{"Status":true,"Message":"","Response":{"post":{"postuid":"72000646262","tenantuid":"45a0010e-ec76-43e9-9914-4376bfa80903","projectuid":"4025e8c9-71ea-4557-850d-662c78598919","title":"How to Enable Player Scoring and Auto-Run Your Tournament","slug":"72000646262-how-to-enable-player-scoring-and-auto-run-your-tournament","html":"\u003Cp\u003ETo let players enter their own scores in \u003Ca href=\u0022https://www.pickleballtournaments.com/\u0022\u003EPickleball Tournaments (PT)\u003C/a\u003E, turn on texting in \u003Cb\u003EEdit Tourney\u003C/b\u003E, then switch on \u003Cb\u003ECan Players Enter Scores\u003C/b\u003E for each event and set a confirmation window. Pair it with \u003Cb\u003EAuto-Run\u003C/b\u003E in Court Desk, and the system assigns courts automatically as players submit scores.\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ciframe src=\u0022https://www.youtube.com/embed/mqC_-0Ml3GY\u0022 width=\u0022640\u0022 height=\u0022360\u0022 frameborder=\u00220\u0022 allowfullscreen=\u0022\u0022\u003E\u003C/iframe\u003E\u003Chr\u003E\u003Ch2 id=\u0022enable_player_score_entry_and_texting\u0022\u003EEnable Player Score Entry and Texting\u003C/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo use this feature, first enable texting in your tournament setup. Texting is essential because players receive match assignments and score-entry links via text, making communication instant.\u003C/p\u003E\u003Col\u003E\u003Cli\u003EGo to your \u003Cb\u003EEdit Tourney\u003C/b\u003E menu and scroll down to ensure texting is turned on. Note the extra cost per player (not per text).\u003C/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ENavigate to your \u003Cb\u003EEvents\u003C/b\u003E screen and click the edit pencil next to the event you want to allow player score entry for.\u003C/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EScroll to the bottom and toggle on \u003Cb\u003ECan Players Enter Scores\u003C/b\u003E. Set the \u003Cb\u003EMinutes Until Auto Confirm\u003C/b\u003E \u2014 a one-minute confirmation window is a good starting point, though some directors run instant confirmation for faster flow.\u003C/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EIf your event has a playoff scheduled, you\u0027ll see an additional toggle to allow player score entry for playoff matches.\u003C/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ESave your changes.\u003C/li\u003E\u003C/ol\u003E\u003Cimg class=\u0022lazy-load\u0022 data-width=\u0022693\u0022 data-height=\u0022570\u0022 data-src=\u0022https://graffiti-auf7e6dwhxhcbwek.z03.azurefd.net/45a0010e-ec76-43e9-9914-4376bfa80903/4025e8c9-71ea-4557-850d-662c78598919/images/1459b0b155b64bdfa2fcc0bab322ad01.png?v=-605894457\u0022 style=\u0022max-width: 693px;\u0022 alt=\u0022Edit Event screen with Can Players Enter Scores switched on and Minutes Until Auto Confirm set to 5\u0022/\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOnce enabled, \u003Ca href=\u0022https://pickleball.com/docs/en/72000617752-how-to-verify-my-brackets-in-live-console\u0022\u003Everify your event in the Live Console\u003C/a\u003E to confirm it is ready for tournament day. You will see an icon indicating that players can enter scores for that event.\u003C/p\u003E\u003Chr\u003E\u003Ch2 id=\u0022use_court_desk_and_autorun\u0022\u003EUse Court Desk and Auto-Run\u003C/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Court Desk interface supports an \u003Cb\u003EAuto-Run\u003C/b\u003E mode that pairs with player-entered scoring. The system automatically assigns courts and sends out matches as players finish and submit their scores.\u003C/p\u003E\u003Col\u003E\u003Cli\u003EStart your events from the Live Console: open \u003Cb\u003EOptions\u003C/b\u003E, then \u003Cb\u003EStart\u003C/b\u003E from the menu.\u003C/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EGo to the \u003Cb\u003EWaiting\u003C/b\u003E tab in the Live Console once you have started matches.\u003C/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EUse the \u003Cb\u003EFill Empty Court\u003C/b\u003E button to assign matches to available courts automatically.\u003C/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ENavigate to the Court Desk to view courts and refresh as needed.\u003C/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EAs scores are entered and confirmed, the system assigns the next matches to freed-up courts without manual intervention.