Avalon Beach Pickleball Association Inc.

Organisation and promotion of the sport of pickleball

Hosting Cheat Sheet

Click on the number of players:

4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

Guidelines for Hosts

  1. Maintain an Attendee List:
    • Keep a list of attendees handy, arranged either by the order of arrival or by the order of booking.
    • Note that the name at the top of the attendee list on OpenSports is the most recent booking.
  2. Determining Who Sits Out:
    • Use the list to decide who sits out during games when there are more players than needed.
    • If the list is ordered by arrival, the last to arrive should sit out first.
    • If the list is ordered by booking, those who booked last should sit out first.
  3. Managing Game Play:
    • Ensure that no one plays more than three consecutive games. After three games, the player should sit out, allowing one of the waiting players to join.
    • Prioritise allowing those who have lost their previous games to replace players who have played three consecutive games.

See below for explanations of terms used.

For comprehensive information on all hosting responsibilities, please consult the ABPA Venue Hosting Manual.

4 People

  • Use 1 court. Mix up the teams after each game.

5 People

  • Use 1 court – 4 players on the court and 1 person sitting out.
  • Take it in turns to sit out and mix the teams up after each game.

6 People

  • Use 2 courts – 4 players on one court and 2 people sitting out. The 2 people sitting out can either play singles (or “skinny singles“), do drills or have a rest.
  • At the completion of a game, replace 2 of the 4 players with the 2 people sitting out.

7 People

  • Use 2 courts – 4 players on one court and 3 people sitting out. The 3 people sitting out can either play “cut-throat”, do drills or have a rest while waiting to play.
  • Use the “paddles in a row system of rotation“: Each time a court finishes a game, 2 of the 3 people sitting out replace the 2 losers who put their paddles at the back of the row.

8 People

  • Use 2 courts – 4 players on each court.
  • Wait for both courts to finish a game (use the “traffic light system“). The winners of one court play the winners of the other court (partners split) and the losers on one court play the losers of the other court (partners split).

9 People

  • Use 2 courts – 4 players on each court and 1 person sitting out.
  • Wait for both courts to finish a game (use the traffic light system). The winners of one court play the winners of the other court (partners split) and the losers on one court play the losers of the other court (partners split). Replace one of the players with the person who has been sitting out.

10 People

  • Use 3 courts – 4 players on each court and 2 people sitting out. The 2 people sitting out can either play singles, “skinny singles“, do drills or have a rest.
  • Wait for both courts to finish a game (use the “traffic light system“). The winners of one court play the winners of the other court (partners split) and the losers on one court play the losers of the other court (partners split). Replace 2 of the players with the 2 people who have been sitting out.

11 People

  • Use 3 courts – 4 players on each of 2 courts and 3 people sitting out. The 3 people sitting out can either play “cut-throat”, do drills or have a rest.
  • Use the “paddles in a row system of rotation“: Each time a court finishes a game, 2 of the 3 people sitting out replace the 2 losers who put their paddles at the back of the row.

12 People

  • Use 3 courts – 4 players on each court.
  • Wait for all 3 courts to finish a game (use the “traffic light system“). Use the “Winners move south, losers move north” system (partners split). The winners of the southernmost court stay where they are and the losers of the northernmost court stay where they are.

13 People

  • Use 3 courts – 4 players on each of 3 courts and 1 person sitting out.
  • Wait for all 3 courts to finish a game (use the “traffic light system“). Use the “Winners move south, losers move north” system (partners split). The winners of the southernmost court stay where they are and the losers of the northernmost court stay where they are. Now replace one of the players with the person who has been sitting out.

14 People

  • Use 3 or 4 courts depending on how many have been hired. The number hired is shown clearly on the OpenSports event – 4 players on each of 3 courts and 2 people sitting out. If 6 courts have been hired, the 2 people sitting out can play singles (or “skinny singles“), do drills or have a rest.
  • Each time a court finishes a game, the 2 people sitting out replace the 2 losers.

15 People

  • Use 3 or 4 courts depending on how many have been hired. The number hired is shown clearly on the OpenSports event – 4 players on each of 3 courts and 3 people sitting out. If 6 courts have been hired, the 3 people sitting out can either play “cut-throat”, do drills or have a rest.
  • Use the “paddles in a row system of rotation“: Each time a court finishes a game, 2 of the 3 people sitting out replace the 2 losers who put their paddles at the back of the row.

16 People

  • Use 4 courts – 4 players on each court.
  • Wait for all 4 courts to finish a game (use the “traffic light system“). Use the “Winners move south, losers move north” system (partners split). The winners of the southernmost court stay where they are and the losers of the northernmost court stay where they are.

