Road to Minors (RTM) Tournament Series is a tournament series to provide a pathway for amateur players to qualify for one of D.C. Pickleball Team’s Minor League Pickleball (MiLP) DUPR 12-22 rosters. The top performing players in the RTM Series will have a chance to showcase their skills during the RTM Nationals at the end of the year. It will also allow players to build their DUPR profiles and gain valuable match play experience while being evaluated by the D.C. Pickleball Team coaching staff and front office.

Start your Road to DCPT's MiLP Rosters with your first RTM DUPR Session! These sessions are a prerequisite to enter the RTM tournament series.

STEP 1: Register for RTM DUPR sessions

No partners required. These are 2 hour round robin scrambles where players will be randomly assigned partners. All games will be to 11, win by 1 point. Each session will be 2 hours long with as many rounds as time permits.

Format:

Sessions are broken out by the following DUPR levels:

3.0-3.4

3.5-3.9

4.0-4.4

4.5+

Each DUPR Rating Level is posted as a separate tournament (e.g. RTM DUPR: 3.0-3.4 Sessions, RTM DUPR: 3.5-3.9 sessions, etc).

Players are required to complete a minimum of two (2) RTM DUPR sessions to qualify for the RTM National Cup in November.

STEP 2: Register for RTM Tournaments

Top winners in each division will accrue points towards their individual records.

RTM tournaments are doubles format for mens, womens, and mixed divisions.

Partners are required for tournaments and you can switch partners for each tournament.

Points are accrued on an individual basis.

There is no minimum or maximum number of tournaments that can be played.

The more tournaments you play and win, the more points you accrue.

STEP 3: Participate in the National Cup

Players with the most points in each skill division (e.g. 3.0-3.4, 3.5-3.9, 4.0-4.4, etc.) will qualify for the RTM National Cup in November at Down the Line Sports Center in Annandale, VA.

Staff and coaches from the DC Pickleball team will be present to scout potential players for their minor league DUPR 12-22 teams.

Winners chosen to represent the DC Pickleball team in the Minor Leagues will represent DCPT for the next calendar year. They will also get a wildcard ticket to The Dink Minor League National Tournament in December of this year. They will also have the opportunity to play other regional RTM winners.

**RTM DUPR sessions will be available throughout the year.

**RTM Tournaments will be held on a monthly basis.

SPOTS ARE LIMITED! Claim your tournament spot today!

RTM DUPR Session Requirements

1) All players must have an active DUPR account

2) All players must be a DUPR member of DTL Fairfax, DTL Annandale, and DC Pickleball Team

3) All players must become a member of the “RTM Association” Club on pickleball.com (free membership). This is the only way individual points can be tracked once tournament points are accrued.

RTM DUPR Session Perks

1) Chance to win raffle prizes throughout the session

2) Join DTL Fairfax, DTL Annandale, and DC Pickleball Team Club DUPR accounts to be entered to win 2025 MLP DC tickets and have DCPT track your progress along your Road to the Minors

3) All matches will be recorded into DUPR allowing your performance to count toward your official rating and establish your DUPR profile

For more information go to www.roadtominors.com

RTM Schedule and Registration

The RTM tournament schedule is listed below and you can sign up through the DTL and DCPT website and/or directly on pickleballbrackets.com.

Round 1: Friday, Feb 28 – Sunday, March 2 & Friday, March 7 - Sunday, March 9 (Fairfax)

Round 2: Friday, April 11 – Sunday, April 13 & Friday, April 18 - Sunday, April 20 (Fairfax)

Round 3: Friday, May 23 – Sunday, May 25 & Friday, May 30 - Sunday, June 1 (Fairfax)

Round 4: Friday, June 27 – Sunday, June 29 (Annandale)

Round 5: Friday, July 25 – Sunday, July 27 (Annandale)

Round 6: Friday, August 22 – Sunday, August 24 (Annandale)

Round 7: Friday, Sept 19 – Sunday, Sept 21 (Annandale)

Round 8: Friday, October 17 – Sunday, October 19 (Annandale)

Round 9: Friday, November 14 – Sunday, November 16 (Annandale) - RTM NATIONAL CUP

The Dink Minor League Pickleball Nationals: December 2025

RTM FAQS

*What is RTM?

A tournament series for you to win points and earn a chance to represent a Major League team or regional team in Minor League Pickleball! Tournaments are held monthly at various facilities (go to roadtominors.com with list of facilities). Players can sign up for as many tournaments they can play and accrue points throughout the year. You do not have to play every tournament, but you are welcome to play them all!

*Where is RTM?

Already established at DTL in Fairfax and coming soon to DTL in Annandale, our premiere location opening in May 2025. Also in Glen Burnie (MD), Dallas (TX), and coming to more regions near you! Stay updated on roadtominors.com or our instagram!

*Who can play in RTM?

Anyone! All levels of amateur play from 3.0 to 4.5+!

*How do I earn points for RTM?

Register for a tournament, play, and win! Top winners of each tournament will accrue points that will be tracked on our leaderboard on pickleball.com

Points are accrued on an individual basis.

Players must join the "RTM Association" club on pickleball.com (free membership) in order for their points to be tracked on the leaderboard.

*How do I get chosen for a Minor League Team?

Top players with the most points at the end of year will be invited to their regional RTM Cup Finals and/or the National RTM Cup Finals in Virginia this November. Major League staff and coaches will be there to scout players for their Minor League teams.

*What skill levels get to be on a Minor League Team?

ALL skill levels! DUPR teams 12-22 will all be composed of 4 players (2 males and females) who make up the cumulative DUPR # for that team (e.g. 4 players of 3.0 DUPR ratings for DUPR 12).

*What are RTM DUPR sessions?

These sessions are designed to help everyone generate more accurate DUPR ratings through more DUPR sanctioned play. Only 2 are required before the RTM Cup in November! You do NOT have to complete your DUPR sessions you sign up for a tournament. You can sign up for tournaments that are posted now and then complete your DUPR sessions before the RTM Cup in November.

*Do I need a partner?

You do NOT need a partner for RTM DUPR sessions.

You DO need a partner for RTM tournament.

You can have a different partner for each RTM tournament.

You must find your own partner or mark "Need a Partner" when you register to see if someone reached out to you. Players who do not have a partner 2 weeks prior to the event start date will have to be withdrawn if there is a waitlist.

*What format are the RTM tournaments?

The RTM tournaments will be played in doubles format for mens, womens, and mixed at all skill divisions.

The RTM Cup Finals will be played in MLP team format (the top players who get invited will be drafted onto teams).

*Where can I sign up for RTM or RTM DUPR sessions?

Go to pickleball.com and search for "RTM"

*So how do I get started?

Easy! Register for RTM DUPR and RTM tournaments on pickleball.com.

Play, win, and repeat

There is a No Refund policy for all DUPR rating sessions and RTM tournaments 7 days before the day of the event. Service fees are not refunded.