A team consists of 8 to 10 pickleball friends who share a similar skill set and general age range.  Each match uses 6 players - three double pairs - who each play three games. 

With 8 to 10 teammates on your roster, you’ll have the right balance: enough players to field your lineup every week, plus substitutes available when someone can’t make it. 

A match is when two teams face each other at a scheduled time. Each team designates 6 players—three doubles pairs—to compete in that match. Those three pairs from each team play in a round‑robin format, meaning every pair plays every opposing pair.

As a result, each pair plays three games, and every player gets meaningful court time. Matches move efficiently and won’t drag on for hours.

To add even more strategy and suspense, scoring follows the USA Team Pickleball format—so you may not know who wins the match until the very last point of the very last game. 

Scoring system:

• Game winner earns 2 points
• Game loser earns 1 point if they score 6 or more
• Game loser earns 0 points if they score 5 or fewer

This creates some fun scenarios. A team could actually lose the final game but still win the overall match if they manage to score at least 6 points in that loss. Every rally matters, and every point can swing the match. 

We’re two volunteers working to bring Team Pickleball to NWA. We’re originally from Arizona, where Team Pickleball exploded in popularity—and it’s the same story in Florida, California, Colorado, and across the country. Hundreds of teams are already competing in organized leagues.

If we can launch a season here this year, NWA teams will be eligible to qualify for the National Team Pickleball Championships.  The Championships will be held November 12-15 in Jacksonville, Florida.

How great would it be to send Arkansas teams to compete on the national stage?  Come on, Arkansas—let’s make it happen and let’s win it.

To launch the league, we’ll follow the National Team Pickleball League format. We plan to begin with four flights: two Women’s flights (Over 50 and Under 50) and two Men’s flights (Over 50 and Under 50).

Depending on interest, we can also add Mixed flights and additional Skill‑based flights. Our goal is to create competitive, well‑matched play for everyone who wants to participate.

Season registration costs will be based solely on court rental expenses, divided among the players, which helps keep registration fees low.