\u003C/li\u003E\u003C/ol\u003E\u003Cimg class=\u0022lazy-load\u0022 data-width=\u0022693\u0022 data-height=\u0022343\u0022 data-src=\u0022https://graffiti-auf7e6dwhxhcbwek.z03.azurefd.net/45a0010e-ec76-43e9-9914-4376bfa80903/4025e8c9-71ea-4557-850d-662c78598919/images/184c63dd0ca6406eb07cbd61c8546207.png?v=-615033629\u0022 style=\u0022max-width: 693px;\u0022 alt=\u0022Court Desk showing courts with their current matches, teams, and start times\u0022/\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThis auto-run setup frees tournament directors from manually tracking and assigning matches, allowing you to focus on helping players and keeping the day running smoothly. If you run tournaments on designated courts or pods, \u003Ca href=\u0022https://pickleball.com/docs/en/72000633576-how-to-use-the-manage-event-court-counts-\u0026amp;-start-times-tab\u0022\u003Eexclude courts from certain events\u003C/a\u003E to control where matches are played.\u003C/p\u003E\u003Chr\u003E\u003Ch2 id=\u0022player_experience_how_players_enter_scores\u0022\u003EPlayer Experience: How Players Enter Scores\u003C/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPlayers receive text messages with match assignments and a direct link to enter their scores after finishing a match. The process is straightforward:\u003C/p\u003E\u003Col\u003E\u003Cli\u003EPlayers tap the link from their phone, or go to the tournament page and click \u003Cb\u003EView Current Matches\u003C/b\u003E.\u003C/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EThey enter the score on their phone and tap \u003Cb\u003ESave\u003C/b\u003E.\u003C/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EOne player then clicks \u003Cb\u003EFinish Match\u003C/b\u003E to submit the score for opponent confirmation.\u003C/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EThe opposing team receives a prompt to either \u003Cb\u003EConfirm\u003C/b\u003E or \u003Cb\u003EDispute\u003C/b\u003E the score.\u003C/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EIf disputed, both teams are directed to the tournament desk to resolve the issue.\u003C/li\u003E\u003C/ol\u003E\u003Cimg class=\u0022lazy-load\u0022 data-width=\u0022360\u0022 data-height=\u0022543\u0022 data-src=\u0022https://graffiti-auf7e6dwhxhcbwek.z03.azurefd.net/45a0010e-ec76-43e9-9914-4376bfa80903/4025e8c9-71ea-4557-850d-662c78598919/images/9738e9d58c1544eb9674ead95c0b5d2e.png?v=-619689418\u0022 style=\u0022max-width: 360px;\u0022 alt=\u0022Phone screen showing the score entry form with game scores, a Save score button, and a Finish match button\u0022/\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETo keep things running smoothly, let players know in advance to log in to their Pickleball.com account on their phone before tournament day and to turn on texting in their player profile, with their phone number and country code both correct. A pair of reading glasses can help too if they need one to enter scores comfortably.\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ccite class=\u0022recommended\u0022\u003E\u003Cspan class=\u0022title\u0022\u003ENote\u003C/span\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWant a quick tutorial to send to your players? Share the video below \u2014 it\u0027s a short walkthrough of how to enter scores from their phone, perfect for a pre-tournament email or a day-of reminder.\u003C/p\u003E\u003C/cite\u003E\u003Ciframe src=\u0022https://www.youtube.com/embed/G-4HGHBszSo\u0022 width=\u0022640\u0022 height=\u0022360\u0022 frameborder=\u00220\u0022 allowfullscreen=\u0022\u0022\u003E\u003C/iframe\u003E\u003Chr\u003E\u003Ch2 id=\u0022best_practices_from_tournament_directors\u0022\u003EBest Practices From Tournament Directors\u003C/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EExperienced tournament directors who have tested this feature in the field recommend holding a brief meeting before the event to explain score entry, and having a dedicated person help players during the first round so everyone understands the process. Once play starts, walk around with a tablet showing the Live Court Desk or bracket view to monitor score entry and court assignments, rather than staying tied to the tournament desk.\u003C/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor tips on confirmation windows, who should enter the score, disputes, and mixing player score entry with paper score sheets, see the Frequently Asked Questions below.\u003C/p\u003E\u003Chr\u003E\u003Ch2 id=\u0022how_to_know_scores_are_entered_and_verified\u0022\u003EHow to Know Scores Are Entered and Verified\u003C/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWatch the \u003Cb\u003ELive Console\u003C/b\u003E bracket view to see scores populate in real time, and keep an eye on the \u003Cb\u003ECourt Desk\u003C/b\u003E to track court assignments and match progress. If a match has been on a court too long without a score, contact the players directly. If a score is disputed or unconfirmed, players are prompted to visit the tournament desk.