Tournament Desk Day of Operations — Recommended Setup and Location

The Tournament Desk is the operational hub of your event. How it's set up and staffed directly affects how smoothly the day runs. These are recommendations based on what works well for tournament directors running events of all sizes.

Desk location

Keep the tournament operations desk private and away from players and the general public. A separate room or enclosed tent works best outdoors. When players have direct access to the desk, it creates distractions and slows operations.

Instead, set up a separate Check-In Desk closer to the courts with its own volunteers and computers. Place a Find a Player or Court Desk near the courts so players have a point of contact for general questions — keeping them away from the main desk.

Staff and equipment

Minimum 2 staff members at the desk at all times. If a software or connectivity issue arises, one person handles it while the other keeps the tournament running.
Each operator should have their own laptop or computer, both connected to a printer if you're printing scoresheets.
Test your internet connection on site before tournament day. Have backup connectivity options ready — a mobile hotspot is strongly recommended.
If using scoresheets, print extra blank sheets ahead of time and have a copy option available. If your printer fails, you can hand-write team names on blank scoresheets and keep the tournament moving while the issue is resolved.

Print hard copies of every event

Before starting any event, print a master copy of the bracket from the Live Console. Go to the verified event, click the event name link, and use Print Page. Store these copies at the desk. If software or internet access is lost, you can continue running matches manually from the printed bracket.

Getting support on tournament day

PT live chat is available at PickleballTournaments.com in the bottom right corner:

Monday–Thursday: 10am–5pm EST
Friday, Saturday, Sunday: 6:30am–5pm EST

For non-urgent issues, email [email protected].

Frequently Asked Questions

What do I do if the internet goes down during the tournament?

Have backup connectivity ready before tournament day — a mobile hotspot is the most reliable option. If internet goes down during the event, switch to your printed bracket copies and continue running matches manually. Resume entering scores in PT once connectivity is restored.

What if my printer stops working mid-tournament?

Yes. Blank scoresheets can be printed from the Live Console. If your printer fails during the day, hand-write team names on blank sheets and keep play moving. Scores can be entered into PT once printing is restored. You can also turn texting on and switch to players enter scores.

Related Resources

Need support on tournament day? Use live chat at PickleballTournaments.com or email [email protected].