Rating Procedures
Promotion Evaluation Q&A June 1 2022
Promotion Evaluation Q&A
How will evaluations be conducted?
Occasional evaluation events will be conducted to allow the prospect to participate in a Promotion Evaluation to determine if they satisfy the criteria for promotion to a higher CTPA club rating. During these events the prospect will participate in six round robin games with and against selected ‘controls’ from the level in which they are being evaluated. These games will be with/against two teams of three controls. All games will be to 7 points, win by one point. At the conclusion of these six games, the game in which the prospect scored the fewest points will be discarded. The prospect will achieve promotion if they have scored a total of 27 points or more. If they score fewer than 27 points the prospect will remain at their current CTPA club rating. (For new members who self-assess, see exception discussed below.)
Is there a fee for an evaluation?
Yes. A $35 fee applies to all evaluations and is required to be paid prior to the scheduling of the session.
How do I pay the Evaluation Fee?
You can no longer pay directly for an evaluation on Court Reserve, you must first go through a coordinator (see below for contact info) to get on the list. After one of the coordinators confirms that you are on the list, they will then auto bill you the fee. You will get an email that you have paid for the evaluation and that be your confirmation that you are on the list.
If I am evaluated and not successful, when can I re-evaluate?
A member who is unsuccessful in their first evaluation can sign up to be reevaluated six weeks after their unsuccessful attempt. At that time, they will be added to the waitlist. If a member is unsuccessful on the second attempt, they can sign up to be reevaluated ten weeks after the second attempt. At that time, they are added to the waitlist. For every additional unsuccessful attempt, the member must wait twelve weeks before being added to the waitlist.
Please note that waitlist times vary based on demand at the time of sign up. All reevaluations are subject to the fees listed above.
FOR NEW MEMBERS ONLY -- What will my club rating be while I’m waiting for an evaluation?
Based on your skills, you may ‘self-assess’ to determine the appropriate level at which to be evaluated. You would temporarily be given a club rating ½ point lower than the level at which you want to evaluate. This provision applies to member who are new to the club, and they must contact the appropriate evaluation coordinator (see contact info below) within 30 days of joining the club. This provides you with opportunities to participate in events at that level prior to your evaluation. If you do not achieve at least 24 points during your evaluation, your club rating would revert to the default 2.5. If you score at least 27 points, your club rating will permanently change to the level you evaluated at. If you score between 24 and 26 points, your temporary club rating will still apply and you will be added back to the waitlist for the level you evaluated at or, if you choose, you can evaluate at the level ½ point lower.
Example:
- New member self-assesses at 3.5 and requests an evaluation.
- Member’s temporary club rating would be 3.0 until evaluation occurs. This would enable them to participate in all 3.0 events and any 3.5/3.0 ‘blended’ events.
- If member completes a successful evaluation, permanent club rating becomes 3.5.
- If member is unsuccessful and scores less than 24 points, their club rating becomes 2.5 and they can now evaluate for 3.0 or reschedule another level 3.5 evaluation per the timeframe in the previous question. The member will pay the full cost for the next evaluation and the appropriate wait time to get back in the queue will apply.
- If member is unsuccessful but scores between 24 and 26 points, temporary club rating remains at 3.0 until they evaluate again at either 3.5 or 3.0 level. They will be expected to evaluate within 6 weeks, or their club rating will revert to the default of 2.5.
Where will the evaluations be conducted?
All full-day evaluation events will be conducted at the Graham Park courts. Under very limited and unusual circumstances, evaluations may be conducted at a different location.
Will CTPA use any other methods to determine club ranking?
CTPA will also accept USA Pickleball UTPR for new members and to increase the club ratings of existing members provided: (1) the member has played in three or more tournaments in the three years prior to the request and (2) the last tournament was a sanctioned tournament which occurred within the previous six months. Only doubles or mixed doubles (not singles) will be considered for this provision to apply. (3) the member must have an active, non-expired USA Pickleball membership. Regardless of which of the UTPR ratings you use, the above criteria for the number of tournaments needed and one in the past six months needs to be for the UTPR you’re using. Therefore, if you’re going to use your mixed UTPR, you must’ve played in three mixed events at tournaments in the past three years with one being a sanctioned tournament in the last six months.
Will I have any input into the ‘controls’ at my Promotion Evaluation session?
No. The controls have been carefully chosen to fairly represent the level you are being evaluated for. They are trained in how to conduct the PE session and, depending on their availability, they will be randomly selected to participate in your session.
I’m a female and am concerned that I will be paired with 3 male controls.
We have specifically addressed this concern by assuring that 2 of the 3 controls will be of the same gender as the prospect. In other words, a female prospect will have 2 female controls and 1 male control. A male prospect will have 2 male controls and one female control.
I sometimes don’t play well with certain partners. I’m concerned that this may happen to me during my evaluation.
This is whyM we allow the prospect to discard the lowest of their six scores. This procedure minimizes the impact of one bad game.
Is stacking permitted during an Evaluation?
Opposite handed partners, whether they’re prospects or controls, will be permitted to stack only while serving if they choose to, but not while receiving.
If I do really well during my Promotion Evaluation, am I able to increase my rating more than ½ point?
No, but you could immediately submit for an evaluation at the next higher level. The evaluation fee described above would apply.
Who can I contact to schedule an evaluation or if I have additional questions related to club ratings and the Promotion Evaluation program?
3.0 Level -- Ann Michalski – annmichalski@msn.com (please only email)
3.5 level – Joey Jones joey70@comcast.net or 412-671-5911
All other levels -- Gary Tipton gtipton@zbzoom.net or 724-272-5048
What happens to the fee if I need to cancel my evaluation?
Because of the logistics involved in scheduling an evaluation, you should make every attempt to participate in the event as scheduled. However, if cancellation is necessary, your evaluation fee will be applied to a rescheduled evaluation unless the cancellation occurs less than 72 hours before the time of the scheduled evaluation. In such a case, the entire fee will be forfeited.