to https://bellinghampickleball.org) AND,

2. Have or create a free account with Pickleball.com (go to https://pickleball.com) AND,

3. Once your Pickleball.com account is set up, join Bellingham Pickleball Club in Pickleball.com (If you have done this previously on Pickleball Brackets, all your information has been moved to Pickleball.com)

THEN, once your account is set up, and you are logged into Pickleball Brackets, click on "Clubs", and search for Bellingham. If you are a current paid member of Bellingham Pickleball Club, select Bellingham Pickleball Club, click on "Become a member" and then, "Click Here Complete Your Request". Your membership will need to be verified. (It may take up to 24 hours.) Once you have been verified, your may register and your discount will be applied.

THIS CAN ALL BE DONE BEFORE REGISTRATION OPENS SO THAT YOU WON'T HAVE TO WAIT.

- A player may play at a higher level (play up), but may not play down (sand bag). Pickleball Brackets uses self rating and DUPR. If you have a DUPR of 3.43, you could put down that you are a 3.0 and play against players who are 3.0 and lower, but we encourage you to put down 3.5 and play with people who are, like you, challenging themselves. This is in keeping with the spirit of pickleball. 2.5 events are for players 2.5 and under. 3.0 events are 3.0 and under, etc. Bellingham Pickleball Club reserves the right to move players to another event if they are known to be playing down.

- Your DUPR is is the primary way of placing you in a bracket. After you register for an event, we understand that a DUPR can go up or down. If you feel like your DUPR does not accurately reflect your bracket, you may contact us (tournaments@bellinghampickleball.org). We will be much more sympathetic to players who want to move up a bracket than anyone wanting to move down because of the tendency for some teams to sandbag.

- A minimum of 5 games are guaranteed. Number of games played and points per game will depend on registration. Our goal is to maximize the number of rallies each team gets to play, and the number of other teams each team gets to play, while staying on schedule to ensure that each event starts on time. Pool play will either be round-robin (each team plays every other team in your pool), or waterfall (playing 4 best matches before the medals round).

- Depending on registration numbers, we may split events by age (e.g. under 40, 40+), and we may combine teams to make for the best player experience.

- When registering with a partner, make sure your partner knows that they need to register within 3 DAYS or you will be moved to the waiting list.

- All games will be played with rally scoring‡ with games pool games to 15, win by 1, and medal matches to 21 win by 2. This may be adjusted to improve player experiences. Medal matches may have a maximum point cap, if necessary to keep the events on schedule.

- All events are available and open to all ages except those listed as 60+. For the sharp-eyed among you, you may notice your age might be one year off. The is because, after you register, your age is shown as of December 31, 2025.

- You may register for up to two events (one each day). Basic registration includes one event. The second event is an additional $20 and a $5 fee to Pickleball.com for the first 2 events of the tournament.

‡ Rally scoring is different from traditional scoring in only a couple ways. The key difference is that a point is awarded for every rally, "one point per serve", without regard to who served the ball.

- The one exception to "one point per serve" is that a team must serve the winning point. So when playing to 15, win-by-1, if the score is 13 to 14, and the team with 13 points is serving but loses that rally, the score remains 13 to 14. If the score is 13 to 14 and the team with 14 points is serving, but loses that rally, the other team will get a point and the score will then be 14 to 14 with the serve going to the team that won the rally. The game ends when the serving team wins the rally and has 15 points.

- For games to 21, win-by-2, if the score is 20 to 20 and the serving team wins the rally, the score would be 21 to 20. If that same team then loses the rally the score would be 21 to 21.

There are many videos online about rally scoring, and the USAPA rules are quite clear, but if you have any questions, please contact us: tournaments@bellilnghampickleball.org.

Many players like rally scoring because it simplifies scoring and play, and it changes the pace of the game. It can also be helpful for tournament play because it keeps games progressing and helps maintain a tournament schedule.

Up to 30 days before the tournament, refunds will be issued less $10. Between 30 days to 15 days before the tournament, 50% refunds will be made. Within 15 days of the tournament, no refunds will be issued.

The exception is if an event is cancelled due to weather or any other reason, a full refund less $5 will be issued.

If weather creates unsafe conditions, we will cancel an event an issue a refund.

- Whenever a ball is entering the playing area of another court, "Ball!" should be called loudly, and that rally replayed. Play safely, we want to see you at future events.

- In the case of injury, up to 10 minutes will be allowed to determine if the player can continue.

- In case a player becomes ill or is injured, another registered player may serve as a replacement, if available, and plays at a level that is appropriate for the event. If a higher level player plays in a lower level event, then that team will not be eligible for a medal.

- There will be a First Aid kit on site.