NOTE: Before you can setup a league, you will need to have created both a user account and a club.

If you're looking to set up a pickleball league, you're in the right place! Running a league can be a rewarding experience, bringing players together for fun, competition, and camaraderie. Let’s dive into the step-by-step process of establishing your league, ensuring you have all the tools and knowledge needed to get started.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• To get Started: Create a User Profile and Club on Pickleball.com
• Step 1: Creating Your League
• Step 2: Finalizing Your League Setup
• Step 3: Engaging Your Community
• Step 4: Making the Most of Technology

To get Started: Create a User Profile and Club on Pickleball.com

Before you can create your league, there are two essential components you need: a personal player profile on pickleball.com and a club that will be responsible for running your league. These steps are crucial as they lay the groundwork for your league's management and operation.

Once you have your profile and club set up, log into pickleball.com and navigate to the leagues tab. This is where the magic begins!

Step 1: Creating Your League

After clicking on the leagues tab, you’ll be prompted to create a new league. This interface will guide you through several necessary steps. 
Here’s how to fill out the initial information:

Status: Make sure to set this to active. Once league play is completed, you can change the status to closed.

Show on Search: Make sure it is set to Yes so players may find your league in their search.

League URL:  This URL is automatically created once you have completed the league setup. You may copy and share this URL with players interested in linking directly to the league home page.

League Title:  Give your league a title. Remember this is the overall league title, not a title that describes one session of the league.

For example, you might call it "GG's Women's League 3.0" and specify that it meets on Monday evenings.

League Type:  Choose from Ladder, Traditional League, King of the Court or DUPR.



Player Type: Choose from player types such as scramble or partner.

Player Group: Choose if the league will be men's, women's, mixed or coed. Mixed only refers to Partner leagues. This is not current ability to created a mixed doubles scramble league.

Format: Choose if the league will be Doubles, Singles or Skinny Singles.

Allow Player Score Entry: Decide if you want to allow partners to enter scores. If set to 'yes', players can only enter scores only for matches they participated in.

Logo (Optional):  Here you can upload a logo for your league. If you don't have one, it will default to your club's logo. If neither are available, nothing will show up. 

Please note the logo is restricted to the size indicated. The image MUST completely fill the specified area.

Contact Info:  At this stage, you will also need to provide contact information. This section is vital as it allows players to reach out with questions. 
Click on the primary contact button and search for a primary contact. The contact person must have a player account. The same process can be used to add a second league contact person.

Contact Form Emails: These options will default to the Primary Contact email address unless you enter something different. For example, if another club manager handles all finances, you might want that person to receive all refund requests. Please provide the email in the space provided.

CC Emails:  These options allow you to receive copies of any emails that are automatically generated and sent to players. Unless you fill in each with an email address, you will not receive any copies.
Description / Additional Information / Refund Policy: Use these text boxes to describe your league in detail that players may find helpful. We highly recommend establishing a refund policy to clarify any that may arise later.

Once completed with this first page, be sure to click on the Save tab to move to the next page of League Setup. This tab can be found at the top and bottom of this page.

On the next set up page you will be working with Checkout Options.

Checkout Options:  Activate the option or options for players to pay during registration checkout. 

If more than one Checkout Option is specified, players will be able to select their preferred payment method.

NOTE: Currently, leagues offer only two checkout options for registration.

• Stripe - If you choose to use Stripe, ensure it’s set up in your organization first. 

Screenshot below shows what your Organization Checkout Options 

should look like when your Stripe account is set up in your organization.

Once set up in the organization, the league manager will be able to 

Click to Activate the Stripe account here.

• Onsite Payment - Use this option if you don't want to require players to pay during registration.

Once your Checkout Options have been chosen, click on the Save button at the top or bottom of the screen to move on the next page for discounts.

Discounts: League Managers may create discount codes to distribute. Each code is unique and can be limited in scope and duration.

Click on the plus sign to add a discount code. Discount codes created will be listed below this box.

