Surprise Cup · Team Challenge

Team registration process

Because the tournament software did not fully support team registration, each division had separate listings for captains and team members. The captain registered in “Captains Only,” and the other three players registered in “Team Members.” Captains then sent SPA the team name and player list.

Universal team rules

• Four-player teams; each player competed in two of four games, and no pair played together more than once.
• Rally scoring to 15, win by two; tiebreakers were win by one.
• Teams switched ends at eight. Each side received one service possession per side out.
• Best of five games; the first team to three won the match.
• At 2–2, game five was a Skinny Singles tiebreaker to 15, with players rotating every four points.
• No injury substitutions. Coaching was allowed only while the ball was not live.

Format overview

Brackets used round robin play with no more than eight teams. Each team played at least four doubles matches and no more than five games per match. Games were rally-scored to 15; the first team to three games won.

Division details

Women’s and Men’s: Captains submitted a fixed lineup before each match. At 2–2, the fifth game was Skinny Singles to 15.

Mixed: Teams had two men and two women. Match order was Women’s Team 1, Men’s Team 1, Mixed Team 1, then Mixed Team 2. The team with the most points after four games chose the Skinny Singles playing order.

Partner replacement

After registration closed, a player who lost a partner had to replace them with an already-registered player in the same skill and age group. Players could play down in age and up in skill. Replacements were reported to the tournament organizer by 5 p.m. the day before play.

Event notes

• Results did not affect DUPR ratings.
• Food trucks and vendors were on site.
• The venue offered shade and parking, and spectators were welcome.