\u003C/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYou can also check the shading in the Live Console bracket view. A match (or matchup, in a Team Event) shaded light green hasn\u0027t been marked completed yet; completed matches turn blue.\u003C/p\u003E\u003Cimg class=\u0022lazy-load\u0022 data-width=\u0022512\u0022 data-height=\u0022316\u0022 data-src=\u0022https://graffiti-auf7e6dwhxhcbwek.z03.azurefd.net/45a0010e-ec76-43e9-9914-4376bfa80903/4025e8c9-71ea-4557-850d-662c78598919/50283d42-e955-4384-88b3-a591c15c196c.png?v=-353804399\u0022 style=\u0022max-width: 512px;\u0022 alt=\u0022Live Console bracket view with a matchup shaded light green, meaning it hasn\u0027t been marked completed\u0022/\u003E\u003Chr\u003E\u003Ch2 id=\u0022additional_considerations\u0022\u003EAdditional Considerations\u003C/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIf referees are using the official referee app, score sheets may not be necessary \u2014 referees can enter scores in their app, or turn in the score sheet manually. Printed score sheets are generally not needed with player score entry enabled, but you can still print them if you like. Auto-fill court assignments only work when player score entry is enabled, but you can mix events: some on auto-fill with paper score sheets, others using phone entry.\u003C/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EPlayer texts come from two numbers depending on which platform sent them: \u003Ca href=\u0022tel:8445258822\u0022\u003E844-525-8822\u003C/a\u003E for court assignments, score-entry links, and confirmations from the Pickleball.com platform, and \u003Ca href=\u0022tel:8449990071\u0022\u003E844-999-0071\u003C/a\u003E for bracket start alerts, pre-tourney huddles, match results, and check-in messages from the PickleballBrackets platform. Encourage players to save \u003Cb\u003Eboth\u003C/b\u003E numbers as contacts so no messages get filtered as spam.\u003C/p\u003E\u003Chr\u003E\u003Ch2 id=\u0022frequently_asked_questions\u0022\u003EFrequently Asked Questions\u003C/h2\u003E\u003Csection class=\u0022faq\u0022\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EPlayers aren\u0027t receiving texts. What can they try?\u003C/h3\u003E\u003Carticle\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA few common fixes solve this most of the time:\u003C/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003ESave both system numbers as contacts.\u003C/b\u003E Player texts from PT come from two numbers depending on which platform sent them: \u003Ca href=\u0022tel:8445258822\u0022\u003E844-525-8822\u003C/a\u003E and \u003Ca href=\u0022tel:8449990071\u0022\u003E844-999-0071\u003C/a\u003E. Save both to your phone\u0027s contacts (a common shortcut is to label them both as \u003Ci\u003Epickleballtournaments.com\u003C/i\u003E) to keep messages from being filtered as spam.\u003C/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EiPhone users \u2014 check Messages spam and junk folders.\u003C/b\u003E Open the Messages app, tap the three-line menu in the top-left, and look at the \u003Ci\u003EUnknown Senders\u003C/i\u003E, \u003Ci\u003ESpam\u003C/i\u003E, and \u003Ci\u003EJunk\u003C/i\u003E folders. iPhones sometimes route texts from unknown senders into these folders automatically.\u003C/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003EConfirm phone number and country code.\u003C/b\u003E The mobile number and country code on the player\u0027s Pickleball.com profile both need to be correct.\u003C/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Cb\u003ECheck opt-in status.\u003C/b\u003E If a player previously replied STOP to a PT text, they\u0027ll need to text START to the same number to begin receiving messages again.\u003C/li\u003E\u003C/ul\u003E\u003C/article\u003E\u003C/section\u003E\u003Csection class=\u0022faq\u0022\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EWhat confirmation window should I use?\u003C/h3\u003E\u003Carticle\u003E\u003Cp\u003EA 1 minute window is the sweet spot for most events \u2014 fast enough to keep play moving but long enough to catch a mistake before it locks in. Use instant confirmation only for round robins where small errors are easy to correct. Consider avoiding instant confirmation for elimination brackets.