NCPA Conferences

Compete Locally, Excel Nationally

Join your college pickleball team in NCPA Conferences and battle for Nationals bids, prize money, and top rankings.

View Conferences

Conference Details

The Basics

  • 4–8 schools per conference
  • One-day event — round robin, everyone plays everyone
  • Universities may send multiple teams

Bids

  • 8 schools: 1st → D1 bid · 2nd → D2 bid · 3rd → D3 bid
  • Fewer than 8 schools: number and level of bids awarded at NCPA’s discretion, based on the size and level of the conference

How the Conference Is Won

  • Most matches won
  • Tiebreaker 1: most games won
  • Tiebreaker 2: point differential

Multiple Teams per University

  • Team 1s play other Team 1s in their own round robin — only Team 1s can win a bid
  • Team 2s play Team 2s in their own round robin, and so on down
  • Schools with 3rd, 4th, or 5th teams may sometimes place multiple teams in the same bracket — just never in the Team 1 bracket. Ask NCPA when this comes up.
  • Every conference can run both competitive and developmental brackets

Format — NCPA Team Format, with One Change

  • You choose the order of doubles and mixed — singles will not be played in Conferences
  • Strict 2-min warmup in between games
  • 4 games total each match. If a school wins 3, the 4th is still played. No tiebreaker game

Both changes exist for one reason: to fit the whole conference into a single day.

View NCPA Team Format

Ratings and Rankings

University rankings and player ratings are in effect for every conference match.

Player Ratings University Rankings

Before You Go

Stay in contact with your host university for arrival details and bracket information.

Host a Conference

Anyone can host a conference! Here’s How…

1

Get in Touch

Text 760-685-4146 on wanting to host a conference.

2

Plan It Out

Have a tentative date and location.

3

Coordinate Locally

A group chat with all local schools will be started and universities will all help lock in a date and location.

4

Go Live

Registration opens and the host university is in charge of coordinating with all schools.

Register For A Conference

There is no region lock. You can play anywhere, but spots are limited for each conference.

Create or Log In

Sign in with your NCPA profile.

Go to Tournaments

Find your conference, click Join Tournament, and join your university team if prompted.

Bracket Registration

Register under the Team Bracket or the Individual Brackets.

Pay the Fee

Pay the registration fee and double check you are on the correct teams after you register for the different brackets.

Joining Your University

When you join a conference, you’ll be prompted to join your university team. Make sure you’re on the correct school roster before completing registration. Coordinate with your captain on which brackets you’re playing.

Register & View Conferences

Questions? Email info@ncpaofficial.com