How to Create a Tournament Using Premade Templates

Creating a pickleball tournament can feel overwhelming if you’re unsure where to start. Fortunately, Pickleball Tournaments offers a streamlined solution with premade tournament templates that take the hassle out of setting up your event. This guide will walk you through the essential steps to get your tournament up and running quickly and smoothly, using these templates.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

• How to Create a Tournament Using Premade Templates
  • Step 1: Log In and Select Your Club
  • Step 2: Choose and Customize Your Tournament Template
  • Step 3: Set Registration and Contact Information
  • Step 4: Define Registration Fees and Connect Payment
  • Step 5: Upload Tournament Materials and Venue Details
  • Step 6: Assign Tournament Managers
  • Step 7: Finalize Events and Open Registration
  • Conclusion

Step 1: Log In and Select Your Club

First, go to PickleballTournaments.com and make sure you are logged into your account. Before creating a tournament, you need to have a club set up to host it. If you haven’t created your club yet, visit PickleballClubs.com to start the process.

Once your club is ready, click on Create a Tournament and select the club hosting your event from the dropdown menu. Then, enter the title of your tournament.

Below the title field, choose Blank Tournament rather than “Advertise Only.” This option allows you to use a premade template that’s nearly set up, saving you from starting completely from scratch.

Step 2: Choose and Customize Your Tournament Template

Next, review the global templates available and pick the one that best fits your tournament format. For example, if you want to run a round robin, select that template. Don’t worry if your brackets grow larger—you can always adjust specific events later, switching formats or adding playoffs as needed.

After selecting a template, you’ll see the basic setup of your tournament. While you can explore and adjust many options, focus first on the key settings that matter most for your event.

Step 3: Set Registration and Contact Information

Decide if you want to use texting for communication, then set the Show Public Date—the date your tournament becomes visible on pickleballtournaments.com. Retype your tournament title here to confirm.

Scroll down to the registration setup section. Turn on Online Registration and set your registration start and end dates. It’s important to leave yourself enough time between registration closing and your tournament start date—about 10 days is ideal. This buffer allows you to manage last-minute registrations, finalize events, create brackets, and send start times to participants.

Next, update the contact info by selecting your name as the primary contact and entering your billing email. Include a detailed description of your event, any additional information participants need to know, and your cancellation policy. You can browse other tournaments on the site for inspiration on what to include.

Step 4: Define Registration Fees and Connect Payment

On the next page, enter your registration fees. If you offer discounts or late registration fees, add those here along with the dates they apply. Specify how many events are included in the registration cost.

Then, connect your payment method. We recommend using Stripe, but make sure your Stripe account is activated within your club setup first. If you prefer other payment options, you can select those instead.

Step 5: Upload Tournament Materials and Venue Details

Upload your tournament logo, waiver, and flyer (if you have one). These help present your event professionally and provide participants with important documents. Next, review the venue section. Confirm the venue’s address, number of courts, and the type of ball you’ll be using. If you’re unsure about the ball type, you can add it later. You can skip the amenities section unless you have special partnerships, such as with a hotel.

Step 6: Assign Tournament Managers

Assign a primary manager for your tournament by adding their name and granting primary privileges. Add any additional managers who will assist, assigning them the appropriate roles and permissions. This ensures your team has clear responsibilities to help run the event smoothly.

Step 7: Finalize Events and Open Registration

From the tournament dashboard, go to the Events section to customize your tournament events. Start by clicking Edit List to check event dates and add any event-specific fees if your registration cost includes only one event by default.

You can further customize events by clicking the edit icon next to each. Consider enabling the waitlist feature to automatically manage partner registrations and waitlists efficiently.

Adjust formats, set minimum age limits, and determine the maximum number of teams per bracket. If you want to add age splits, you can set up specific age divisions with their own registration limits, which helps manage participant grouping while keeping things organized on the backend.

When everything looks good, update your Show Public Date and registration dates to open your tournament for public registration. Use the preview link to see how your tournament page appears to participants.

Don't forget to pay the tournament setup fee from the dashboard. If not paid, the tournament will automatically delete after five days.

Conclusion

Using premade tournament templates on Pickleball Tournaments simplifies the process of creating and managing your pickleball event. By following these seven essential steps, you can quickly set up your tournament, customize it to your needs, and open registration with confidence. For more detailed tutorials and tips, be sure to explore additional training video available online. Good luck with your tournament, and enjoy bringing the pickleball community together!