Basic Info

• Leagues are “all gender” doubles. This means you don't need a specific gender mix on the court. There are two separate formats, which are covered after this section
• Most formats operate under a form of pool play called “box ladder.” Typical pool play includes four games per night against rotating opponents with an “off” spot for each time slot. The off spot steps in if there's a no-show, which should virtually eliminate not being able to play due to no-shows. You can move up or down the ladder weekly based on results of pool play. The ladder structure is designed to get everyone playing against others of similar skill after the first few weeks. It works best with larger numbers of participants (at least 15 teams or Individuals). The format may be adjusted depending on the number of signups (small leagues may only have one pool and thus no ladder)
• Players supply their own paddles. Balls may be available from MSSC or the facilities, although we recommend teams bring their own their. Some leagues may be unstaffed, and players also have different preferences for balls. Both teams must agree on any ball used
• Individual games are played to 11 points (cap at 13). A standard schedule has four games per night with one off spot, for a total of 1 hour and 15 minutes on site
• Games are self-officiated and teams record their own scores
• Our rulebook is in the menu bar above. We largely follow USA Pickleball rules, but their rulebook is 96 pages, and we've tried to condense ours down to the most important points

Team (Fixed Partner) Format

• For those who already have teammates lined up. You'll have the same playing partners all season and will play against other registered teams
• We recommend more than two players on your roster to help avoid forfeits due to illness, injury, travel, etc. All players don't need to show up each week
• Teams will engage in pool play based on skill level. You can see an example here: box ladder example - teams. The format may be adjusted depending on the number of teams signed up.

Individual (Rotating Partner) Format

• You're registering yourself only and are not expecting to play with any other particular individuals. Don't register under this option if you have a friend (or friends) you want to play with every game. Register a team instead
• This option is ideal for those who are new to town, don't know anyone in the pickleball community, and/or want to meet new people. You'll play with and against a lot of different people over the course of a season
• Registration will be “confirmed” immediately since there's no team assignment needed in the format we're using. There's no guarantee you'll have a spot though, as we need enough registrations to make a league work
• You'll be ranked based on your initial self-reported skill level and will have different teammates throughout the night and the season. You'll play several matches each night and can move up or down the ladder weekly based on cumulative points scored in your games. You can see an example here: box ladder example - Individuals. The format may be adjusted based on the number of signups

Resources

• Check out MSSC Pickleball or Madison Area Pickleball on Facebook to find a teammate or sub or ask any pickleball-related questions
• We're using official pickleball skill levels as of the Winter 2026 season. You can find these on USA Pickleball's skill level page. Use the info on that page in combination with this chart to gauge your skill level
• There are countless pickleball rules explanation and skill development videos on YouTube

Skill Level and Divisions

• Teams and individuals self-select their skill level during registration. We ask for DUPR ratings for those who have them. Anyone without a rating will enter a standard pickleball skill level, which you can find on USA Pickleball's skill level page. Use the info on that page in combination with this chart to gauge your skill level.
• We expect leagues to be largely beginner and intermediate level players in the first few seasons as we grow our program
• There will be an adjustment period for the first few seasons as we get leagues off the ground and grow them. We ask that players be patient with any large skill disparities between teams, as those should eventually level out

Fall 2026 Details and Locations

We have a variety of leagues for Fall 2026. Indoor facilities have limited availability, and it will be more limited after the Fall season. Click the hyperlinked name of each facility to see a view of the courts. Details on each facility:

• Dill Dinkers: Located on Madison's southeast side, and arguably Madison's best pickleball facility. Features dedicated (pickleball only) courts with Cushion X surfaces and different colors for the non-volley zone and out of bounds areas. They also have a viewing area in the middle, pro shop on site, and paddles you can try out. Leagues: Sunday evening 
• Forge Sports Center: Forge is also in southeast Madison and is the newest athletic facility in the city. It features an on-site pub and kitchen, so it should be a great fit for the "social" component of our club. The pub and kitchen are on the second level and overlook the courts. Beverages: draft beer, wine, sparkling waters, and sports drinks. Food: wood-fired pizzas, salads, and sandwiches. There are also TVs, so you can catch pro or college games. Leagues: Monday and Wednesday nights as well as Saturday and Sunday during the day
• Pickleball Kingdom: Located in Sun Prairie with easy access right off Hwy 151. Also one of the best facilities in the area. They have an on-site bar, socializing area, and TVs. The facility features dedicated courts with surfaces designed to reduce joint impact, a pro shop, digital scorekeepers, and downloadable videos of your games. You can also test different types of paddles. Leagues: Tuesday and Thursday nights
• Madison Ignite: Located next to West Towne Mall, so you'll have numerous food and beverage options after games. The facility has two courts with a wall in between, so noise and wandering balls aren't a concern. Leagues: Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday nights as well as Sunday during the day

Deadlines and League Capacity

All leagues have a capacity. Registration will typically close on the same day for all leagues. This allows us to move teams and Individuals around if needed to form appropriate pools. Please check the league details below for the registration deadline.

Scheduling

• Schedules for the first week will be posted as soon as reasonably possible. It may be with very short notice, as we sometimes need to move teams and individuals around to make pool play work. Schedules are posted weekly thereafter, and your start time could be different every week. If you signed up for Tuesday nights, you play on Tuesday nights, and should be available for any time slot.
• Locations for any given league are not set in stone. They're subject to change based on the whims of facilities we use. We occasionally have leagues that end up changing facilities for one reason or another, and players should be prepared to play wherever the league is located
• Please find subs for any date you're unable to play. We may not be able to accommodate byes due to league structure or limited facility availability
• Leagues don't play the day before Thanksgiving or on Thanksgiving. They also don't play for two weeks around the Christmas and New Year's Holidays. Private facilities may also have other dates we can't play. See our scheduling page for more details

Other Info

Have a question you don't see answered here? It may be found in our Frequently Asked Questions and/or the rulebook linked in the grey menu bar toward the top of the page. General club policies can be found at the bottom of this page in the Info & Help section 

Site Monitors

Some leagues have site monitors. These are paid positions, and typical duties will include bringing equipment to the site, answering questions from players, submitting scores, etc. Read the full job description. You can apply on our jobs page.

Still have a question? Feel free to Contact Us.