\u003C/p\u003E\u003C/article\u003E\u003C/section\u003E\u003Csection class=\u0022faq\u0022\u003E\u003Ch3\u003ECan I mix player score entry with paper score sheets in the same tournament?\u003C/h3\u003E\u003Carticle\u003E\u003Cp\u003EYes. Player score entry is enabled at the event level, so you can turn it on for some events (for example, a mixed 3.5, 10-49 event) and keep paper score sheets for others (for example, mixed 3.5, 50\u002B). Auto-fill court assignments still work in this mixed setup, but you will have to manually assign the courts that use paper score sheets in Court Desk.\u003C/p\u003E\u003C/article\u003E\u003C/section\u003E\u003Csection class=\u0022faq\u0022\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EWho should enter the score?\u003C/h3\u003E\u003Carticle\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAssign the winning team to enter the score by default. This avoids duplicate entries and conflicts between the two sides. The opposing team will get a prompt to confirm or dispute, so both sides still see the result.\u003C/p\u003E\u003C/article\u003E\u003C/section\u003E\u003Csection class=\u0022faq\u0022\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EWhat happens if a player disputes a score?\u003C/h3\u003E\u003Carticle\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBoth teams are directed to the tournament desk to resolve the issue. Disputes are rare in practice and usually settled quickly. Once the dispute is resolved, the score can be entered correctly and the bracket continues.\u003C/p\u003E\u003C/article\u003E\u003C/section\u003E\u003Csection class=\u0022faq\u0022\u003E\u003Ch3\u003EDo I still need referees if player score entry is enabled?\u003C/h3\u003E\u003Carticle\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENot necessarily. If referees are using the official referee app, they can enter scores directly. If referees use paper score sheets, those can still be turned in and entered manually. Additionally, if a court has a referee, the player still enters the score but the ref must oversee it. Player score entry doesn\u0027t replace referees \u2014 it gives you another way to capture results when referees aren\u0027t assigned.\u003C/p\u003E\u003C/article\u003E\u003C/section\u003E\u003Chr\u003E\u003Ch2 id=\u0022want_a_deeper_dive\u0022\u003EWant a Deeper Dive?\u003C/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EFor a full webinar walkthrough covering setup, day-of operations, and troubleshooting in detail, watch the recording below from the Pickleball Play Solutions YouTube channel.\u003C/p\u003E\u003Ciframe src=\u0022https://www.youtube.com/embed/sH9ZEY5DjTM\u0022 width=\u0022640\u0022 height=\u0022360\u0022 frameborder=\u00220\u0022 allowfullscreen=\u0022\u0022\u003E\u003C/iframe\u003E\u003Chr\u003E\u003Ch2 id=\u0022related_resources\u0022\u003ERelated Resources\u003C/h2\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https://pickleball.com/docs/en/72000617752-how-to-verify-my-brackets-in-live-console\u0022\u003EHow to Verify Your Brackets in Live Console\u003C/a\u003E\u003C/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https://pickleball.com/docs/en/72000633576-how-to-use-the-manage-event-court-counts-\u0026amp;-start-times-tab\u0022\u003EHow to Manage Event Court Counts and Start Times in PT\u003C/a\u003E\u003C/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https://pickleball.com/docs/en/72000647546-managing-weather-delays:-a-guide-for-tournament-directors\u0022\u003EManaging Weather Delays: A Guide for Tournament Directors\u003C/a\u003E\u003C/li\u003E\u003C/ul\u003E\u003Chr\u003E\u003Cp\u003ENeed more help? Email us at \u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:support@pickleball.com\u0022\u003Esupport@pickleball.com\u003C/a\u003E.\u003C/p\u003E\r\n\u003Cscript type=\u0022application/ld\u002Bjson\u0022\u003E\r\n{\r\n  \u0022@context\u0022: \u0022https://schema.org\u0022,\r\n  \u0022@type\u0022: \u0022FAQPage\u0022,\r\n  \u0022mainEntity\u0022: [\r\n{\r\n    \u0022@type\u0022: \u0022Question\u0022,\r\n    \u0022name\u0022: \u0022Players aren\u0027t receiving texts. What can they try?