How Are College Pickleball Games Played?

College pickleball is one of the fastest-growing sports on campuses across the country, and its unique format is a big part of what makes it so exciting. Whether you're a student looking to compete or a fan trying to follow along, here's a breakdown of exactly how college pickleball matches work.

Match Format

College pickleball matches are played first to three game wins. Each match consists of up to five games in this order:

• Women's Doubles
• Men's Doubles
• Mixed Doubles 1
• Mixed Doubles 2
• Dreambreaker

The first team to win three of these games wins the match. Schools bring rosters of two female and two male players, making college pickleball the only coed college sport in competition today!

Each individual game is played to 21 points using rally scoring.

How Does the Dreambreaker Work?

The Dreambreaker is one of college pickleball's most unique and thrilling elements. It's a singles game where every player on the team gets a turn on the court.

Here's how it works:

Before the game begins, each team sets a player rotation, determining who plays first, second, third, and fourth. Every four points, the next player in the order rotates in. The score doesn't reset between switches; the incoming player picks up exactly where their teammate left off.

Like all other games in the match, the Dreambreaker is played to 21 points with rally scoring. The pressure, the momentum swings, and the team strategy make it one of the most exciting formats in college sports.

What Is Rally Scoring?

If you're new to rally scoring, here's the key difference from traditional scoring: a point is scored after every single rally, regardless of who is serving. That means you can win points on your returns just as easily as on your serves.

A few other things to know about rally scoring:

• No first or second server, whoever is on the right side serves on even scores, and whoever is on the left serves on odd scores.
• The serving team is determined by who won the last point, if you win the rally, your team  serves next.
• Partners don't switch sides during the natural flow of the game, positioning is based on the score.
• It is impossible to serve twice in a row under rally scoring rules.

Rally scoring keeps the game moving quickly, makes every point count, and is easy for new fans to follow.

How Long Has Rally Scoring Been Used in College Pickleball?

The College Pickleball Tour (CPT), the governing body of college pickleball, has used rally scoring since its very first tournament in 2022. Since then, the CPT has hosted over 100 events using this format, proving that rally scoring is reliable, entertaining, and accessible to players and spectators alike.

The CPT uses DUPR (the official pickleball rating system) to track scores from all of its tournaments. DUPR's specialized algorithm is built to account for rally scoring when calculating player ratings, ensuring accurate and fair rankings across all levels of competition.

Want to learn more about college pickleball? Check out the College Pickleball Tour's website for schedules, rankings, and more. You can also follow us on Instagram at @college.pickleball.tour for the latest updates, highlights, and behind the scenes content!

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