17 People

  • Use 4 courts – 4 players on each court and one person sitting out.
  • Wait for all 4 courts to finish a game (use the “traffic light system“). Use the “Winners move south, losers move north” system (partners split). The winners of the southernmost court stay where they are and the losers of the northernmost court stay where they are. Replace one of the players with the person who has been sitting out.

18 People

  • Use 5 courts – 4 players on each of 4 courts and 2 people sitting out. The 2 people sitting out can play singles (or “skinny singles“), do drills or have a rest.
  • Each time a court finishes a game, the 2 people sitting out replace the 2 losers.

19 People

  • Use 5 courts – 4 players on each of 4 courts and 3 people sitting out. The 3 people sitting out can either play “cut-throat”, do drills or have a rest.
  • Use the “paddles in a row system of rotation“: Each time a court finishes a game, 2 of the 3 people sitting out replace the 2 losers who put their paddles at the back of the row.

20 People

  • Use 5 courts – 4 players on each of 5 courts.
  • Wait for all 5 courts to finish a game (use the “traffic light system“). Use the “Winners move south, losers move north” system (partners split). The winners of the southernmost court stay where they are and the losers of the northernmost court stay where they are.

21 People

  • Use 5 courts – 4 players on each court and one person sitting out.
  • Wait for all 5 courts to finish a game (use the “traffic light system“). Use the “Winners move south, losers move north” system (partners split). The winners of the southernmost court stay where they are and the losers of the northernmost court stay where they are. Now replace one of the players with the person who has been sitting out.

22 People

  • Use 6 courts – 4 players on each of 5 courts and 2 people sitting out. The 2 people sitting out can play singles (or “skinny singles“), do drills or have a rest.
  • Each time a court finishes a game, the 2 people sitting out replace the 2 losers.

23 People

  • Use 6 courts – 4 players on each of 5 courts and 3 people sitting out. The 3 people sitting out can either play “cut-throat”, do drills or have a rest.
  • Use the “paddles in a row system of rotation“: Each time a court finishes a game, 2 of the 3 people sitting out replace the 2 losers who put their paddles at the back of the row.

24 People

  • Use 6 courts – 4 players on each court.
  • Wait for all 5 courts to finish a game (use the “traffic light system“). Winners move south, losers move north and partners split. The winners of the southernmost court stay where they are and the losers of the northernmost court stay where they are.

25 People

  • Use 6 courts – 4 players on each court and one person sitting out.
  • Wait for all 6 courts to finish a game (use the “traffic light system“). Winners move south, losers move north and partners split. The winners of the southernmost court stay where they are and the losers of the northernmost court stay where they are. Now replace one of the players with the person who has been sitting out.

26 People

  • Use 6 courts – 4 players on each court and 2 people sitting out. The 2 people sitting out can play singles (or “skinny singles“), do drills or have a rest.
  • Each time a court finishes a game, the 2 people sitting out replace the 2 losers.

27 People

  • Use 6 courts – 4 players on each court and 3 people sitting out. The 3 people sitting out can either play “cut-throat”, do drills or have a rest.
  • Use the “paddles in a row system of rotation“: Each time a court finishes a game, 2 of the 3 people sitting out replace the 2 losers who put their paddles at the back of the row.

28 People

  • Use 6 courts – 4 players on each court and 4 people sitting out.
  • Use the “paddles in a row system of rotation“: Each time a court finishes a game, 2 of the 4 people sitting out replace the 2 losers who put their paddles at the back of the row.

29 People

  • Use 6 courts – 4 players on each court and 5 people sitting out.  
  • Use the “paddles in a row system of rotation“: Each time a court finishes a game, 2 of the 5 people sitting out replace the 2 losers who put their paddles at the back of the row.

30 People

  • Use 6 courts – 4 players on each court and 6 people sitting out.  
  • Use the “paddles in a row system of rotation“: Each time a court finishes a game, 2 of the 6 people sitting out replace the 2 losers who put their paddles at the back of the row.

Traffic light system: Hang the signals on the fence at the back of each court. RED means still playing and GREEN means ready to rotate.  

Paddles in a row system of rotation: Each person sitting out places their paddle in a row. The host determines which end is the front of the queue. When a court finishes a game, the owners of the first 2 paddles replace the losers on that court and the losers place their paddles at the back of the row.

Singles rules: Watch this YouTube video.

Skinny singles rules: Watch this YouTube video.

Cut-throat rules: Watch this YouTube video.

Please note: The term “losers” is meant in a nice way 😊.