The next screen will give you the options to create your League Discount Code:

1. Title - Give the code a title. That title will appear on the list of discount codes.
2. Outside Code - Use this for outside organizations such as organizations. This field is for future use.
3. Code - The system generates a random code that you can use. You may prefer to type in your own code that might be easier to remember.
4. Discount Amount - The value of the discount must be a positive number.
5. Number Issued - Use this to limit the number of discounts available. This feature can be used to promote a tournament by offering discounts to only the first X number of players to register.
6. Date Active - Use this to limit the date range that the code will be valid.
7. Save -Once you have completed creating your code, click on the Save button.
   
   

When it comes to discounts, you might want to reward standout players, volunteers or sponsors. For instance, if Betty is a star player, you could give her a discount code like "BettyBoop" for $10 off her session. Just make sure it can only be used once to prevent sharing.

Once you have completed your Discounts, click on the Save button at the top or bottom of the screen to move on the next page of League Setup. 

Sponsors: Sponsorships are a great way to support your league financially. You can choose different levels for sponsors and upload their logos, company name, and even a link to their store. This way, when players click on the sponsor’s logo, they can easily access their offerings.

Click on the plus sign to add new sponsor. Sponsors added will be listed below this box. 

1. Sponsor Level - Select a sponsor level from the drop down menu. Available choices are: Title Sponsor, Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze or Tour. 
2. Logo Upload - Upload the sponsor logo here. The process is the same as that used for the league logo. Please notice the logo size is 468 x 351 px and allows only png, jpg and jpeg format.
3. Title - The name of the sponsor
4. URL - If the sponsor has a website, include the URL address here and players who click on the sponsor logo will be directed to their website.
5. Amount - This is option. It does not display on league website.
6. Tagline - If the sponsor has an advertising slogan, include it here and it will display below the sponsor name.
7. Save Sponsor - Save the information for your sponsor by clicking on the Save Sponsor tab.

Once your Sponsors have been created, click on the Save button at the top or bottom of the screen to move on the next page of League Setup. 

Managers:  A league can have multiple managers but only one of them can be the primary manager. Only primary managers can add new managers.

1. Add New - Use this tab to add a manager. Any manager must have an account with Pickleball.com. Once the prompt comes up, type in their last name and then search for them amongst the accounts. Select the player you would like for your manager.
2. Permissions for Primary Manager - In this example, this manager was chosen as the primary manager.
3. Save - Use this Save tab to save the permissions given to manager selected. If this save button is not chosen, the permissions will not save.
4. Permissions - Here are the permissions you can provide any other manager besides the primary manager.
5. Save - Once completed adding managers, be sure to click on the Save tab. This will save the permissions and complete the League Setup.

Step 2: Finalizing Your League Setup

Congratulations! You've successfully set up your league. With all the details in place, you can now focus on scheduling sessions and engaging with your players. Remember, the setup process is just the beginning. Maintaining communication, managing schedules, and ensuring a great playing environment are keys to a successful league.

Step 3: Engaging Your Community

Building a community around your league can enhance the overall experience for players. Here are some strategies to engage your members:

Regular Communication: Keep players informed about schedules, changes, and events through emails or social media. You can do this all through your PickleballLeagues platform for each league.

Online and Social Media Presence: Utlize the customization features for your Pickleball.com Club with photos, schedules, reviews and updates. Create pages on platforms like Instagram and Facebook to share updates, photos, and player highlights.

Host Events: Organize fun events or tournaments to foster a sense of community and competition.

Step 4: Making the Most of Technology

Leveraging technology can streamline your league management. PickleballLeagues is your league software solution that helps with:

*   Online registration and payments.
* Scheduling and player management.
* Communication with players and sponsors.
*   Tracking player performance and league standings.

Utilizing these tools can save you time and improve the overall experience for everyone involved.

Setting up a pickleball league is an exciting venture that requires careful planning and organization. By following the steps outlined here, you can create a thriving environment for players of all skill levels. Remember to engage with your community, utilize technology, and keep the lines of communication open. Happy playing!