Athlete's Guide
General information
2024 ATHLETE LETTER
Our 2024 Athlete Letter is ready for you to review!
ATHLETE ORIENTATION VIDEO
CHECK-IN
Athletes may check in as early as Saturday, April 13 during Joola Party in the Park (9am–1pm), to receive their credential and player souvenir bag. All athletes must also check in each day they are playing, before your first match, at the player registration check in area inside the vendor tent.
WATER / FOOD
Water will be provided at water fountains and filler stations throughout the park. Food will be available each day for all athletes and spectators to purchase, at the Landshark Beer Garden in the Vendor tent, and at the Food Truck area.
CREDENTIALS
ALL Credentials will be purchased as part of your registration fee on PickleballBrackets.com during the General Registration Lottery period. There is also a fee for each event entered. Tickets for the Zing Zang Championship Court will be through the Ticket Lottery. For information, please sign up for our email updates.
REFEREES
Referees will be provided for all Pro matches and amateur medal matches (if available).
Please see our Referee and Rules Summary Player Instructions
ZING ZANG CHAMPIONSHIP COURT ACCESS
All tickets for the Zing Zang Championship Court must be purchased through the new Ticket Lottery. Please sign up for our email updates for more details. Tickets will be sold on site if available.
GENERAL REGISTRATION LOTTERY
January 10–16, 2024
Please visit the Registration page for Lottery guidelines and schedule.
VIP EXPERIENCE
VIP Patron Packages and VIP Gold Boxes are sold out. Waitlist opportunities for future years will be posted on our email updates.
EVENTS / FORMATS
format
ALL events, will be run as double elimination with a consolation bracket. The consolation bracket will play for the bronze medal. The winner’s bracket will play for the gold and silver medals.
WPR PLAYER RATINGS
The US OPEN is dedicated to making sure competition is both fun and fair. Therefore, all players will be able to use their WPR rating. If that isn’t available, they will use their self rating. If a player does not have a WPR or choose not to self rate, they may use a PBR.
Prize Money Awarded
PRO / SENIOR PRO DOUBLES
MEN’S, WOMEN’S, MIXED. (4.5 / Pro only)
Prize Money Awarded
PRO / SENIOR PRO SINGLES
PRO/ SENIOR PRO SPLIT AGE EVENTS
Prize Money Awarded
* Pro and Sr. Pro players may register for THE US OPEN Pro Split Age events. Both players on the team must be a PRO or 4.0 player. One player must be 49 and under — one player must be 50 and over. Pro and Sr. Pro players may not enter an amateur Age event.
AGE DOUBLES
MEN’S, WOMEN’S, MIXED
* These events are intended for higher skill level players. You must be a 4.0 level or higher in order to enter any age events. (Exceptions will be made for 75+ events.)
JUNIOR SINGLES & DOUBLES
(18 and under) BOYS, GIRLS, MIXED
SKILL / AGE DOUBLES
MEN’S, WOMEN’S, MIXED, PARAPICKLEBALL
* Each skill event is divided by age brackets: 19+, 30+, 40+, 50+, 55+, 60+, 65+, 70+, 75+, 80+, 85+
SKILL / AGE SINGLES
MEN’S, WOMEN’S, WHEELCHAIR
* Each Age bracket will be divided into three skill groups. 3.0 and below, 4.0 and below and 4.5 and above. Age brackets: 19+, 35+, 50-59, 60+, 65+, 70+, 75+, 80+
PRACTICE COURTS AND OPEN PLAY
Courts will be available for open play, once daily competitive play is completed each day. Limited practice courts will be available behind the Arthrex Medical Tent.
WHEELCHAIR: NEW HYBRID RULES
A hybrid team is one standing and one wheelchair player. There is no limitation on the rating of the standing player. However, it is highly recommended that the wheelchair and standing player are compatible in ability levels.
The US OPEN Hybrid event is designed to match up standing and wheelchair players in a competitive situation. The purpose of the new rule change is to give more of an opportunity to highlight the unique skills of the wheelchair player.
This new US OPEN Hybrid rule changes will go into effect for the 2024 US OPEN. You can watch an explanation of the new rule here.
One simple change:
- Standing player can hit the ball on the side of the wheelchair player, only if the ball bounces. They cannot cross the center line, step on the center line, or have their momentum carry them on or over the line to hit a volley.
- The wheelchair side of the court is the side both wheels of the chair are on at any moment during a rally.
- If the wheelchair player is completely off the court, the standing player may hit any shot (volley or bounce) on either side of the court. However, the wheelchair player must make every effort to get back on the court as quickly as possible.
- All other Wheelchair rules apply
Additional rules:
- During play, no part of a wheelchair player's foot may touch the ground.
- Violation 1: The player must remain firmly seated in their chair and must not use their lower limbs to steer the chair or gain an unfair advantage.
Violation 2: A wheelchair player is not allowed to contact the playing surface with either or both of their feet.
Either of these violations results in a fault. - The wheelchair player must use a lap or thigh strap that allows the securing of the legs to the footplate and at least one buttocks to the seat of the wheelchair at all times. Straps will be provided if needed on tournament site.
- All other Wheelchair rules apply
TRANSGENDER GUIDE
The US OPEN Pickleball Championships has designed these policies after taking into consideration, the nature of the sport, and policies created by various sports organizations including, The International Olympic Committee, The International Tennis Federation, The NCAA.
Read the Transgender Guide
