League guide
Tennis & Pickleball
leagues, explained
Everything you need to join your first league: levels, formats, prices, how a season works and how winners are decided.
The basics
How a league works
A season is a handful of matches you arrange yourself, with your rating and the standings updating after every result.
- 1
Join
Pick your sport, city and format. Choose your starting skill level.
- 2
Schedule
You and your opponent agree a time and book a court. No fixed weekly slot.
- 3
Play and report
Play your match, then report the score. Your rating updates after every result.
- 4
Climb
Standings update live. The top players go to the playoffs.
Step 1
Find your level
You pick a starting level when you join. After your first few matches your rating moves based on real results, so it settles on your true level.
| Level | Rating | Who it's for |
|---|---|---|
| Beginner | 2.0 – 2.5 | New to competitive play. |
| Intermediate | 3.0 – 3.5 | You can hold a consistent rally. |
| Advanced | 4.0 – 4.5 | Tournament-ready. |
| Elite | 5.0+ | Semi-professional. |
Not sure? Pick the level that honestly matches how you play. You are matched against players near your rating, and it keeps adjusting after your results.
Step 2
Pick your format and see the price
Singles is one player. Doubles and mixed doubles are a team of two with one fee that covers both of you.
| Format | Who plays | Price | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Singles | 1 player | $9.99 per player, per season | One-on-one. The simplest way in. |
| Doubles | Team of 2 | $19.99 per team, per season | You and a partner. One partner pays and the other joins at no extra charge. |
| Mixed doubles | Team of 2 | $19.99 per team, per season | One man and one woman per team. Same team fee as doubles. |
- The price is for the whole season, with no club membership needed.
- Entry fees are refundable until the league starts.
Step 3
Choose how your season runs
Leagues come in four shapes. Each one is shown on its league page before you join.
Flex League
You arrange your own match times.
- 5–7 matches over 6–8 weeks
- You book courts and agree times
- Top players qualify for playoffs
Round Robin
A fixed schedule where everyone plays everyone once.
- Organizer books courts
- Calendar set upfront
- Top players advance to playoffs
Box League
Small groups of 6 players.
- Top 2 move up, bottom 2 move down each cycle
- Tight-knit groups
- No season-end playoffs
Challenge Ladder
An ongoing ranked list.
- Challenge anyone above you
- Win to swap ranks
- Join any time and climb year-round
Playing
Your match, step by step
Here is what happens for each match in a Flex League, in order.
| When | What happens |
|---|---|
| Before the play-by date | Home proposes a date, time and court. Away confirms or suggests another time. If no time is proposed by then, the match may be awarded to Away. |
| By the play-by date | Play your match. The date is shown on your match card. |
| 24 hours before | Confirm the time and court. The higher seed books the court and provides the balls. |
| Match day | Arrive on time. 15+ minutes late, or cancelling less than 2 hours before, is a forfeit. |
| Within 24 hours after | The winner reports the score. Your opponent confirms within 24 hours, or it is confirmed automatically. |
Full scoring and conduct rules are on the Rules page.
Winning
How standings and playoffs work
Every match earns points. The more you play and the cleaner you win, the higher you climb.
| You get points for | Points |
|---|---|
| Each match win | 3 points |
| Each match loss | 1 point |
| Sets won minus sets lost | 0.5 per set |
| Games won minus games lost | 0.1 per game |
| Play every match | +2 bonus |
| Win in straight sets | +1 bonus |
| Lose a close 3-set match | +0.5 bonus |
Playoffs
- 12 players or fewer: the top 4 advance.
- More than 12 players: the top 8 advance.
- If players tie on points, the tiebreakers are sets, then games, then head-to-head, then opponent strength.
Choosing a sport
Tennis or pickleball first?
Many players end up in both. If you are picking a starting point, this is how they differ.
| Tennis | Pickleball | |
|---|---|---|
| Court size | Larger court, longer rallies | Smaller court, quicker points |
| Learning curve | Takes longer to build consistent strokes | Easier to get competitive in your first month |
| Typical match length | Often 90 minutes or more over best of 3 sets | Usually under an hour |
| Great if you want | Strategic depth and a long-term challenge | A fast, social game that fits a weeknight |
Ready to play
Before your first match
Five things that make your first season smooth.
- Choose the rating that honestly matches how you play. It adjusts after your results.
- Check the league's city, format and start date before you pay.
- If you are Home, propose a date, time and court early, before the play-by date.
- Offer at least 3 time slots to make scheduling easy.
- Read the Rules page once so the score reporting is no surprise.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Ready to find your division?
Browse active tennis and pickleball leagues in your city and see real pricing before you sign up.
Find a League