How to run an event with multiple skill divisions on Pickleheads

If you’re hosting a large event with a mix of skill levels, splitting players into balanced divisions can be tricky – especially when you don’t know who’s showing up or how many will register.

A smart way to handle this on Pickleheads is to collect all your signups in a single session first, then assign players to divisions later. Here’s how to do it in a few easy steps.

Begin by creating just one session for your event. This will act as your main signup page.

Set the player limit to the total number of participants you want across all divisions – say, 60 if you’re aiming for three divisions of 20 players each. Players will register and pay through this single link.

This keeps things simple upfront. No need to ask players to pick divisions – they just sign up, and you’ll handle the sorting later. Send out the invitations, and let the RSVPs roll in.

Once you’ve collected your signups, create a new, separate session for each division you plan to run. The time, date and location can all be the same.

You can use simple names like “Beginner, “Intermediate” and “Advanced,” or go with more specific naming conventions like “Men’s 3.5-4.0.” Pickleheads also supports custom session titles, so you can label each division in a way that’s clear and player-friendly.

At this stage, don’t invite anyone to these sessions. Just get them set up so you’re ready to sort players next.

Now comes the sorting. Based on ratings, past matchups, or your own judgment, assign players to the appropriate divisions. You’ll do this manually via the “invite player” screen, then selecting “Add confirmed players.”

You’ll either need to be connected to them on Pickleheads, or have their first name, last name and email address. Here’s a quick video on how to add players directly.

This is easiest to do on a desktop computer where you can quickly switch between tabs and copy/paste as needed. Once done, you’ll have three sessions – each with its own full roster of players – ready to run.

When it’s time to run the event, you’ll treat each division as a standalone round robin. We recommend having a separate device (like an iPad) for each session so each division can run independently and simultaneously – but it’s easy enough to switch between multiple sessions on a single device.

Players can also check their games on their phones since they’re now part of that specific session.

This approach ensures a clean, organized experience for both you and your players, and keeps each division moving smoothly from one round to the next.

There’s an even easier method – especially useful if you're running a DUPR-rated event. Instead of manually adding players to divisions, let them check themselves in using QR codes.

Here’s how it works: You’ll follow steps 1 and 2 above as you normally would. Then, from the session invite page on Pickleheads, click “Invite” and then “QR Code.” You’ll get a printable flyer with a scannable code. Create one for each division.

On the day of the event, during check-in, just tell players which division they’re in and have them scan the code. It takes them straight to the session page where they can join instantly.

This method also solves a critical need for DUPR compliance. To submit scores to DUPR, players must explicitly agree. If you add them manually, they’ll need to confirm later. But if they sign up by scanning the QR code, that agreement happens up front.

This method has worked incredibly well for our own events and for many organizers on Pickleheads. It’s clean, scalable, and great for both rotate- and fixed-partner formats. Whether you prefer sorting players manually or letting them check in on-site, you’ll be able to pull off a polished, professional event, all starting from a single signup session.

Give it a try at your next event and let us know how it goes!