NCPA Format

The NCPA competition structure is divided into two primary formats: Division 1 (D1) and Division 2 (D2), with Division 3 (D3) serving as an extension of D2.

Division 1 (D1)

Team Bracket

MLP Style + Singles Pool Play → Single Elimination

Teams of 4–6 players (minimum 2 men, 2 women)
Represents your university's top competitive roster
Up to 2 bids for Nationals
Bids lock your school, not your roster
Regionals: $5,000 prize pool + 64 Nationals spots
Nationals: $30,000 prize pool

Division 2 (D2)

Individual Challenger

Skill Level: 3.5 – 4.0+

Men's Doubles Women's Doubles Men's Singles Women's Singles Mixed Doubles

Flat fee → enter up to 3 events
Compete for sponsorship prizes
D1 1st-Round knockouts may re-register for D2
No Nationals bids needed

Division 3 (D3)

Development Focus

Skill Level: 2.5 – 3.5

Same format/rules as D2
Focused on growth and development
No singles events offered

Bracket Structure

Pool Play

4 players/teams per pool, all advance to bracket

Single Elimination

Best 2 of 3, side-out scoring to 11 (win by 2)

Game Management

Side Switching

Switch sides at 6 points (not a timeout; 30 sec max)

Timeouts

1 timeout per team per game (1 minute max)

Warmup

2-minute warmup limit before each game

Score Input

Both teams must input scores & lineups immediately

Division 1 Team Format

Match Breakdown: Best of 7 Games

3 Total Categories

2 Mixed Doubles

1 Men's Doubles / 1 Women's Doubles

1 Men's Singles / 1 Women's Singles

A Sudden Death Dreambreaker will be played if the final score is 3–3.

Additional Note: Teams start each game on the side they finished the previous game, with serves alternating each match.

Key Rules

Coin Toss

Winner chooses first category

Category Play

Play both games in a category before next choice

Scoring

Side-out scoring to 11, win by 2

Victory

First to 4 total games wins

D1 Match Scenario: GCU vs. ASU

Gender Doubles

GCU wins the toss and selects doubles first. ASU chooses the gender for the first game, and GCU chooses serve and side. The second game is played with the opposite gender. ASU then selects the next category.

Mixed Doubles

ASU selects mixed doubles and places their first team on the court. GCU responds with their team. The second mixed doubles game is played. By default, GCU then selects singles.

Gender Singles

GCU selects singles as the category. ASU chooses the gender for the first game and places their first player on the court, GCU responds. The second game is played with the opposite gender. GCU places their first player, and ASU responds.

Sudden Death Dreambreaker

The Dreambreaker mirrors regular match play, but condensed into a single game with each match type rotating every three points. The team with the better point differential gets the advantage of choosing the first category.

Setup

All games and lineups are locked before play begins
The team with the better point differential chooses the first category for the first 6 points
Match Type: 1 Men's Doubles, 1 Women's Doubles, 1 Men's Singles, 1 Women's Singles, 2 Mixed Doubles

Format + Scenario

First 6 Points

GCU, having the better point differential, selects the category. Example: GCU chooses Gender Singles. ASU selects the gender for the first 3 points and puts out their player first. The opposite gender plays the next 3 points, with GCU putting out their player first.

Next 6 Points

Roles reverse: ASU selects the next category. Example: ASU chooses Mixed Doubles. For the first 3 points, they put out their first team, and GCU reacts. The second 3 points are played with the second mixed team.

Final 6 Points

GCU defaults to Gender Doubles. ASU chooses the gender for the first 3 points. The next 3 points are played with the opposite gender. After this rotation, the sequence restarts until a winner is determined.