\u0022,\r\n    \u0022acceptedAnswer\u0022: {\r\n    \u0022@type\u0022: \u0022Answer\u0022,\r\n    \u0022text\u0022: \u0022A few common fixes solve this most of the time: Save both system numbers as contacts. Player texts from PT come from two numbers depending on which platform sent them: 844-525-8822 and 844-999-0071 . Save both to your phone\u0027s contacts (a common shortcut is to label them both as pickleballtournaments.com ) to keep messages from being filtered as spam. iPhone users \u2014 check Messages spam and junk folders. Open the Messages app, tap the three-line menu in the top-left, and look at the Unknown Senders , Spam , and Junk folders. iPhones sometimes route texts from unknown senders into these folders automatically. Confirm phone number and country code. The mobile number and country code on the player\u0027s Pickleball.com profile both need to be correct. Check opt-in status. If a player previously replied STOP to a PT text, they\u0027ll need to text START to the same number to begin receiving messages again.\u0022\r\n    }\r\n},\r\n{\r\n    \u0022@type\u0022: \u0022Question\u0022,\r\n    \u0022name\u0022: \u0022What confirmation window should I use?\u0022,\r\n    \u0022acceptedAnswer\u0022: {\r\n    \u0022@type\u0022: \u0022Answer\u0022,\r\n    \u0022text\u0022: \u0022A 1 minute window is the sweet spot for most events \u2014 fast enough to keep play moving but long enough to catch a mistake before it locks in. Use instant confirmation only for round robins where small errors are easy to correct. Consider avoiding instant confirmation for elimination brackets.\u0022\r\n    }\r\n},\r\n{\r\n    \u0022@type\u0022: \u0022Question\u0022,\r\n    \u0022name\u0022: \u0022Can I mix player score entry with paper score sheets in the same tournament?\u0022,\r\n    \u0022acceptedAnswer\u0022: {\r\n    \u0022@type\u0022: \u0022Answer\u0022,\r\n    \u0022text\u0022: \u0022Yes. Player score entry is enabled at the event level, so you can turn it on for some events (for example, a mixed 3.5, 10-49 event) and keep paper score sheets for others (for example, mixed 3.5, 50\u002B). Auto-fill court assignments still work in this mixed setup, but you will have to manually assign the courts that use paper score sheets in Court Desk.\u0022\r\n    }\r\n},\r\n{\r\n    \u0022@type\u0022: \u0022Question\u0022,\r\n    \u0022name\u0022: \u0022Who should enter the score?\u0022,\r\n    \u0022acceptedAnswer\u0022: {\r\n    \u0022@type\u0022: \u0022Answer\u0022,\r\n    \u0022text\u0022: \u0022Assign the winning team to enter the score by default. This avoids duplicate entries and conflicts between the two sides. The opposing team will get a prompt to confirm or dispute, so both sides still see the result.\u0022\r\n    }\r\n},\r\n{\r\n    \u0022@type\u0022: \u0022Question\u0022,\r\n    \u0022name\u0022: \u0022What happens if a player disputes a score?\u0022,\r\n    \u0022acceptedAnswer\u0022: {\r\n    \u0022@type\u0022: \u0022Answer\u0022,\r\n    \u0022text\u0022: \u0022Both teams are directed to the tournament desk to resolve the issue. Disputes are rare in practice and usually settled quickly. Once the dispute is resolved, the score can be entered correctly and the bracket continues.\u0022\r\n    }\r\n},\r\n{\r\n    \u0022@type\u0022: \u0022Question\u0022,\r\n    \u0022name\u0022: \u0022Do I still need referees if player score entry is enabled?\u0022,\r\n    \u0022acceptedAnswer\u0022: {\r\n    \u0022@type\u0022: \u0022Answer\u0022,\r\n    \u0022text\u0022: \u0022Not necessarily. If referees are using the official referee app, they can enter scores directly. If referees use paper score sheets, those can still be turned in and entered manually. Additionally, if a court has a referee, the player still enters the score but the ref must oversee it. Player score entry doesn\u0027t replace referees \u2014 it gives you another way to capture results when referees aren\u0027t assigned.\u0022\r\n    }\r\n}\r\n    ]\r\n}\r\n\u003C/script\u003E","publish_status":0,"post_type":"Article","authoruid":"42b786ed-5ff2-467c-9593-d828908ee6d2","author":{"authoruid":"42b786ed-5ff2-467c-9593-d828908ee6d2","name":"Christy Cook","url":"https://www.linkedin.com/in/christy-cook-texas/","photo_url":"https://graffiti-auf7e6dwhxhcbwek.z03.azurefd.net/45a0010e-ec76-43e9-9914-4376bfa80903/4025e8c9-71ea-4557-850d-662c78598919/4fd2cf59-047a-4a00-8a6d-2d9c6c9f91fe.jpg?v=1114665229","linkedin_url":"https://www.linkedin.com/in/christy-cook-texas/"},"featured_image_updating":false,"meta_description":"Enable player score entry and Auto-Run in Pickleball Tournaments for seamless, real-time scoring, court assignments, and smooth event management.","keywords":"player score entry; texting; tournament setup; auto-run mode; court assignments; match scoring; score confirmation; tournament directors; dispute resolution; referee app","display_toc":true,"has_workingcopy":false,"allow_indexing":true,"sort_order":11,"total_views":921,"date_stale":"2027-05-31T00:00:00","date_published":"2025-12-15T08:36:00","date_updated":"2026-11-06T15:33:01.977","date_created":"2026-02-28T20:39:12.273"}}}